Re: [CH] Own Sauces to Restaurants
green56 (green56@PioneerPlanet.infi.net)
Sun, 09 Jan 2000 08:19:59 -0600
Calvin,
You bring up some very good points and wonderful suggestions on being a *good*
Chile-Head (kind'a like, "Do be a good Do-Bee, Don't be a bad Do-Bee").
Basically, I think it boils down to respect. Just be nice and don't get in
their face as ittiz not their fault they're not using all in the recipes we'd
like them to use.
I've been eating at this particular restaurant for about 5-6 months now, even
sitting at *my* table all the time. Sometimes I eat there twice a week...
<burp> I speak in Spanish, when I can, as all the personnel are Spanish. "Por
favor" and "Gracias" are always used. I've yet to leave there without cleaning
my plate or taking what I don't eat home, and I've always raved about the
service and the food to not only my waitperson, but to the manager as well.
It's been deserved.
I've *not* been charged for their special sauce, and in the future will suggest
they charge for it. Good idea. I'll use all your good ideas in one form or
another from here on out in new restaurants where I'm not known.
Very good suggestions, Cal.
green
Calvin Donaghey wrote:
> green56 wrote:
>
> > Well, 'Heads...
> >
> > I've read here for I don't know *how* long, how so many of you'd gather
> > up your sauces/powders and head out to whatever restaurant you were
> > planning on going to. Once there, you'd doctor-up your food.
> >
> > I've always thought, "How BALLSY!" Man, I could never do THAT!"
> >
> >
>
> > Well, I've now joined the ranks of those seeking little vials, shakers,
> > whatevers so that a stash may be carried at all times. Tho, I'm not
> > above brown bagging it again! :)
> >
> > Sorry so long. It took alot of explaining.
> >
> > green
>
> Green-
> This is a subject I like to see discussed!! Yes, bringing your own goodies
> is generally OK. Like you, I usually have a good time doing it.
> CHs have an opportunity to make outstanding impressions on cooks, owners,
> and wait staff.
> I have taken my own shakers, sauces, and pods into eating establishments for
> years, and never once have I had any indication the folks were upset about
> it. Usually just the opposite- they are quite interested in whatever I
> bring in, especially after we get to know each other. I occasionally offer
> them a taste, a sample or a pepper to eat. I do have some general rules I
> go by, though:
>
> 1. I tip the wait staff, I am polite and friendly, and I start out by saying
> something like: "I'm trying out some sauces, but I need some really good
> Chinese food to give them an adequate test. What do you recommend?" Or;
> " I don't mind paying extra for extra salsa when it's this good. Please
> bring me another bowl and don't be afraid to put it on the ticket." If they
> bring me extra sauce, extra chiles, or extra anything, I make sure I eat
> every drop of it. I also try very hard to clean my plate.
>
> 2. I <NEVER> tell the cook or wait staff I can't get cafes to make my food
> hot enough, even though it is generally true. Instead, I tell them that I
> could never ask a public eating place to cater to my "out of the ordinary
> eating habits", so I bring some of my own. There may be eating places,
> cooks, and staff where this would still be found offensive, but I guess I
> never eat in those places.
>
> 3. If the food is good, I tell them so. I love good spicey food, and
> usually try to establish a rapport with a cook or waitperson who also likes
> it. Several places I frequent see me coming and whip up some extra hot
> sauce or something just to watch me eat it. The Pizza Hut in a little town
> where I often work lets me slice my own pods to cook into the Pizza.
> MMMmmmmm. In return, I have given the cook and/or manager a home-grown pod
> to try (at their request), with the proper precautions.
>
> We eat chiles for lots of reasons. We add them to food because they are
> complimentary and enjoyable. Few things set off a flavorful dish like
> flavorful heat. Bringing our own chiles/sauce/powder/spices can be turned
> into a positive thing for the eating establishment, staff & everybody. I do
> it almost every time I eat out......... :-)
>
> Calvin