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Current Food "Sketches"
Tuesday, October 26 2004
Food costing is really not much more than basic math. The
larger unit price divided with weights and measure of portion.
I have costed things out to the fraction of ounces before. I
think I can handle just about anything that has to do with
costing(even things most people forget about, such as factoring
waste).
I am also familiar with labor cost's and how it factors into
the cost of menu items (if it is that such is required in your
establishment), down to the ounce and even smaller if need be
for some reason.
From there it is rather easy to establish profit/loss on any
given item and for the entire menu. When I worked in Hotel
Kitchens it was a standard to stay around a 30% food cost...
and of course upper middle management would always complain...
which is another aspect of the food industry that isn't really
my "speed." Speaking for myself, it's about the food and the
experience of it, and the experience of providing that
experience. Sure. Food costing is a necessity, but it is much
more flexible than many would let on. Especially those that
want nothing but some targeted number for their boss to look at
and praise them for.
When I think about those situations, in effect it's as though
upper management in that situation is praising a poor quality
product. That isn't to say that all cost goals are
unreasonable, and/or that all upper management are
uncaring/ignorant of the product and what is involved. That is
just to say that I don't have much time for those interested in
nothing but their own upward path in any company or
establishment. Such attitudes are really detrimental to the
entire operation in many ways.
Let it suffice to say that such attitudes would not be a part
of any establishment that I owned. I believe in rewarding
performance with what that performance has earned, in a very
fair manner.
Yeah. I can cost out your menu's. I can figure your labor.
I insist however, on the use of quality product in the
production of quality food items, done with attention and
caring. That doesn't mean that I'm some hard ass, but most of
the "fun" for me is in that achievement daily.
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