THE BASIS OF KITCHEN ORGANIZATION
The purpose of kitchen organization is to assign or allocate tasks,
so they can be done efficiently and properly and so all workers know what their
responsibilities are. The way a kitchen is organized depends on several
factors.
1. The menu.
The kinds of dishes to be produced obviously determine the jobs
that need to be done. The menu is, in fact, the basis of the entire operation.
Because of its importance, we devote a whole chapter to a study of the menu ..
2. The type of establishment.
The major types of food service establishments are as follows:
• Hotels
• Institutional kitchens
Schools
Hospitals, nursing homes, and
other health-care institutions
Employee lunchrooms
Airline catering
Military food service
Correctional institutions
• Catering and banquet services
• Fast-food restaurants
• Carry-out or take-out food facilities
• Full-service restaurants
3. The size of the operation (the number of customers and the
volume of food served).
4. The physical facilities, including the equipment in
use.
Depending on the above factors
the classical kitchen brigade can be fabricated as follows:
*** Under each sections, commi I,II AND III should be included
CHEF DE CUISINE
(HEAD CHEF)
The Chef de Cuisine
in the large establishment is much more a departmental manager than a working craftsman.
He is selected for his organizing and executive abilities than for his culinary
skill. Though it is obvious that he
should have such skill and a large appreciation of fine cookery. His principle function is to plan, organize
and supervise the work of the kitchen.
He prepares the menus for the management in accordance with the costing
and catering policies laid down. He has
full responsibility for staff, selection and policy or major
responsibility for staff, selection and dismissal in conjunction with the
personnel department.
He will also be concerned with the planning and equipment of his
kitchen. Thus, the executive responsibilities for his Kitchen. Thus, the executive responsibilities of the
Chef de Cuisine can be considered under the principal head of.
·
Food and
food costs (through menu planning & ordering)
·
Kitchen
Staff
·
Kitchen
plant and equipment
Under his control all three activities must be coordinated to produce
goods efficiently and economically. His
status is normally second only to the manager and he will expect complete
control of his department.
In addition to the crafts skill and technical knowledge acquired as a
result of apprenticeship, technical training and experience, the Chefs de
Cuisine must additionally acquire managerial qualities and administrative
knowledge particularly in regard to the organization of work, control of staff, the efficient use of
machinery, costing and food control. He
must be aware of modern development in manufacturing and processing food for
his kitchen. Present trends indicate that the Chef must increasingly concern
himself not only with cookery but with the quality of the food and art of food
presentation. In the widest
sense. This calls for a degree of the merchandising
skill and on occasion showmanship. Hygiene is of top importance in
the kitchen and there is hardly a better beginning than with the Chef’s own
person.
A Chef de Cuisine must have knowledge of French, Current Affairs,
commodities and tools of his trade.
SOUS CHEF
Sous Chef or under chef is the principal assistant of the Chef de Cuisine. In large establishments the Sous Chef will
have no sectional or partial responsibility but will aid the chef in his
general administration and in particular in supervising the work of preparing
food and in overseeing its service at the (Pick up counter). Where a considerable kitchen operation is involved
there may be more that one Sous Chef.
The Sous Chef acts as a Chef de Cuisine in the absence of the
Chef. When the Chef de Cuisine is
engaged at work within his office, i.e. occupied in Menu Planning, checking
records figures or in similar administrative routines, the Sous Chef directly
supervises the practical kitchen activities.
Sous chef directly supervises the food pick-up during meal service
times and can make adhoc staff changes during the working day to relieve
pressure.
In large establishments it is possible for there to be as many as four
to six Sous Chefs, particularly it is so when separate kitchens are set up for
say Grill room, Restaurant, Banquet Service, specialist cuisines etc.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF EXECUTIVE SOUS CHEF
·
Supervises
kitchen shift operations and ensures compliance with all Food & Beverage
policies, standards and procedures.
·
Assists
Executive Chef with all kitchen operations.
·
Performs
all duties of kitchen managers and associates as necessary.
·
Recognizes
superior quality products, presentations and flavor.
·
Maintains
purchasing, receiving and food storage standards.
·
Ensures
compliance with food handling and sanitation standards.
·
Calculates
accurate theoretical and weighted food costs.
·
Estimates
daily production needs on a weekly basis and communicates production needs to
kitchen personnel daily.
·
Coordinates
banquet production with Banquet Chef.
·
Supports
procedures for food & beverage portion and waste controls.
·
Assists
in maintaining associate cafeteria operation and food quality standards.
·
Follows
proper handling and right temperature of all food products.
·
Knows
and implements Taj Palace Hotel Hygiene Standards.
·
Helps
the Executive Chef Research and test new food products in conjunction with
company initiatives.
·
Assists
the Executive Chef with maintaining all standard recipes.
·
Participates
in training the Restaurant and Catering staff on menu items including
ingredients, preparation methods and unique tastes.
·
Operates
and maintains all department equipment and reports malfunctions.
·
Assists
with an effective kitchen equipment repair and maintenance program.
·
Orders
associate uniforms according to budget and ensures uniforms are properly
inventoried and maintained.
·
Purchases
appropriate supplies and manage inventories according to budget
·
Reviews
staffing levels to ensure that guest service, operational needs and financial
objectives are met.
·
Interacts
with guests/customers, community, Company representatives, vendors and local
education systems as needed.
·
Trains
associates in safety procedures and supervises their ability to follow loss
prevention policies to prevent accidents and control costs.
Effectively investigates
reports and follows-up on associate accidents
CHEF
DE PARTIE
Partie is a French word meaning "part (of a whole) or
section." A Partie system is one in which an operation's space equipment,
and jobs are divided up into sections. The Partie system for chefs evolved in
the Escoffier era from an analysis of the tasks needed for production and then
a grouping of those tasks so as to maximize production speed and efficiently.
The original system lasted up to the 1930s and was designed primarily for large
restaurants, especially those in major hotels providing extensive a la carte
and table d'hôte menus in the classic French tradition. As the task of the
professional kitchen came to involve serving more customers in more and
different ways, it organization inevitably became more complex. Highly
elaborate dishes required highly specialized experts rather than general chefs
who must handle all types of cookery at once.
Chef de partie is a working cook in charge of a clearly defined section of
activities within the kitchen. The Chef
de Partie particularly of the sauce and Grade Manager may have the status and
duties of a Sous Chef in addition to sectional responsibilities.
All the Chef de Parties may be regarded as supervisors or foremen of
their sections as well as skilled craftsmen.
JOB DESCRIPTION OF DEMI CHEF
DE PARTI
Ø Cooking and presentation as per the standardized
recipes
Ø Allocation of work
Ø Checking mis-en-place on quality and quantity
Ø Control wastage
Ø Maintain quality
Ø Innovate new dishes
Ø Maintain discipline and grooming of staff
Ø To Maintain Hygiene and sanitation
Ø Portion control
Ø Storage of food and provisions
Ø Raw material quality check
Ø Allot duties to commis
Ø Control over production and wastage.
Ø Assist in implementing TBEM processes
Ø Adhering to HACCP
Ø Enabling and adherence of the principles and work
practices detailed under HACCP System in the department viz., Food Safety,
Hygiene and Cleanliness, Health, Storage etc as applicable to the area of your
work place.
INTERDEPARTMENTAL CO-ORDINATION:
To
coordinate and cooperate mainly with F&B Service, Room Service purchase and
stores department. Coordinate with all Department Heads.
CHEF GARDE
MANGER
The Chef Grade Manger is in charge of the larder. The larder is not only a place where food is
steamed but also a place where the raw materials of cookery are prepared and
dressed.
In larger establishments larder work may be broken into sections and in
one or two instances, it is possible that the sub-sections may have
independence of the Chef Garde Manger, i.e. Boucher might by directly
controlled by the Chef De Cuisine or Sous Chef.
This is rarely true in smaller establishments, the sub-sections within
the Grade Manger will both indicate the wide range of this Chef de Parties
duties and explain why he enjoys a status in the Kitchen brigade comparable to
that of the Chef Saucier.
The Chef Grade Manger is normally accommodated adjoining the main
kitchen but will have its own cooking facilities. According to the size of the establishment,
its sub-section too will be separate to a greater or smaller extent. This also incorporates Hors d’oeuvres
section and a salad room, sometimes a fruit room where such items as melons,
grapefruit, fruit salad etc. are prepared.
There is a great deal of work organization and careful distribution of
work to be carried out. Chef Grade
Manger caters to such dishes as those commonly found on a cold table, and
comprises not only of cold dishes and salads. Sandwiches are his responsibility with
the exception of sale of the hot or toasted sandwiches such as club sandwiches
(Chef Rotisseur). Mayonnaise, vinaigrette
sauce, and other dressings and sauces for cold food are made by Chef Grade
Manger. Various sections looked after by
Chef Grade Manger are as follows:
JOB DESCRIPTION OF CHEF
GARDE MANGER
·
Performs
all duties of Culinary and related kitchen area associates to train new
associates and step in and assist during high demand times.
·
Supervises
daily shift operations and oversees production and preparation of culinary
items.
·
Opens
and closes kitchen shifts and ensures completion of assigned duties.
·
Maintains
food handling and sanitation standards.
·
Works
with Restaurant and Banquet departments to coordinate service and timing of
events and meals.
·
Assists
with developing menus and promotions.
·
Operates
all department equipment as necessary and reports malfunctions.
·
Purchases
appropriate supplies and manages food and supply inventories according to
budget.
·
Supervises
staffing levels to ensure that guest service, operational needs and financial
objectives are met.
·
Understands
and implements Marriott's 30 Point Safety Standards.
·
Develops
railroad-cleaning schedules for associates; ensures associates follow cleaning
schedules and keep their work areas clean and sanitary.
·
Ensures
all associates have proper supplies, equipment and uniforms.
·
Communicates
areas in need of attention to staff and follows up to ensure follow through.
·
Helps
train associates in safety procedures and supervises their ability to execute
departmental and hotel emergency procedures.
·
Participates
as needed in the investigation of associate accidents.
·
Understands
and complies with loss prevention policies and procedures.
Other
·
Performs
other duties as assigned to meet business needs.
·
BOUCHERIE (Butcher Shop):
Boucherie in hotel differs in many important regards from that of
retail trade. It includes the dissecting
of quarters of beef and careasses of lamb etc.
It will also include the dressing of meat either for joints such as
contre filet or small cuts like noisette, cotelettes or tournedos etc.
·
CHACUTIER (Pork Butcher and Sauage maker):
Charcutier involves Pork butcher, the preparation of Pork products and
sausage, etc. He is also responsible for
the rendering and clarifying of dripping. Again, the extent to which the Charcutier
work is separated from the staff of the Grade Manger depends on the volume of
work.
·
VOLAILLEUR (Poulterer):
Where there is an extremely large establishment, the Poulterer who is
responsible for the plucking cleaning and dressing not only of the poultry, but
game birds, hares and rabbits may be separated from the fish monger and the
larder proper.
·
POISSONER (Fishmonger):
The hotel fish monger prepares fish not in the style of the tradesman,
in retail trade for he must have the raw materials ready for the immediate
attention of the appropriate Chef, either for the Chef Piossoner or in some
instances for cold dishes for Chef Grade Manger.
A wide range of products of sea, river and lake will normally come to
him for treatment which includes skinning, illeting and portioning. Fish, such as eel, osysters, lobsters and
ernbs will demand his attention as well as the ordinary range of river, sea and
shell fish.
·
HORD D’OEUVRIER (Hors d’ ocuvre cook) :
Where work justifies it, the preparation of Hors d’ oeuvre of all kinds
is organized separately. The dishes for
this section can be great and involve the regular preparation of commodities
e.g. preparation of dressings, varieties of vegetables salads (Potato,
Russian), varieties of meat and fish dishes found on the Hors d’ oeuvries is
often entrusted not only to a Chef Horss d’ oeuvrier and assistant of Chef
Grade Manger but to semi-skilled hands, often women workers trained only in
assembling prepared material and in decorating dishes.
·
SLADIER (Salad Maker):
The person responsible for the preparatory work and assembling of
salads usually works in the Grade Manger.
CHEF
DE NUIT
Night duty cook is
a chef whose main duties are to take over when the main kitchen staff leave.A
separate Chef de Nuit may be retained in the Grade Manger but normally one
person suffices. Night duty cook does not necessarily remain on duty throughout
te night but only until such time, the late meals have ceased.
The duties of Chef de Nuit are sometimes carried out by a Sous
Chef. The Sous Chef doing this is
present for the service of dinner but not lunch and is responsible for all the
work when the normal brigade has gone off duty.
This system is used in 75% of places where late service is given. Sous Chef must make sure that he has all the
necessary facilities and that the correct mis-en-place is left by Chef de
Partie before they go off duty.
CHEF POTAGER (Soup Cook)
The Chef’s importance within kitchen is also supported by the fact that
the repertory of soups including consomme, cremes and veloutes, purees, broth’s
bisques and many speciality and nation favouring essences and garnished in
hundreds of ways, besides all basic stocks are prepared by him.
Chef portager can be supplied by other parties with some of the
garnishes required. For example, he
receives material not only from the Grade Manger but for consommé celestine,
receive pancakes from the Chef Entremetier.
He receives stocks from the Chef poissonier for fish and other ordinary
tools, particularly producing vegetables of wide variety of shapes and
sizes. Like all cooks, a cultivated
palate is an importance requirement for adjustment.
CHEF SAUCIER (Sauce Cook)
He prepares all fundamental sauces i.e. Bechamel, tomato sauce,
veloute. He prepares all light and heavy
entrees for example volauvent (light entrée).
Heavy entrée (Steaks) i.e. meat, poultry and game dishes which are not
roasted or grilled.
It is difficult to differentiate between the duties of Chef Saucier and
that of Chef Rotisseur. The Saucier
prepares the peolage stews braised, boiled and sauted dishes which approximates
a roasting process.
He is considered to be the senior Chef de Partie and normally takes
over the responsibility of the Sous Chef when absent. He requires knowledge because his work covers
an extensive variety of dishes and specialty sauces.
CHEF COMMUNAR
(Staff/Cafeteria Cook)
The staff cook
provides the meals for the employees who use the staff room for the wage-earning
staff and includes uniformed and maintenance staff, chambermaids, waiters,
lower grade clerical staff, etc.
Catering of this nature should be influenced by nutritional factors.
CHEF
ENTREMTIER (Vegetable Cook)
The Entremet course is, on the modern menu, the sweet, which is the
responsibility to the Chef Patissier and not the Chef Entremetier. Traditionally, an important Entremet course
on traditional menu in France was however the entremet de legumes when
skillfully prepared and cooked vegetables were presented on a dish apart. An entremet was originally something sent to
the table between the courses and this practice still sarvives in France as far
as vegetables are concerned.
The Entremetier
therefore is concerned mainly with the following things:
·
All
vegetables dishes
·
All
patato dishes other than deep fried
·
All egg
dishes
·
All
farinaceous dishes
N.B.: In some circumstances, it
is not possible to employ a Chef Potager, therefore, Chef Entremetier prepares
all soups.
BREAKFAST COOK
The cooking and
service of breakfast is commonyly entrusted to a specialty cook whose range is
limited o the needs of breakfast. He
does not rank as a full Chef de Partie but needs to be of good skill. He works alone with a Commis and
parters. After the breakfast preparation
he attaches himself to the roast section.
Here he prepares mis-en-place and continues cooking roasts and grill for
late service lunch when the Chef de Patie and staff go off.
The mis-en-place
for breakfast including the boning and slicing of bacon and preparation for the
various types of fish eaten at breakfast time, carried out in advance by a
subordinate of Grade Manger and semi-skilled assistants in the patisserie. The breakfast cooks and helpers are left with
the simple tasks of assembling and cooking breakfast dishes.
Toasts and beverages are the
responsibility of the Still Room.
CHEF ROTISSEUR
This is a very
responsible sercion, Finest roast cooks are English as roasting has always been
renowned in England as a specialization.
Roasts are very popular. This
partie is responsible for deep – frying of foods of all kinds, including fried
potatces and the Rotisseur may have an assistant le friturier (Frying cook) for
the task.
Chef Rotisseur is
responsible for savouries such as Welsh Rarebit and for Hot Sandwiches (Club
Sandwich types). This corner is also
occupied with the preparation of stock for gravies which accompany the roasts
and other dishes.
Foods to be
roasted cover a wide range of poultry, game and meat include the baking or
pies, the joints poultry and game to be cooked by the Rotisseur are given the
basic preparatory treatment (plucking, preparation etc.) for the oven in the
larder by the butcher or poulterer.
Sometimes commis from the roast corner may help the larder for clearing
the trussing of poultry of dissection trimming and trying of joints of butcher’s
meat. The roast corner is located in the
main stove section and all the necessary cooking apparatus for roasting, for
deep frying for finishing of savouries under the salamander are grouped
together and make this section of the hottest. Some dishes are identical
basically, but different methods of handling are employed therefore they are
sometimes done by Rotisseur and sometimes by the saucier.
In short, the duties of roast cook are:
·
Responsible
for roasting poultry and game feathered and furred.
·
Responsible
for all deep-fried dishes, Pommes frites, pont- neuf, etc.
·
Responsbile
for all deep-fried fish dishes.
·
Mis-en-place e.f. if separate grilled pommes pailles mut
be prepared by Rotisseur. These are used
as a garnish on certain grills.
·
Savouries e.g. Oyster rolled in bacon grilled on
skewer, Welsh rarebit.
Certain types of savouries, scotch wood cock, scrambled eggs, are
prepared by entremetier but it is completed and served at the last minute by
the Rotisseur.
TRANCHEUR
(Craver)
Chef Trancheur or carver may be under the control of the Rotisseur. Trancheur is killed only in carving not in
cooking. He may operate only behind the
scenes at the hotel service counter or may alternatively stationed in the
dining room and patrol the restaurant with a heated voiture (trolley).
(CHEF GRILLARDIN Grill
Cook/CHEF SAVOURIER (Savoury Cook)
The work of the grill cook is simply undertaken by a subordinate of the
Chef Rotisseur.
Where a separate grillardin is set he might deal with the savouries
& combine the functions of grillardin with that of Savourier (Savoury
Cook).
The grill cook is a semi-skilled speciality cook, his duties relative
to those of other chefs are narrow but deal with grilling, using charcoal or
more modern grills using electricity or gas.
Experience and judgement is required for this job.
CHEF POISSONIER
(Fish Cook)
The Chef Poissonier is responsible for the cooking, garnishing and
sauce making for the fish courses with the exception of deep fried fish, the
grilled of fish possible by done by the grill cook.
Cleaning including scaling, skinning, fileting portioning and bread
crumbing are the responsibility of the Chefs Grade Manger. The subordinate engaged in egg and crumbing
is called in French the Panadier.
This chef is responsible for the cooking, garnishing, sauce maiking and
the dishing of fish. Fish featuring
fresh water fish, sea water fish, shell like crab, crayfish, shrimps, lobster
and mussels.
Oysters are ordinarily served either direct from fishmonger or a
convenient cool place. If they are
cooked, they are dished out direct from Chef Poissonier.
Methods of cooking fish include poaching, a’la menuiere, en poele and
elaborate dressings are done by Chef Poissonier.
Veloute de poisson is a fundamental sauce produced only by Poissonier
made froma roux and a fond de poisson. Poissonier is responsible for making
stock and then veloute, the fish bones are supplied by the Grade Manger.
He stores the sauces properly which are made in advance as precautions
against food poisonisng. The Reportoire
of fish dishes and their accompanying sauces requires great experience training
and judgement from this Chef de Partie.
CHEF DE BANQUETS
(Banquet Chef)
In large establishments completely separate arrangements may be
provided if not for the complete cooking of banquet and function meals at least
for their assembling and service. The
Chef given responsibility for special service of banquet may be known as Chef
de Banquets.
CHEF PATISSIER
The Chef Patissier has a different status but certainly not less than
the Chef Saucier and the Chef Garde Manger.
The work of this department is normally separated from the main kitchen
and is self contained in the matter of cold stage, machinery and equipment for
making ices and with its own baking and cooking facilities.
Chef Patissier is responsible for all hot and cold sweets, lunches,
dinners and functions and for pastries served at tea time or other
occasions. He is also responsible for
the making of pastes like short and puff pastry, frying batters, making noodles
and Italian pastas for supply to other corners of the Kitchen.
Sorbets and water ice-like items are made in pastry section. The service of ices and these sweets which
are based upon ice cream are prepared and assembled in Patisserie. They include the sweet ‘omelette au surprise’
and ‘souffle surprise’, ‘peach melba’, ‘Poire Helene’, dipped fruits, etc.
The art of pastry includes work
like colored sugars to make flower baskets and similar decorative center
pleces, work with fondant and icing sugar, gum pastes, fashioning of praline
into boxes and decorative objects containing chocolates.
The work of the Patissier has always been highlighted by the beauty of
the cold sweets, ices and their accompaniments.
Chef Patissier requires great skill, imagination and experience. In bag establishments semi, skilled
assistants will prepare fresh fruit salads for service not only at lunch and
dinner but also at breakfast. The Chef
Patissier is therefore like the Grade Manger, something like a Chef de Cuisine
of a specialty kitchen and in addition to his own skills must coordinate and
organize the work of a number of subordinates.
·
BOULANGERS (Baker):- He is baker working under Chef
Pattisier. He is responsible for all
baked items bread rolls, breads, breakfast rolls like croissant, brioches etc.
·
GLACIER: (He would be responsible for making various kinds of ices such as
bombes, biscuits, glaces and many varieties of ice cream. HE is one of the assistants of Chef
Patissier.
COMMIS
Dependent on the Partie concerned the sectional Chef will be assisted
by one or more trained cooks who have not yet reached full chef status. These assistants or commis should have
completed their apprenticeship or training but will still be getting experience
before taking full Partie responsibility.
The first commis as the senior of the assistants is called, should can
take charge, when the Chef de Partie is off, and as second in command takes a
considerable responsibility under his chef.
COORDINATION WITH OTHER
DEPARTMENTS
The primary function of the food and beverage department is to provide
food and drink to a hotel’s guests. In earlier times, when an inn had a single
dining room that could hold a limited number of guests, this was a fairly
simple task. Today, however, providing food and drink is much more complicated.
A large hotel might well have a coffee shop, a gourmet restaurant, a poolside
snack bar, room service, two banquet halls, and ten function rooms where food
and beverages are served. It might also have a lounge, a nightclub, and a lobby
bar. On a busy day (or night), it’s quite likely that functions will be booked
in many outlets at the same time. In addition, some outlets may have multiple
events scheduled for a single day. As you can see, there is great diversity in
the types of activities performed by a food and beverage department, requiring
a significant variety of skills on the part of its workers. The primary
function of the food and beverage department is to provide food and drink to a
hotel’s guests. In earlier times, when an inn had a single dining room that
could hold a limited number of guests, this was a simple task. Today, however,
providing food and drink is much more complicated. A large hotel might well
have a coffee shop, a gourmet restaurant, a poolside snack bar, room service,
two banquet halls, and ten function rooms where food and beverages are served.
It might also have a lounge, a nightclub, and a lobby bar. On a busy day (or
night), it’s quite likely that functions will be booked in many outlets at the
same time. In addition, some outlets may have multiple events scheduled for a
single day. As you can see, there is great diversity in the types of activities
performed by a food and beverage department, requiring a significant variety of
skills on the part of its workers.
Because of the diversity of services provided, the food and beverage
department is typically split into subunits. The executive chef, a person of
considerable importance and authority in any full-service hotel, runs the food
production, or kitchen, department. A variety of culinary specialists who are
responsible for different aspects of food preparation report to the executive
chef.
The actual serving of food in a large hotel’s restaurants is usually
the responsibility of a separate department, headed by the assistant food and
beverage director. The food service department is composed of the individual
restaurant and outlet managers, maitre d’s, waiters, waitresses.
Because of their special duties and concerns, many large hotels have a
separate subunit that is responsible only for room service. Because of the high
value and profit margins associated with the sale of alcoholic beverages, some
hotels have a separate department that assumes responsibility for all outlets
where alcoholic beverages are sold. The person responsible for this department
is the beverage manager.
Most full-service hotels also do a considerable convention and
catering business. The typical convention uses small function rooms for
meetings and larger rooms for general sessions, trade shows, exhibits, and
banquets. As a hotel or lodging business increases the use of its facilities
for conventions and meetings, it may form a separate convention services
department. The convention services department and its personnel are introduced
to the client, a meeting planner, or an association executive by the marketing
and sales department. The convention services department then handles all of
the client’s meeting and catering requirements. Individually catered events include
parties, wedding receptions, business meetings, and other functions held by
groups. To provide for the unique needs of these types of customers, hotels
often organize separate catering and convention departments.
Depending on the size of the hotel, the job of cleaning the food and
beverage outlets themselves as well as of washing pots and pans, dishes,
glasses, and utensils is often delegated to a subunit known as the stewarding
department.
It is only through continuous cooperation and coordination that a
hotel’s food service function can be carried out effectively. A guest who is
dining in a hotel restaurant requires the joint efforts of the kitchen, food
service, beverage, and stewarding departments. A convention banquet cannot be
held without the efforts of the convention and catering department along with
the food production, beverage, and stewarding departments. The sequence of
events and cooperation required among the food and beverage staff is even more
important than in the rooms department, thus increasing the importance of
communication between managers and employees alike. Another challenge faced by
management is the diversity of the employees in the food and beverage
department; the dishwasher in the stewarding department is at a dramatically
different level than the sous chef in the kitchen.
Coordination is not as important an issue in the marketing and
sales department, which is generally much smaller than the food and
beverage department. The primary responsibility of the sales managers who make
up the marketing and sales department is sales, or the selling of the hotel
facilities and services to individuals and groups. Sales managers sell rooms,
food, and beverages to potential clients through advertising, attendance at
association and conference meetings, and direct contacts.
In many hotels, the accounting department combines staff
functions and line functions, or those functions directly responsible for
servicing guests. Another dimension of the accounting department’s
responsibilities deals with various aspects of hotel operations, cost
accounting, and
cost control throughout the hotel. The two areas of central concern to
the accounting department are rooms and food and beverage. The accounting
department’s front office cashier is responsible for tracking all charges to
guest accounts.
The food and beverage department may be responsible for food
preparation and service, but the accounting department is responsible for
collecting revenues. The food and beverage controller and the food and beverage
cashiers keep track of both the revenues and expenses of the food and beverage
department. The food and beverage controller’s job are to verify the accuracy
and reasonableness of all food and beverage revenues.
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