Comments on: In The Weeds: There’s a Food Allergy Community? Really?

By: More shocking & disguting revelations from your serving staff… « World (and Lunar) Domination

Mon, 04 Jan 2010 04:43:19 +0000

[...] those articles led me to Frothy Girlz where I looked for an apparently old blog post that keeps coming up to annoy the writer. I [...]

By: AiXeLsyD13

AiXeLsyD13 — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 03:57:03 +0000

Perhaps you ought to suggest something like this for your work place, then all the burden wouldn’t be on the server, and advertising that you’re using the program may bring in more business… http://canieatthere.blogspot.com/2008/08/restaurant-training-for-food-allergies.html

By: Shannon

Shannon — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 02:39:00 +0000

@AiXeLsyD13
Of course that isn’t applicable everywhere, or even from one night to another, but the back of the house definitely have their favorites, and that’s how they wield control. I’m not talking about high end restaurants, but mid range. Do you really think everyone back in every kitchen really cares about the business’ income? They are salaried in the mid range market. Why would they care? Now a chef is a different matter, but true chefs mostly reside in higher end restaurants.
As for the coffee, you are always going to have good and bad servers.
Everyone who writes for this blog exaggerates for comedic effect. It is not to be taken too seriously. It is all in good fun. We try to make people laugh.

By: AiXeLsyD13

AiXeLsyD13 — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 21:13:29 +0000

It’s odd to me that the kitchen staff doesn’t respect the servers, that’s your point of contact with the source for the business’ income… you’d think any communication would be crucial to customer satisfaction.

Again, I’ve never worked in the industry, so I have no idea.

But then again, things like serving regular coffee to folks who request decaf happens all the time. They do this to my grandma, and she’s buzzed for hours afterward. Surely, that has nothing to do with the kitchen staff…?

By: Shannon

Shannon — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 20:24:22 +0000

Hey AiXeLysD13,
I am one of Charity’s co-writers, and I read all the comments. I, too, waited tables for a long time and one thing I think I think the average joe does not realize is how much the server is at the mercy of the kitchen staff. You can ask, plead, and beg, but if they are not in a giving mood they may not leave off the tomatoes even though you ordered it that way. Then the table incorrectly assumes that the server screwed up. I think that when someone has a life threatening allergy the safest thing for everyone involved is for the patron to go directly to the management before they are seated. This takes the server out of it, and the kitchen staff will take the manager more seriously. As I have been reading some of the comments about the food allergies, I just keep thinking if people only knew how little the server can actually do about it. Sad but true.

By: AiXeLsyD13

AiXeLsyD13 — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 20:08:40 +0000

Apologies, I was a little jumpy after reading a Yahoo! article last night that led me (eventually) to end up here. My wife has a hard enough time getting me to dine out at new places, these articles just solidified my resolve. There’s no way to be absolutely sure of my health unless I prepare all food myself and read every label, and hope that all labels divulge allergy information.

It just seems to me that no one takes allergies seriously. Each time I eat out at a place that serves shellfish, I feel like I’m playing Russian Roulette with albeit slightly better odds. When I explain my allergy to people, I have to go through the myriad of flippant questions that all boil down to “Can’t you just push it aside” and “A little won’t kill you, will it?”

I have walked out of places where servers have rolled their eyes at me just for asking.

I leave RIDICULOUS tips if the server goes to get a manager or cook/chef, but don’t want to ask “can I see the manager/chef” for fear of coming off as condescending or arrogant.

I have called ahead to restaurants and asked if they had any shellfish, was told no, arrived, and seen the “specials” board touting lobster, shrimp, & clams. At one Amish restaurant in Ohio, I called to ask if they had shellfish… the girl told me “No, we have shrimp, and lobster, and crab, but nothing in the shell.” Now I ask for each individually… and how it’s prepared.

Perhaps a standard for dealing with allergies needs to be created? I have seen sites online where some larger cities are taking initiative, and it seems like Canada is years ahead of the US as far as warning labels, posters in kitchens, and pushing for requiring restaurants to have an epi pen kit on site.

I do find your blog to be witty and well written, even if I have a slightly different philosophy on some things.

By: SirOtter

SirOtter — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 18:45:16 +0000

I understand why folks with allergies would be nervous about the food in restaurants, but expecting your server to have a degree in biochemistry so they’ll know what is and isn’t safe for you is a tad optimistic. I don’t think it’s fair to make a server responsible for your health. I’d suggest checking with the management of your local restaurants to find out what they know about your allergies and how their foods fit in with your needs beforehand, rather than waiting until you arrive and laying such an unreasonable burden on your server.

Love the blog. It’s been eighteen years since I’ve waited table, but I’ve had many a smile and a few hearty laughs reading here about the experiences common to all serverfolk.

By: shannon c.

shannon c. — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 08:11:11 +0000

aix, i happen to agree with mnerva. i think most servers truly do enjoy what they do, but it’s like any industry, and any group of people, they complain about things. when i worked at a grocery store in highschool, people would complain about stupid things customers did. servers complain when they don’t get tipped well, because that’s there bread and butter. personally, i go out of my way to make sure that my guests are getting good service. when i find out about an allergy, i go out of my way to make sure that my guests know how there food is cooked, if it’s on the same grill, or oil, or pans, and how severe the allergy is with regards to some things. i’m not allergic to food products, but friends and family are, and i am allergic to things that could potentially save my life. i’m not trying to make light of your allergy, they’re awful things, but when you’re that allergic, that is one case that it’s ok to push the issue.

By: Mnerva

Mnerva — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 04:20:58 +0000

AiX, you made the statement that is at the top of the list of bothersome things people say about servers/serving. Who ever said that we are annoyed by waiting on people? Obviously we’re not, or else we wouldn’t be doing it. I actually ENJOY waiting on people for the most part. I’ve been given gifts by my regular customers, know all about their lives and families, and love to see them walk through our doors. BUT, there are many people who we HATE waiting on because they don’t treat us like people/humans. It is incredible. They act like since I am a server I: A)have no brains, B)have no life, C)have no status or value in the world and D)can and should be treated like sh*t. Well A)I have an IQ of over 150, B)have a very full and happy life, C)am doing very well financially, tyvm, and D)NO ONE should be treated like sh*t. Having allergies is tough, I know, I have plenty. I think the whole point was if the allergy is life threatening then extensive lengths should be taken to make sure that you do not come into contact with that allergen. And going out to eat definitely broadens the possibility that you WILL come into contact with it. AND the server really does not control a majority of the situations of food preparations. I have no problems trying to help out people with allergies, when and if I can.

By: AiXeLsyD13

AiXeLsyD13 — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 02:59:27 +0000

So, because I have a food allergy… I should never leave my house or dine out anywhere? My friends & family always wonder why I’m so uncomfortable dining out, and this is why. I’m allergic to shellfish. No, I can’t just push it aside, or pick it off, or avoid it. No, I can’t eat steak that’s been cooked on the same grill. No, I can’t trust the waitress/waiter, manager, cook, and slew of other people that you mentioned.

When I find myself brave enough to dine out, I make the wait staff aware of my allergy once, before I order… and never mention it again. I leave ridiculously large tips if I feel the service was good, because I have an extremely small circle of places to dine out where I feel comfortable, and like to get that great service each & every time I go there.

If waiting on people annoys you so much, why don’t you go get another job?

I have been in an ambulance, on the way to the hospital, not able to breathe because I ate food that came into contact with shellfish. It’s not fun. Try letting someone cut off your airways some time and see how it feels.

Do I need to go live in a hole because I have this condition? I’d say you’re less fit to function within normal society as far as attitude goes. It amazes me how many ignorant and inconsiderate people out there choose careers in customer service.