You can file this under the "geez Kevin, didn't you know that?" archive; but sinister me has been noticing a pattern occurring in restaurants I frequent.
Piper's, one of my favorite sit-down places, was preparing a set a salads for some customers, who wanted ranch dressing with them. Now, they may not be your five-star restaurant with the mega-bucks menu, which means they don't have the resources to make their own salad dressing. This much I understand. But wouldn't you think they would conceal it a little more than this?
Saying they needed "more ranch from under the counter", they proceed to unearth this one-gallon bottle of ranch dressing from Gordon Food Service. And here was the label, sticking out for all to see. Gordon's, for those who don't know, is this no-frill, low-cost provider of restaurant goods. I have been there before and I'm amazed at their specific selection. But why a staffer at the restaurant just lugs this big bottle out in front of all the customers and pours it into the cups the customer will use, what does this say about professionalism?
Think for a moment and go past the point that I may be too cynical. So what if my dressing is not homemade? I may not care, but others might. It doesn't have to be blurted out to the nation. To the higher-class side of me, I'm tempted to think, "They didn't have money to spend on top-quality ranch, so they go get the first thing they buy? And in bulk? How do I know it's not stale?" The ritzy person in me might be tempted to leave, while remarking about their inability to conceal the evidence.
Colleges and seminars have classes in this specific etiquette; you can read it in those high-class, New York-style etiquette books. The restaurant just got a failing grade there, except for product promotion (which this world has seen too much of).
Good thing I like my chicken fingers plain.
----------------------------------
Missed my chance to ask Raquel on a date today, but played it smart, according to a co-worker. I might be rushing things otherwise. She works upstairs all week, so it's not as if the window of opportunity shut on me in just one day.
And YES! Bought a digital camera the other day, allbeit with a bad battery pack which I will fix tomorrow. Then the pictures should be coming in.
