Sunday, February 7, 2010

Pass the Syrup


We all know that I can't stand stupid ass people in my station. I just don't deal well with stupidity and that ain't easy because in a restaurant you get all types of stupid. From kinda dumb to fucking retarded in the brain. A few years ago when I worked at the Marriott, I came across a real tool head. It was brunch and I was doing my thing. It being a buffet, my thing was usually hanging out in the sidestand and eating croissants and waiting until someone was ready for their check. Now the Marriott is a real fine hotel, doncha know? When someone ordered a waffle or pancakes, it was served with an individual glass bottle of real honest to goodness maple syrup. And it was kept under a heat lamp so it was warm when the customer got it. If that ain't fancy, then I don't know what the fuck is, right? The bottle also had our Brooklyn logo on it so a lot of times people would want them as souvenirs. I question anyone who wants a food product as a souvenir, but people did it all the time.

One day this man called me over to discuss his waffle. He wanted some more syrup. I scanned his table and saw that he only had his one empty bottle so I was going to go get him another one. If someone had a full one already, I would just tell them they could have another one when they were finished with the first one. There would be no souvenir syrups on my watch. He stopped me before I could go to the kitchen. "But do you have any real syrup?" I looked at him and asked him to repeat the question. "I want some real syrup." Still unsure of what he wanted, I told him that the syrup we used was 100% maple syrup from Vermont and was a very high quality product. "Naw,naw, naw. Real syrup. Like Aunt Jemimah or Log Cabin syrup. Real syrup." I looked at the man in a sad way and felt bad that he didn't know the difference between syrup and crap. I just sighed. And said, "Oooh now I understand. No sir, I'm sorry. All we have is 100% maple, we don't have any real syrup."

Stupid tool.
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8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wow. That's one of those "you can't make this up" stories.

Bonnie said...

That reminds me of when I was working at a restaurant that served one of those onion bloom things... This woman said--"oh, I just love this, can you get me another side of the sauce that comes with this?" I went to the kitchen, brought her back a side of the dipping sauce, and she said, "No, honey. This sauce here at the bottom of the bowl! It's so yummy!" Um, er, the fryer grease? Went back to the kitchen and brought her a tasty ramekin of fryer grease. Another happy customer....

Anonymous said...

When he said 'real syrup' i guess he meant high fructose corn syrup.

lapetitefée said...

You know, the "real" syrup discussion is something I have actualyl gotten into an argument with my husband about before. MROE THAN ONCE. I tell him that maple syrup is better, because, of curse, that is what I grew up with.

He grew up with pancake syrup and considers that real syrup. I think it tastes like shit and will have none of it.

Dirty Disher said...

Bonnie..ramekin of fryer grease? OMFG. That takes the cake.

Dirty Disher said...

The funnniest thing I was ever asked for..a tenderloin, rare. The cook yelled at me and we got into it. She was scary, but, I stood my ground. The customer is always, cough, right. I took it out and he was upset. He ordered again. I was stumped. The cook was stumped..still yelling at me. I told her to go out and get the fuckers order. He said "Turlion, raore." Turned out he had a severe speech impediment. I ended up buying him and the cook beer.

Anonymous said...

Seriously--you are way too intelligent to be waiting tables. You're a very talented writer. But I can definitely relate, as I worked in a restaurant for 6 years. One day, I predict you're going to blow and tell someone to eff off. Wish I could be there to watch it happen. After it does, go get yourself a job writing!

Doyouworkhere said...

That's some hi-falutin' syrup you got there... in bottles and everything!