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Permalink Reply by John P on June 20, 2009 at 8:27pm

"Great food takes passion, skill, and quality ingredients.
Please enjoy our food as it is served.
There will be no additions or alterations.

Thank You!"

OR

wear a shirt that says, "Don't f**K with the chef!" :)

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Permalink Reply by Scott Bruggman on June 20, 2009 at 8:30pm

Chuck I totally understand you. I myself am a Chef by trade and I hate nothing more than one of my nightly specials are torn apart into a piece of personalized crap!

You know I just spent a half hour on the Balsamic reduction and you don't want it at all, Thanks ass! (Is what I wish I could say sometimes)

But what it all comes down to is creating the experience for the customer. If the customer just wants a ham and Swiss panini, we have to make them the best plain panini ever. Because what we think is great on a sandwich isan't always what "Joe Six Pack" wants on a sandwich.
Its making "Joe" happy that keeps him coming back. He may not be the biggest part of you clientele, but he does count and he will keep coming back. Though make sure you are thankful for the customers who eat their paninis the way there suppose to be made, and they will tell their friends and more people will come in for those great paninis.

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Permalink Reply by Al Sterling on June 20, 2009 at 9:57pm

Chuck.... thanks for opening the floodgates. In the short term, I'd say take some calming tea or a valium. But for longterm relief, I'd have to write out an order to have you serve kindergardeners through 3rd graders "daily gourmet lunches" for a period of no more than 2 weeks, and no less than 1 week.......depending on just how long it would take you to use up all the ammo shooting the ketchup bottles with your 12 gauge! I believe this would be classified as a "humbling experience", if not a great way to maybe build up your tolerance for those panini clients.

It's because of the grandkids that I have such a large inventory of flavored sauces, syrups and smoothie blends, and sugar confections at the home espresso test bar. They find it effortless covering any of my gourmet food or beverage creations with massive amounts of either ketchup or "chocolate ants." They also can make these really interesting contorted faces the minute they taste any spice or herb beyond salt. They're older now, but at one time I considered accomodating the little angels with a "spitoon" under the dining room table! No use having them spit out my gourmet mac 'n cheese all over my wife's tablecloth, right?

But seriously, and as a business person, I recommend what was somewhat already shared. Remember the logistics in how you cover the overhead. (sell stuff, get money, pay bills?) So we then consider allocating a space on the menu for "Your Panini", which would be a customer's choice of some basic ingredients. Don't bastardize any of your creations, but actually have a sandwich that the customer can "control" and even name, if that'll make them spend more and spend more often. Having owned manufacturing businesses, I've found that as long as I isolated any possible association with my quality products, using new tradenames, etc., I could offer "less involved" product. But I only did it when that product was fully identified as "best value", or "economy version"......... and the location and/or identifiers were made distant from our upper grade products. You can do the same with food. But I'd never take a well known high end product and modify it for the client. There's always a chance someone will ask ".........what is that?" And the "Larry Lunchbucket" that turned your passionate sandwich into a trainwreck, would blurt out the menu name it had......... prior to Larry screwing it up; and at your hands I might add. (why'd you do it Chuck?)

There............... NOW how do you feel?

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Permalink Reply by Jason Shipley on June 20, 2009 at 10:08pm

Just put a build your own sandwich on your menu, there is no sense in battling over someone who whats no onions or tomatoes on their sandwich. Just remember it may be your creation but it is their lunch their buck and their choice to walk through your doors. Whats next ya gonna throw out the idiot that wants you to put 4 splendas in her no foam extra hot latte?

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Permalink Reply by Jay Caragay on June 21, 2009 at 7:35am

While I've been known to kick people out - or at least gently assure them that "perhaps we're not the best fit for you," I remember that much of what we do is building trust. People come to us because they're willing (or forced) to try something outside of their box. They want to start with small steps - try something that's familiar to them as a baseline. Then, if they find it to their liking, they'll come back and try again. After awhile, you have built a level of trust with them and they may start to explore other items.

I know with our customers, we try to accommodate them as much as possible while encouraging them to try things "our way." We don't (or try not to) force them, but a constant reassuring and prodding to give it a try is always there. At some point, some of them submit and give it a try our way. Some like it and make a change. Others maintain their preferences. We try to lessen the trepidation and fear by offering to buy it for them if they hate it.

You're proud of your creations. Maybe demonstrate your convictions by asking them to try it your way and if they hate it, you'll make them whatever they want instead. Their risk is eliminated (or at least minimized) and you get your creations in their mouths where it will do its' talking.

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Permalink Reply by Mike Spence on June 22, 2009 at 2:05pm

This hits pretty close to home :) - I am a picky person - always have been . . . Can't stand anything hotter than black pepper, don't eat most veggies and no, it does not matter that the onions are diced and small - you can still taste them. Simple fact is that if I can't alter the sandwich or if there is no accomodating sandwich for me then I won't order it. I've been places that won't change the food and that's ok - I just can't spend the money on something I won't like. I obviously don't believe that every shop should work towards my personal tastes but it is nice when there are some options for the crowd that is not as adventureous!

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Permalink Reply by Tom Maegdlin on June 22, 2009 at 2:35pm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2yw7P51DFog


Let Gordon Ramsay show you how it's done.

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Permalink Reply by Notblueatall on June 22, 2009 at 3:19pm

Some people do it for dieting reasons and some (more importantly) do it for food allergy reasons. I have a friend who is both dairy and wheat intolerant. I have sat at cafes and restaurants where she tries to explain what she can't have and ends up just asking for everything on the side to be safe. I totally get where you're coming from, but people are people. And you have the right to refuse service to anyone.

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