18 Questions
What is one of the key purposes of a menu discussed in the text?
To serve as public notice of days and hours of operation
How were menu items often presented in the early days of coffeehouses and restaurants?
Recited verbally by waitstaff
Why is it critical to design a menu that sells according to the text?
To inform patrons of new ways to enjoy the dining experience
What is the term used for waiters hanging a list of foods on their belts to remember them?
Food belt
What was a common practice in Parisian restaurants that led to the evolution of menus?
Describing dishes verbally to guests
Which attribute should all menus possess according to the text?
Lead to favourable impressions
What is the main purpose of a menu in a restaurant according to the text?
To serve as a central document for the foodservice operation
Why did written menus begin to enter general use in restaurants?
To simplify the experience for both customers and servers
What does the term 'menu' mean?
A detailed list
How did elaborate menus from banquets of nobility find their way to the middle class?
Through reproduction in public eating rooms
What does the term 'bill of fare' refer to?
A detailed list of foods
What is the significance of the phrase 'Start with the menu' in the foodservice trade?
To highlight the importance of planning everything around the menu
What is the primary purpose of a menu for a foodservice establishment?
To define the purpose of the establishment and guide back-of-the-house operations.
What function does a menu serve as a working document according to the text?
A guide to purchasing, a work order, and a service schedule.
What is one of the purposes of the published announcement version of a menu?
To be a product listing and price schedule.
Which statement best describes the importance of a good menu?
It should satisfy customers' dining preferences and operator's merchandising needs.
In what ways does a menu act as a strategic document for a foodservice establishment?
By defining the purpose of the establishment and controlling back-of-the-house operations.
What are some typical functions of a menu as mentioned in the text?
Guide to purchasing, work order to the kitchen, service schedule for staff duties.
Study Notes
What is a Menu?
- A menu is a list showing the food and drink offered by a restaurant, cafeteria, club, or hotel.
- For foodservice managers, a menu represents a strategic document that defines the purpose of the establishment and every phase of its operation.
The Purpose of the Menu
- A menu serves two purposes:
- As a working document for managers to plan, organize, operate, and control back-of-the-house operations.
- As a published announcement of what is offered to customers in the front of the house.
Functions of a Menu
- As a working document, a menu:
- Guides purchasing decisions
- Serves as a work order to the kitchen, bar, or pantry
- Helps organize job duties and chart staff requirements in all departments
- As a published announcement, a menu:
- Lists products and prices
- Advertises the food, beverages, and service available to guests
Importance of a Good Menu
- A good menu should lead customers to food and beverage selections that satisfy both their dining preferences and the merchandising necessities of the operator.
- A menu can:
- Serve as public notice of days and hours of operation
- Inform patrons of special services available
- Narrate the history of the establishment and significant material concerning its locale
- Inform patrons of new ways to enjoy the dining experience
History of Menus
- In the past, menus were not written, and waiters or waitresses recited what was available from memory.
- Later, Parisian operations used signboards near the entrance to describe the menu for the day.
- Written menus became more common as menus became more complex, and more items were offered for sale.
Etymology of the Word "Menu"
- The word "menu" comes from the French and means "a detailed list".
- The term is derived from the Latin "minutes", meaning "diminished", from which we get our word "minute".
- A menu can be described as "a small, detailed list".
Alternative Terms for Menu
- Some use the term "bill of fare", which means "an itemized list of foods".
This quiz covers the history of menus, from the transition to written menus in public eating rooms to the emergence of menus for the middle class during the time of Napoleon. Learn about the origins and evolution of menus in dining establishments.
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