A defence of those most devious of beasts: waiters

As a food lover, of all kinds, I am fascinated by TV cookery shows and also by those highlighting consumer rights. I recently saw a trail for an item on a daytime show announcing features on restaurant chains and how they prepare dishes in central kitchens and on the ways waiters will use any means to get you to spend money.
Let’s take a look at that spiky topic first. Waiters, the lengths they will go to to make you spend money, the devious beasts!
According to the reporter there are no depths to which they will not
sink to make you buy food and drink. Apparently they are likely to tell you which of the dishes are their favourites. They might even sink as low as telling you about the daily special, even highlighting special offers and meal deals. And if they are really keen they might be extra nice, smiling at you, even daring to touch you. I ask you!
I hope by now you are laughing because at the time I was angry. What did the director and producer of this consumer show not understand about the job of a waiter? Their job is selling you food and drink and of course they will try to sell you as much as they can as that is what they are being paid for.
A waiter’s job is not to try to persuade you not to have that side dish, or the delicious pudding or even that second bottle of wine, far from it. And we do all have the right to say thank you but no.
I have the greatest respect for good waiting staff, they have a hard job sometimes and they are seldom well paid. They have to deal with grumpy chefs in the kitchen and grumpy customers in the restaurant.
The hours are long and antisocial, they work when we are out having fun and all in all they put up with a lot and earn not a lot. So Mr TV reporter, take a look at it from their angle, put yourself in their shoes. If you made programmes that no-one wanted to consume I’m sure that you would soon be out of work.
The item regarding central kitchens was far more interesting and highlighted the fact that a lot of major restaurant chains get dishes supplied from large central kitchens. Well of course they do, how else could they produce what they do for the prices that they charge.
This is where we are so lucky in Brighton and Hove, with so many small independent food businesses to choose from. If you want it cheap and cheerful then dine with the chains, they offer a great deal. If you want better then dig deep and support our brilliant independents.