She Has Taken The Black
(I am a breakfast chef at a five-star hotel. We have a lot of North American customers who are unfamiliar with some popular European foods. A waiter draws my attention to an order they have just taken.)
Waiter: “Vegetarian breakfast with black pudding. I tried explaining but she just shoo-ed me away.”
(Black pudding is made from pigs’ blood.)
Me: “Do you want to check again, that she’s sure?”
(The waiter goes off to check again with the customer and returns a minute later.)
Waiter: “She’s sure. She ate it before and it was delicious. And she isn’t very happy at her order being questioned.”
Me: “I’ll just go and check.”
(I go to the customer’s table.)
Me: “Are you a vegetarian, ma’am?”
Guest: “Yes. Yes, I am.”
Me: “Are you aware of what black pudding is?”
Guest: “Look, I had it for the first time a few days ago and it was delicious. Now, just get me my d*** breakfast.”
Me: “Can I just explain…”
(I go into the full details of how black pudding is made, with the boiling of the pigs’ blood, the addition of oatmeal and diced pig fat, etc. I note the customer going greener and greener as the story goes on.)
Guest: “Actually, could I just have cereal and toast, please?”
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Question of the Week
Have you ever served a bad customer who got what they deserved?
