Taking an Order

      Order taking is a skilful art that reflects the efficiency of both the waiter and the establishment. An order taken down clearly and pre­cisely would ensure that each guest gets exactly what he has ordered and in the right sequence. This is also the time when a waiter can prove his salesmanship by pushing through suggestions on menu items that yield a high profit margin.

After a guest is seated the first thing to offer him is the beverage menu card, more popularly known as the "Wine List". It is quite in order to suggest an appropriate cocktail or plain drink by saying "May I recommend our barman's special Bloody Mary or Planters Punch?" In this case the waiter has given a definite choice and has limi­ted it to two items to make it easy for the guest to choose from.

 While taking down the order the waiter should have already decided on a code to associate the order with a guest. He may number the guest in a clockwise direction starting from the host or he may decide on his own starting point—perhaps the person sitting closest to the service entrance, etc. It is in order to have any other logical identi­fication system as long as the guest is ensured of his exact order.

In smaller establishments an order may be taken on an order pad and later transcribed on to a check or bill. In larger restaurants the order is taken on a Kitchen Order Ticket (КОТ) which has copies, the number depending upon the establishments control system. Usually the original copy of the КОТ goes to the kitchen or bar while the second copy goes to the cashier for the preparation of the check or bill, while the third copy is retained by the waiter to aid him to give a proper service.

When taking down the food order it is prudent to allow the guest some time to decide. A guest does not appreciate being bustled into giving his decision. Polite suggestions may be given to help the guest decide but he should not be forced to decide in favour of the waiter's recommendation. The waiter should be at hand to explain dishes which demand explanations. He is therefore required to be conversant with the preparation and final presentation of dishes listed on the Menu Card. In addition, his salesmanship would enable him to explain the dishes in an attractive way. For example, "A shrimp cocktail com­prises of fresh succulent shrimps garnished in tangy cocktail sauce, served on a bed of crisp green lettuce".

       A course in the menu must have the logical sequence of a classical menu. Of course, the sequence is according to what range the esta­blishment offers. The normal sequence would be:

Appetizer

Soup

Main Dish

Sweet Dish

Coffee

Normally the dessert and coffee order is taken after the main meal is completed. Some establishments have separate Dessert Menu Cards which offer a range of hot and cold desserts, flambe desserts, ice­creams and coffee (straight and alcoholic).

Dictionary to the text

reflect [rɪ'flekt] (verb)-отражать

efficiency [ɪˈfɪſəns] (noun)- эффективность

 precisely [prɪˈsaɪslɪ] (adverb)-точно, определённо

sequence [ˈsiːkwəns]  (noun)- последовательность

salesmanship  [ˈseɪlzmənʃɪp] (noun)- умение продавать, торговля

item [ˈaɪtəm] (noun)- пункт

profit margin [ˈprɔfɪt ˈmɑːdʒɪn] (noun)- рентабельность, размер прибыли

associate [əˈsəuʃɪeɪt] (verb)- объединять, соединять

identification [aɪdɛntɪfɪˈkeɪʃən] (noun)-идентификация, опознавание

pad [pæd] (noun)-площадка

transcribe [trænˈskraɪb]  (verb)-  расшифровывать

upon [ə'pɔn] (preposition)-на, у, около

retain [rɪ'teɪn] (verb)- удерживать

proper ['prɔpə] (adjective)- присущий, свойственный

prudent ['pruːd(ə)nt] (adjective)- предусмотрительный, благоразумный

bustle ['bʌsl] (noun) - переполох, суета

forced [fɔːst] (adjective) - принудительный, вынужденный

favour ['feɪvə] (noun)- расположение; благосклонность

explanation [ˌeksplə'neɪʃ(ə)n] (noun)- пояснение, разъяснение

conversant [kən'vɜːs(ə)nt] (adjective)- знающий, опытный

shrimp [ʃrɪmp] (noun) - креветка

comprise [kəm'praɪz] (verb)- включать

succulent ['sʌkjələnt] (adjective)- сочный

garnish ['gɑːnɪʃ] (noun)- отделка, украшение

crisp [krɪsp] (adjective)- рассыпчатый, хрустящий

complete [kəm'pliːt] (adjective)- полный; целый

range [reɪnʤ] (noun)- ассортимент

"Wine List"- Винная карта