LESSON 1

An Overview
of Food and Beverage Operation

Learning Objectives

 Summarize different types of Restaurants

INTRODUCTION

Tourism is one of the world's most valuable sectors, contributing trillions of dollars to the
global economy each year. The tourism industry has developed from a simple network involving
mainly travel and leisure to a complex network involving a wide variety of industries. Hospitality is
one of them.
The target of the hospitality industry is distinctive. Its purpose is to ensure that a guest's
basic accommodation, food, and beverage needs are met. The hospitality industry's relationship
with tourism is focused on the possibility that a person traveling away from home will need to stay
in a hotel or eat at a restaurant. A individual is considered a guest if he or she stays at the hotel or
eats at a nearby restaurant.
In the hospitality industry, guests and their experience are of the utmost importance. A well-
executed dining experience accounts for a significant portion of the satisfaction, highlighting the
significance of good food and beverage service. The food and beverage service industry is
developing in lockstep with the tourism industry.

SECTORS of the Foodservice Industry

The international foodservice industry provides millions of meals a day in a wide variety of types
of operation.

 FOOD can include a wide range of styles and cuisine types. These can be classified by
country, for example, traditional British or Italian; by type of
cuisine, for example, oriental; or a particular specialty such as fish,
vegetarian or health food.

 BEVERAGES include all alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.

Alcoholic beverages include wines and all other types of alcoholic
drink such as cocktails, beers and cider, spirits and liqueurs.
Non-alcoholic beverages include bar beverages such as mineral
waters, juices, squashes and aerated waters, as well as tea, coffee,
chocolate, milk and milk drinks and also proprietary drinks such as Bovril.

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 Types of Food and Beverage Service Establishments

Commercial and non-commercial food and beverage service activities may be distinguished.
Most F&B services that tend to make a profit are found in commercial food and beverage
establishments. Meanwhile, non-commercial food and beverage products are mostly subsidized
and are more able to provide adequate welfare than with making a profit.
Different food and beverage services, on the other hand, have distinct characteristics that
are reflected in their menus, services, and themes. The most popular types of food and beverage
service establishments are listed below.
Figure 1.1 Food Service Operation

Figure 1.2 Food Establishment (image courtesy by e-tesda)

Fine Dining These are establishments that have very high expectations in every
Restaurants aspect of their operations, including a large menu, excellent service,
equipment and decor, and service accompaniments, among others.
Waitstaff in fine dining establishments is well-trained and
experienced.

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Casual Dining These are restaurants and bars that serve reasonably priced food in a
Restaurant relaxed environment. Casual dining restaurants are a business
segment that exists between fast food and fine dining establishments.
They typically have table service.

Cafés These are small eateries or shops that sell food and beverages for
social gatherings.

Specialty These are restaurants that focus their menus and marketing efforts
on a single food commodity or form of ethnic cuisine.
Restaurant
Bars Bars may run differently or as part of a larger activity, such as a
restaurant. The physical layout of a bar is important for establishing
the ambiance and theme of the establishment. Guests will meet and
socialize for both business and pleasure in these establishments.

Cafeterias There are places to eat and drink where there is little or no table
service. Cafeterias may be a restaurant or a dining area within an
organization where customers order food at a counter and then
bring it to a table after paying.

Fast Food These are restaurants and bars that have little to no table service.
Restaurants Cafeterias may be a restaurant or a dining area within an
organization where patrons order food at a counter and then bring it
to a table after paying.

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 LESSON 2

ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE AND JOB DESCRIPTION

Learning Objectives

 Compare various duties and responsibilities of food

service personnel based on restaurant organizational
structure

Duties and Responsibilities of a F&B Staff

The organizational structure of the Food and Beverage Department involves several staff members. The
seating capacity of a venue determines the size of an organization. Furthermore, the roles and
responsibilities of a food and beverage service staff may vary depending on the type of service provided, the
number of employees, and the activity of the establishment.

As an F&B service staff, you should be familiar with these to effectively deliver the expectations of your
colleagues and the guests. Here are some of the most common job titles under the food and beverage service
division as well as their individual duties and responsibilities.

Typical organization charts for small and larger hotels are shown in Figures 1.7 and 1.8. In both these charts,
different roles in food and beverage work are identified. For non-hotel food and beverage operations, the
organization often resembles the food and beverage section of the hotel organization charts.
However, different terminology can be used for different roles in different types of establishment. The
various roles of employment in the food and beverage service are identified below. A number of these job
roles may be combined in some smaller operations.

Figure 1.3 Small Hotel Organization chart

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 Figure 1.4 Large Hotel Organization chart

FOOD AND BEVERAGE MANAGER

Depending on the size of the establishment, the food and beverage manager is either responsible for the
implementation of agreed policies or for contributing to the setting up of the food and beverage policies. The larger the
organization the less likely the manager is to be involved in policy setting. In general, food and beverage managers are
responsible for:

o ensuring that the required profit margins are achieved for each food and beverage service area, in each financial period
o updating and compiling new wine lists according to availability of stock, current trends and customer needs
o compiling, in liaison with the kitchen, menus for the various food service areas and for special occasions
o purchasing of all materials, both food and drink
o ensuring that quality in relation to the price paid is maintained
o determining portion size in relation to selling price
o ensuring staff training, sales promotions and the maintenance of the highest professional standards
o employing and dismissing staff
o holding regular meetings with section heads to ensure all areas are working effectively, efficiently and are well
coordinated.

Food production job roles

Head chef/maître chef de cuisine
The head chef has overall responsibility for the organisation and administration of the food production
operation. He or she is responsible for the management of the food production team, often called a
kitchen brigade. They also undertake menu planning and development, overseeing the sourcing of
produce, settings standards for the operation and ensuring they are maintained.
Second chef/sous-chef de cuisine
The sous-chef is the second in command to the chef de cuisine and will act as head chef when the head is
off-duty. He or she may also cover for or assist a chef de partie when required. They often have
responsibilities for staff training and staff rotas as well as overseeing stock control. In smaller operations
there might not be a sous-chef, while larger operations may have more than one.

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Chef de partie/section chef
A chef de partie may also be known as a section chef and is usually in charge of a specific area of food
production such as fish, vegetables, roasts, sweets or the larder. In larger kitchens, each chef de partie
might have several cooks and/or assistants.
Commis chef
A commis is a junior chef who works under a chef de partie in order to gain experience in the section’s
work. It is common for commis chefs to work in a number of sections as part of their training.
Kitchen assistants
There are often two types of kitchen assistants. Kitchen hands assist with basic food preparation tasks
under the section chef’s direction. Stewards work in the scullery and carry out the washing-up and
general cleaning duties. In smaller kitchen operations these two duties are often combined.
Food and Beverage Service Job Roles
Restaurant manager/supervisor
The restaurant manager or supervisor has overall responsibility for the organisation and administration of
particular food and beverage service areas. These may include the lounges, room service (in hotels),
restaurants and possibly some of the private function suites. It is the restaurant manager who sets the
standards for service and is responsible for any staff training that may be required, either on or off the
job. They may make out duty rotas, holiday lists and hours on and off duty and contribute to operational
duties (depending on the size of the establishment) so that all the service areas run efficiently and
smoothly.
Reception head waiter/receptionist
The reception head waiter or receptionist is responsible for accepting bookings and for keeping the
booking diary up to date. They will take reservations and work with the head waiter to allocate these
reservations to particular stations. The reception head waiter or receptionist greets customers on arrival
and takes them to the table and seats them.
Head waiter/maître d’hôtel/supervisor
The head waiter has overall charge of the staff team and is responsible for seeing that all the pre-
preparation duties necessary for service are efficiently carried out. The head waiter will aid the reception
head waiter during the service and will possibly take some orders if the station waiter is busy. The head
waiter also helps with the compilation of duty rotas and holiday lists and may relieve the restaurant
manager or reception head waiter on their days off.
Station head waiter/section supervisor/service captain
For larger establishments the restaurant area is broken down into sections. The station head waiter has
overall responsibility for a team of staff serving several stations within a section of the restaurant area.
Each of the sets of tables (which may be anything from four to eight in number) within the section of the
restaurant area is called a station. The station head waiter will also assist in taking food and beverage
orders and assist with service if required.
Station waiter/chef de rang
The chef de rang or station waiter provides service to one set of tables (between about four and eight)
known as a station within the restaurant area. The station waiter will take the food and beverage orders
and carry out service at the table with the help of the demi-chef de rang.
Assistant station waiter/demi-chef de rang
The assistant station waiter or demi-chef de rang is the person next in seniority to the station waiter and
assists as directed by the station waiter.
Waiter/server/commis de rang
The waiter or commis de rang acts by instruction from the chef de rang. This person mainly fetches and
carries, may do some of the service of either vegetables or sauces, offers rolls, places plates upon the
table and helps to clear the tables after each course. During the pre-preparation period much of the
cleaning and preparatory tasks will be carried out by the commis de rang.
Trainee commis/debarrasseur/apprentice
The trainee commis or debarrasseur is the apprentice or learner who wishes to take up food service as a
career. The debarrasseur will carry out many of the tasks during the pre-preparation periods. During the

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service this person will keep the sideboard well stocked with equipment and may help to fetch and carry
items as required for the bar or kitchen. As their skills develop, they will also begin to assist in the service
at the table.
Carver/trancheur
The carver or trancheur is responsible for the carving trolley and the carving of joints at the table as
required. The carver will plate up each portion and serve with accompaniments as appropriate.
Floor or room service staff/chef d’étage/floor or room waiter
The floor or room service staff are often responsible for a complete floor in an establishment or,
depending on the size of the establishment, a number of rooms or suites. Room service of all meals and
beverages throughout the day is normally only offered by a first-class establishment. In smaller
establishments room service may be limited to early morning teas and breakfasts with the provision of in-
room mini bars and tea and coffee facilities.
Lounge staff/chef de sal
Lounge service staff may be employed only for lounge service within larger establishments. In a smaller
establishment it is usual for members of the food service staff to take over these duties on a rota basis.
The lounge staff are responsible for the service of morning coffee, afternoon teas, aperitifs and liqueurs
before and after both lunch and dinner and any coffee required after meals. They are responsible for
setting up the lounge in the morning and maintaining its cleanliness and presentation throughout the day.
Wine butler/wine waiter/sommelier
The sommelier is responsible for the service of all alcoholic drinks and non-alcoholic bar drinks during the
service of meals. The sommelier must also be a good sales person. This employee should have a thorough
knowledge of all drink to be served, of the best wines and drinks to go with certain foods, and of the
liquor licensing laws in respect of the particular establishment and area.
Bar staff/bar tender/mixologist
The people working within bar areas must be responsible and competent in preparing and serving a
variety of wine, drinks and cocktails. They should have a thorough knowledge of all alcoholic and non-
alcoholic drinks offered within the establishment, the ingredients necessary for making cocktails and
knowledge of the liquor licensing laws to ensure legal compliance. A mixologist is an employee who mixes
and serves alcoholic beverages at a bar and is also often used as a name for people who create new mixed
drinks. The term can also mean a cocktail maker or simply bartender. Mixology is the art of making mixed
drinks.
Barista
The word barista is of Italian origin. In Italian, a barista is a male or female bartender who typically works
behind a counter, serving both hot and cold beverages as well as alcoholic beverages. Barista does not
mean specifically a coffee maker although it is now often used as such. The plural in English is baristas.
Buffet assistant/buffet chef/chef de buffet
The chef de buffet is in charge of the buffet in the room, its presentation, the carving and portioning of
food and its service. This staff member will normally be a member of the kitchen team.
Cashier
The cashier is responsible for billing and taking payments or making ledger account entries for a food and
beverage operation. This may include making up bills from food and drink checks or, in a cafeteria for
example, charging customers for their selection of items on a tray.
Counter assistants
Counter assistants are found in cafeterias where they will stock the counter and sometimes serve or
portion food for customers. Duties may also include some cooking of call order items.
Table clearers
Again, table clearers can be found in seating areas where there is no waiter service. These people are
responsible for clearing tables using trolleys specially designed for stacking crockery, glassware, cutlery,
etc.
Function catering/banqueting staff/events staff
In establishments with function catering facilities there will normally be a number of permanent staff.
These will include the banqueting and conferencing manager, one or two assistant managers, one or two

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 head waiters, a dispense person and a secretary to the banqueting and conferencing manager. All other
banqueting, conferencing and events staff are normally engaged as required on a casual basis. In small
establishments where there are fewer events, the manager, assistant manager and head waiter will
undertake the necessary administrative and organisational work.

Knowing Your Role as an F&B Service Staff

To be able to do your duties properly, you must understand your role in the organization. Here are some
ways to help you know your duties and responsibilities as a food and beverage staff.

Figure 1.5 F&B Service Role

Organizational This refers to how members are positioned within a business.

Structure Organizational structure can help you not only discover your position in
the company, but also recognize the chain of command and the flow of
authority within it.
Contracts and A contract is a written agreement that details the work you'll be doing,
Job Description the extent of your duties, and the conditions of your jobs. Your boss will
normally have this before you start working.

Other than your primary responsibilities, you will be called upon to

perform a variety of side tasks as required.

On-the-Job OJT or on the job training will let you familiarize yourself with the
Training function of each staff or each department and the processes inside the
organization through hands-on work experience. OJTs can be required
for interns or new staff and even to old staff members if a new policy or
system is being implemented.

SOPs, Policies These are a series of guidelines that specify what actions should be
and Manuals done in any given workplace situation. SOPs are often developed by the
establishment and guided by business practices and, in some cases,
policies enacted by a concerned government entity.
Daily Task A daily task sheet is a paper that lists all of the tasks you must complete
Sheets, Direct during your shift. Before the service or change begins, this is normally
provided to the workers or posted in bulletins.
Requests and
Observation Direct questions and observations, on the other hand, will show you
tasks that must be completed immediately, depending on the case or
how you feel in any given situation.

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 LESSON 3

HYGIENIC PRACTICE
5S of GOOD HOUSEKEEPING

Learning Objectives

- Remember the essential physical appearance of the server

- Identify the procedure for handling complaints

The Food and Beverage Service Staff

Various job positions are involved in food and beverage service. The aim of all F&B service workers,
on the other hand, should be simple: to satisfy guests by meeting their needs and/or exceeding their
expectations.

Today, more people than ever eat outside the home, and to meet this demand, there is increasing
diversity in the nature and type of food and drink offered. In view of the expansion of the industry and the
increasing demands for improved professionalism of food and beverage service staff, there is an even greater
need for people to make their careers in
this noble profession. In addition, there is a
need to improve the trust and performance
of staff through higher standards of
knowledge and skills. Food and beverage
service is a key link between customers and
the menu, drinks and other services offered
at the establishment. The server is the main
point of contact between the customer and
the establishment and plays an important
role in an increasingly national and
international profession. The skills and
knowledge of food and beverage services,
and therefore careers, can be transferred
between establishments, sectors and
around the world.

To be successful in food and beverage service requires members of staff to have:

 sound product knowledge

 well-developed interpersonal skills
 a range of technical skills, and
 the ability to work as part of a team.

Working in the food and beverage sector offers a wealth of opportunities for professional development
and advancement – a successful, exciting and enjoyable career awaits those committed to the hospitality
industry and to working in the food and beverage sector.

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 Professional Work Habits and Skills of an F&B Service Staff
As an employee of the food and beverage service industry, you are obliged to act and work professionally.
You would be able to fulfill the needs of your customers & colleagues if you do so.

As a certified food and beverage worker, the following are some of the most important things to consider
and do.
Figure 1.6 F&B Work Habits

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Knowledge of food and beverages and technical ability
Staff must have sufficient knowledge of all items on the menu and the list of wines and drinks in
order to provide advice and suggestions to customers. In addition, they must know how to serve
each dish on the menu, what its accompaniments are, the correct cover and the make-up of the
dish and its garnish. For beverage service, staff should know how to serve different types of wine
and drink, in the right containers (e.g. glasses, cups) and at the right temperature.

Punctuality is all-important. If staff are continually late on duty it shows a lack of interest in their
work and a lack of respect for the management and customers.

Local knowledge In the interest of customers, the staff should have some knowledge of the area in
which they work so they may be able to advise customers on the various forms of entertainment offered,
the best means of transport to places of interest and so on.

Personality Staff must be tactful, courteous, good humored and of an even temper. They must
converse with the customer in a pleasing and well-spoken manner, and the ability to smile at the right time
pays dividends.

Attitude to customers the correct approach to the customer is of the utmost importance. Staff
must provide service but should not be servile and should be able to anticipate the customer’s needs and
wishes. A careful watch should be kept on customers during the service (but without staring) to check the
progress of the meal. Be attentive but not intrusive at all times during the service sequence.

Cultural awareness the cultural diversity of customers is increasing, and this is reflected in factors
such as language, dress and traditions as well as dietary. Members of service staff need to be open-
minded, non-judgmental and flexible and able to appreciate and communicate respect for other people’s
values and beliefs.

Memory A good memory is an asset to food and beverage service staff. It may help them in various
ways in their work if they know the likes and dislikes of customers, where they like to sit in the food service
area, what their favorite drinks are, and so on.

Honesty Trust and respect in the triangle of staff, customer and management relationships lead to an
atmosphere at work that encourages efficiency and a good team spirit among the food and beverage
service operators.

Loyalty Staff obligations and loyalty are first to the establishment in which they are employed and its
management. Staff therefore need to commit mentally to the ethos of the establishment and be fully
aware of their department’s aims and objectives.

Conduct Staff conduct should be impeccable at all times, especially in front of customers. The rules
and regulations of an establishment must be followed and respect shown to all senior members of staff.
This also applies when staff are off duty but may still be in uniform as they represent the establishment’s
values and attitudes.

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Sales ability All members of staff reflect the image of the establishment. They are sales people and
must therefore have a complete knowledge of all forms of food and drink and their correct service, and so
be able to contribute to personal selling and merchandising. (See Section 12.2, p.423 for more information
on personal selling and merchandising.)

Sense of urgency In order for the establishment to generate the maximum amount of business
over the service period, with as high a net profit as possible, staff must develop a sense of urgency in their
work. This should be promoted by management by displaying a ‘do as I do’ attitude, leading by example.

Complaints Staff should have a pleasant manner and demonstrate courtesy and tact, an even temper
and good humour. They should never show their displeasure even during a difficult situation. Staff should
never argue with a customer and if they are unable to resolve a situation, it should be referred
immediately to a senior member of the team who will be able to reassure the customer and put right any
fault. Remember, loss of time in dealing with complaints only makes the situation worse.

Contribution to the team Above all, staff should be able to work as part of a team within and
between departments. Being a team member means communicating, co-operating and being reliable so
that as a team each member contributes to enable a successful service to be delivered every session.

Key service conventions

There are traditional ways of doing things that have become established over time within the food and
beverage service. These are known as 'service conventions,' and they all have some logic behind them.
Mostly, this has to do with being effective and efficient in the performance of the service. The use of
service conventions also ensures standardization in the service sequence and in the customer process for
both employees and customers. Examples of general service agreements and the rationale for them are
given in Table 2.1.

Table 2.1 General conventions for food and beverage service

Convention Rationale

Always work as part of ateam All members of the team should know and be able to do their own job well, to ensure a smooth,
well-organised and disciplined operation
Work hygienically and safely For the protection of other staff and customers from harm and to avoid accidents

Pass other members ofstaff by Having an establishment rule about each member of staff always moving to theright (or left)
moving to the right avoids confusion and accidents

Avoid contact between fingers and If contact between fingers and mouth or hair, etc., is unavoidable, then hands must be
mouth or hair washed before continuing with service. Always wash hands after using the toilet
Cover cuts and sores Covering cuts and sores with waterproof plasters or dressings is essential health and safety
practice
Use checklists for preparation tasks Using checklists ensures that all members of staff complete all preparatory tasks in the same
way. For example, housekeeping duties, furniture layouts, linen, paper, glassware, tableware,
crockery, condiments, accompaniments, table decorations, menus, place cards, table plans,
service sideboards/stations and service equipment
Prepare service areas in sequence Ensure service areas are laid out and housekeeping duties have been completed before the
preparation for service begins. This can save time and unnecessary duplication of effort
afterwards

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Consider using whitegloves In some establishments members of staff wear white cotton gloves when carrying out
various preparation tasks. The gloves help to prevent the soiling of clean service items and
avoid putting finger marks on cleaned and polished service equipment. White gloves are
also sometimes used during service,
instead of using service cloths, when serving plated foods that are presented on hot plates

Use a model lay-up Lay one initial full place setting (cover) to use as a model for all staff to measure against. A
place setting is usually about 60 cm wide
Hold glasses or cups at the base This is hygienic practice. Service staff should not hold glasses or cups, etc., by the rim
or by the handle
Hold cutlery in the middle at the This is safer, makes for more accurate placing of items on the table and helps to prevent finger
sides between the thumb and marking on the clean cutlery items
forefinger

Lay table place settings (covers) This makes table laying easier. Place a centre to the cover (a table mat or side plate for
from the inside out instance) then lay tableware in order from the inside of the cover
outwards. When laying a number of covers it is more efficient to lay each piece of tableware
for all covers in sequence, i.e. all side plates, then all side knives, etc.

Use of standard lay-ups Indicates the type of meals being taken, the sequence of the courses and also what stage
customers are at within a meal

Fully or partly lay the table Most often tables are fully laid before a meal but this may vary, for instance, if the table is
before a meal begins likely to become excessively cluttered or where there is not sufficient equipment to fully pre-
lay all the tables

Place items on the table Make sure that any crested or patterned crockery or glassware is always placed the same
consistently way round on the table and that it is evenly spaced
Place items low to high Lower items should be placed near to the customer and taller items behind or to the side of
these. This makes items easily accessible by the customer and helps to avoid accidents

Place items according to the Items placed on a table should be within reach of the customer. Handles, etc.should be set for
customer’s position at the table the customer’s convenience

Use checklists for allaspects of These help to ensure that all information is complete and that all managers and staff carry out
service procedures in the same way
Be aware of customers who may Look out for and be prepared to deal with people with impaired vision, hearing, speech,
have additional needs mobility or language. Also be able to deal with children
Use order notationtechniques Use of such techniques helps any server to identify which member of a party is having a
particular item of food or beverage
Avoid leaning over customers This shows courtesy and respect for physical space. Remember that no matter how clean
service staff members are, food and beverage smells do tend to cling to service uniforms

Take food, wine and drink orders This is common courtesy – agreement needs to be obtained for any items that are to be
through hosts served. For larger parties, where there may be a choice, orders may be taken individually but
it is useful to confirm what has actually been ordered with the host as this may save any
disagreements later
Serve cold food before hot food When the hot food is served the service is complete and customers can enjoy the meal
without waiting for additional items to be served. For the same reason, accompaniments
should be automatically offered and served at the same time as the food item

Serve wine before food Similar to above. Customers will wish to enjoy the wine with their meal. They willnot want to
wait for the wine service, as their hot food will go cold

Use underplates (liners) These are used (cold) for four main purposes: to improve presentation on the table; to make
carrying of soup plates, bowls and other bowl-shaped dishes easier; to isolate the hand
from hot dishes; to allow cutlery to be carried along with the item

Use service salvers or service plates Service salvers or service plates are used for five main purposes: to improve presentation
(with napkins or mats on themto of items to be served; to make carrying of bowl-shaped serving dishes easier and more
prevent items slipping) secure (also avoids the thumb of the server being inside a service dish); to allow for more

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 than one serving dish to be carried at a time; to isolate the hand from hot dishes; to allow
service gear to be carried along with the item(s)
Hold flats, food dishes and round This is safer and ensures that the food items are best presented for the customer. It also
trays on the palm of the hand makes for easier carrying and avoids the server’s thumb or service cloths being seen on the
edge of flats, dishes and round trays. If the flats or dishes are hot then the service cloth can
be underneath, folded and laid flat onto the palm to protect the hand
Use doilies/dish paperson Doilies, dish papers (or linen or paper napkins) on underplates are used to improve
underplates (liners) presentation, to reduce noise and to prevent the dish from slipping onthe underplate. Use
doilies for sweet food items and dish papers for savoury food items

Start service from the right-hand Honoured guests are usually seated on the right of a host. The convention is to serve a table by
side of the host, with the host last moving anti-clockwise to each customer, as this ensures that members of the serving staff are
walking forwards to serve the next person
Serve women first Often done if it does not slow the service. Particular care needs to be taken so as not to
confuse things when the host is a woman. A host of either gender is still the host and should
always be served last. Also be aware that some cultures may require that men are served
separately from women, or served first
Silver serve food from the left- Ensures that the service dish is nearer the plate for ease of service and to prevent food
hand side of acustomer being spilt onto the person. Customers can more easily see the food being served and
make choices if necessary, and members of the service staff are also able to see and
control what they are doing
Use separate service gear for This should be standard. It avoids different food items or sauces being transferred from
different food items one dish or plate to another and avoids messy presentation of foods on customers’ plates
Serve foods onto platesconsistently For service of the whole main course onto a joint plate, place the main item at the 6 o’clock
position with potatoes served next at the 10 past 2 position and vegetables last at the 10 to 2
position (this also follows the UK Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB)
recommendations). For main courses with potatoes and vegetables and/or salads served on
a separate plate or crescent, the main item is placed in the centre of the main plate with the
separate plate or crescent of potatoes and vegetables and/or side salad to the left of this
Serve plated foods from the right- Plates can be placed in front of the customer with the right hand and the stack of other
hand side of a customer plated food is then behind the customer’s chair in the left hand. If thereis an accident, the
plates held in the left hand will go onto the floor rather than over the customer. Plated foods
should be placed so that the food items are consistently in the same position for all
customers
Serve all beverages fromthe right- Glasses are placed on the right-hand side of a cover and the service of beverages follows
hand side of a customer from this. For individual drinks and other beverages, the tray is held behind a customer’s
seat in the server’s left hand. Other beverages such as coffee and tea are also served from
the right. All beverages should also be cleared from the right
Use trays Use trays to bring foods and beverage items to the service areas and to clear during and
following service. Trays can be brought to, or removed from, sideboards or service tables and
also to serve plated foods from (or to clear plates onto) with service staff working as a
pair

Separate the serving at table Ensures that there is always someone in the room to attend to customers and to monitor
from food/ drink collection and the overall service, while others are bringing in food and beverage orders or clearing items
sideboard/workstation clearing away from the service station. This approach allows for the training of new staff and ensures
that customer contact is primarily through experienced staff
Clear from the right-hand side of a Plates can be removed from in front of the customer with the right hand and the stack of
customer plates is then behind the customer’s chair, in the server’s left hand. If there is an accident, the
plates held in the left hand will go onto the floor rather than over the customer. The
exception to this is for side plates, which are on the left-hand side of the cover. These are
more easily cleared from the left, thus avoiding stretching in front of the customer
Use checklists for tasksrequired In the same way as using checklists for preparatory tasks (see above), using checklists for
for clearing after service clearing after service ensures that any member of staff completes all clearing tasks in the
same way

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 Food Safety and Hygiene Practices

Working in the food and beverage service industry entails dealing with food. As a result, you must be
aware that your behavior, wellbeing, and personal activities have influenced the service's safety and
efficiency. As a result, you must conduct and follow food handling safety procedures responsibly.

This lesson will cover topics that a F&B service staff member should be able to demonstrate the ability to
meet the industry's hygiene standards. The following are some guidelines for maintaining personal hygiene
for food safety.

Figure 1.7 Hygiene Practices

Uniform and Accessories

Each food and beverage service establishment have different policies when it comes to wearing a uniform.
Apart from wearing the
uniform provided by
management, food and
beverage employees
should also meet the
following guidelines.

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 5S of Good Housekeeping

5S is a simple way to organize the workplace safely and efficiently to increase productivity.
It is a systematized approach to organizing work areas, maintaining rules and standards, and
maintaining the discipline needed for a productive workplace. 5S believes that productivity is
achieved by organizing the work area because it eliminates waste of resources, such as time.
It traces its origin to the production techniques observed in some of the world's leading
manufacturing companies. The method is divided into five phases: Seiri, Seiton, Seiso, Seiketsu and
Shitsuke. Each phase is named after the Japanese term, which identifies the Japanese companies
that already have led the practice of this method.
PRACTICES BENEFITS
To achieve the two primary objectives of When Seiri practices are well
Seiri, the following practices may be carried out and their objectives
This entails sorting, clearing, and followed: are achieved, the following
categorizing. benefits will be observed:
 Use evaluation criteria when
This phase is the first step of the 5S sorting  Production spaces are
method.  Use tags when sorting. freed and made more
 Create a list of materials productive
containing all materials  Inventories are made
available easier
 Less time is spent
searching for an item
 Moving goods and the
mobility of employees is
made easier.

In order to achieve order in the Seiton, when done well, will have
workplace, the following practices the following benefits:
Seiton, which means "to set in should be followed:
order," is the method of gathering  Less time spent searching
all the appropriate things and  Put items in their allocated for items.
putting them in their proper places. locations.  Less time is spent on
 Return the items back to where transport and handling
The goal is to put an order in the they came from. operations.
 Record any changes to the  Fewer operations that
order of placement and to require too much effort,
inform the personnel such as heavy lifting.
concerned.
 Update records on a regular
basis to ensure that items are
located at their designated
locations.
workplace.  Labels items and their
locations.
 Put it frequently
 Do not store items without a
labeled separator.

To ensure compliance with Seiso, the The success of Seiso is

following practices should be followed: characterized by the following
observable factors:

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This is translated as a sweep, a shine  Clean and inspect the workplace
or a clean sweep. regularly.  Tidiness and order shall be
 Assign a caregiver for each tool, maintained in the
It aims to ensure efficiency by machine or device. workplace.
maintaining tools, machines and  Clarify day-to-day maintenance  Malfunctions and other
equipment, as well as the by providing clear instructions. situations may be
cleanliness of the workplace.  Provide the necessary tools and prevented even before
instructions for cleaning. they arise.
 Contradictions and other
non-compliance will not
go unnoticed and
unnoticed.

The following are some of Seiketsu's Successful Seiketsu can be seen

common practices: through these results:
This entails permanently integrating
the acts performed in the Seiri,  Use visual materials to manage  Cleanliness and
Seiton, and Seiketsu into the such things as infographics, orderliness of the
scheme. bulletin boards and lighting workplace shall be
devices. maintained.
This is to ensure that a common  Use messages that are posted  Poor management of the
working standard is maintained. calling for immediate action. process or equipment
 Use the markings on the label of function can be easily
the inspected items. distinguished and
 Post the machine and equipment prevented.
labels indicating the dates of the  Good practices have been
previous maintenance and the standardized.
next maintenance.

Some or all of these practices should be The effect of well-implemented

observed in order to achieve this Shitsuke can be observed
Shitsuke is the last step in the 5S objective: through the following results:
process, and he is responsible for
the maintenance and evaluation of  Develop and regularly review  Employees do
the previous measures. standardized procedures. introduction of the new
 Conduct inspections on a regular practices without being
The aim is to supervise how things basis. told to do so.
are handled now that the previous  Provide the necessary adjustments  Productivity increases will
four measures have been to situations brought about by new be enjoyed over the long
completed. approaches introduced in the first term.
four steps.
 Health and safety
 Train employees in the 5S method
standards have been
and explain the principles behind
improved.
it.
 Communicate the 5S to the staff.

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Handling complaints
At some point a customer will make a complaint, for example:

 service was slow

 food when served was cold
 wine served was at the incorrect temperature
 reservation made was not recorded in the booking diary
 server has been inattentive
 wrong dish was brought to the table
 explanation of the menu was inaccurate
 poor attitude of staff.
Should a problem arise and a customer makes a complaint the following steps should be taken.

1. Do not interrupt the customer – let them have their say and make their point.
2. Apologise – but only for the specific problem or complaint.
3. Restate the details of the complaint briefly back to the customer to show you have
listened and understood.
4. Agree by thanking the customer for bringing the matter to your attention. This
shows you are looking at the problem from the customer’s perspective.
5. Act quickly, quietly and professionally and follow the establishment’s procedures
for handling complaints.
Never:

 lose your temper

 take comments personally
 argue
 lie
 blame another member of staff or another department.
Valid complaints provide important feedback for a foodservice operation and can be used as
valuable learning opportunities to improve service.

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