Tips

“What do I do about a cook who gets so much right but over-seasons dishes?” “How do I get my team to clean without chasing them?”

Every time I’ve worked in a food business, someone has had these issues. These problems are very common. So much so, that I’ve got a list of tools I always introduce in kitchens now. Whenever I work with a new team, this list is where I start.

Recipe Cards

Recipe cards are a visual recipe manual. They’re essentially a plug and play tool to standardize presentation and flavour. 

Cards should ideally have 

• A list of ingredients and weights
• a method. how to make the dish or batch
• a picture of the finished dish 

If you want to get really specific you can also add equipment needed and plate type. 

Display your cards prominently in the kitchen or in an easily accessible recipe file. If you want them followed, they must be visible.

Opening & closing checklists

Smooth running kitchens have a structure in place and a good set of habits. Open and close checklists walk through the tasks and over time build those habits. When you’re groggy in the morning, and wanting to leave at night It helps to have a list of all tasks so everything is covered.

The open and close checklists are the first and last items seen every day. I keep them close to the door, and in sight!

Cleaning Checklists

Cleaning isn’t optional in a kitchen – it is part of the job. Keep checklists of daily, weekly, and monthly tasks. Review and mark off everything on the checklist at the end of every shift. I find it helps to break down all the tasks by section or job description and have separate ones for those. 

Prep lists

Disorganization in a kitchen is nightmare fuel. Prep lists are lists of what to prepare for the day or before the start of the shift.

Your prep lists should have columns for

• Stock on hand,
• Par stock and
• How much to make.

If you’re working alone, a prep list helps you track where you are and what you still must do.

Stock Sheets

Proper stock management will save you lots of money in the long run. Over-ordering leads to waste, while under ordering causes runs to the shop and buying at a higher price. 

You need a stock sheet for everything you keep, from fresh produce to cleaning supplies. How often you count will depend on how often you order. Just like your prep sheets, good stock sheets will record your par level, stock on hand, and the quantity to order. 

Operations Manual

As you grow and bring on more team members you will be so happy that you did this! It’s basically a manual on how the kitchen does their job, so your Ops Manual will document everything from what they wear to how to pack the fridges. When new staff members start, you’ll have an excellent foundation to launch training.

Hygiene Manual

A companion to your Ops manual, a hygiene guide details all the actions for cleaning and food safety. Write down how to clean everything, including details like how to pack the fridges and freezers. You’ll want to also note any particular chemicals you use, and safety procedures.  

Below is the cheat sheet for this article. Enter your email address to receive it and start collecting your kitchen documents.

You know you should be getting reviews from customers but you feel weird asking. Where to start? How do you word it? If you struggle here’s an email template you can use to reach out without any awkwardness. 

Step one

Create a form in Google Forms or Typeform. Both have feedback templates that you can customize. I suggest starting from scratch – it’s very simple. Select the option for long-form answers for each question. 

Build the form with a list of questions for them to complete. You can write anything you want, but here are some to get you started

1. Name
2. How was your experience ordering with (Your business name)?
3. What was your favourite dish? / What was your favourite part?
4. Why would you suggest ordering with us?
5. Is there anything you would like to add?
6. Can I use your answers in my marketing?

Thank you!

Step 2

Two to three days after they have received their order send out an email, with the link and a request to fill it out. Here’s an example of one I use

Hi (Customer name) 

I hope you loved your order! I have a favour to ask, please will you fill out my feedback form (insert link) when you have a gap? It will take a few minutes.

Thanks!

Some notes from me

You can send the questions directly in the email. I prefer a form to keep all the responses in one place.  And I find customers are more likely to complete a form than an email – it removes the pressure. 

Don’t use filler words like “Just” or “Quickly” and don’t use passive voice. “I have a favour to ask” is more personable than “Thought I would ask”. Filler words and passive voice come across as apologetic. You aren’t begging, you are asking. 

As tempting as it is, don’t incentivize reviews. Reviews that come from people who had a genuinely great experience are 100 times better than the ones you paid for.

When you’re ready to buy equipment but not sure exactly where to start it can feel a bit scary. You don’t want to waste money, but you also want to get something worth it. 

When I or my clients are starting a new business there are a couple of places that have become my go-to’s. What I turn to first depends on the budget and what exactly we need. 

I’ve put together a quick guide to help you know where to look and get the most for your money. 

Restaurant & Catering Equipment Suppliers

Let’s start with the obvious. The catering industry is well served in terms of equipment suppliers, easily found through a quick Google search.

In the long run, it can be cheaper to buy new. 

Please be aware though: these are salespeople. Their job is to sell. I have had many clients complain that they were recommended items they didn’t need or were too big for what they wanted to do. (Yes, cake mixers are cheaper but they won’t work to knead dough, every day. They will break) 

Always research what is recommended to you, and if you can get an industry friend (or insider) to have a look. 

Facebook Marketplace

I like the idea of Facebook Marketplace. I like searching and seeing what’s out there. But I often don’t buy even though I know what I’m looking for and what I shouldn’t touch. 

Used equipment can be a danger zone, and anything with Facebook in it makes me wary of scams. 

If you are happy to take the risk, look for areas that look reputable, and that the equipment looks well maintained. Remember: buy nice or buy twice. If it looks too good to be true, it probably is. 

Auctions

Restaurants go out of business a lot and when they do they need to sell a lot of stuff, fast. Auctions are fantastic options when you need to buy a lot and you don’t have a massive budget. The downside of auctions is the same as the other second-hand options. Often, you won’t know quite what you are buying until you have it, and it’s possible it will need a good clean, and possibly some money to get it up and running. The other downside is you won’t receive a warranty on what you’re buying. If it hasn’t been maintained well it could come back to haunt you with frequent breakdowns.

A general rule of thumb is if it’s a good deal, in good condition and a good brand, you’ll probably be ok.

Restaurant and Industry communities

There is a group chat or Facebook group for every area of the industry that you can think of. In these places, you’ll find a wealth of information, from people happy to tell you where to shop, and what to watch out for. They usually who’s closing down, or who has the equipment they’re looking to move.  Sometimes you might have to wait a bit for answers or try more than once. There are also no promises that what you want is being sold right now. You also have the same problem as FB Marketplace – private sales, so no warranties and the possibility of being scammed. 

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