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Good day All ! Hope your day is going well. I just saw this video where a timid waitress asks a chef if he can make an eggless omelette. Seeing this video brings me to think of all the strangest requests a chef receives during his shift.
Believe it or Not — the eggless omelette is asked by vegans. What I suggest is having a “Cauliflower Omelette “. The Cauliflower crust is much like the “Cauliflower Pizza Crust” but it must be bonded with olive oil and flour ; once combined it’s mixed until kneaded into a smooth dough. Once that’s done , place in in the frying pan with grapeseed oil, cooking both sides evenly. You sauté the veggies ( omelette filling ) separately in between. Add your sauté veggies on top of the cooked cauliflower crust and carefully fold by one-third . Let cook for couple of seconds and continue one-third until it’s completely folded, like your traditional omelette. You can add salsa on top or a nice cream sauce ( without egg of course- lol ) . The method is tricky so after a few fails you’ll get it.
Working in finer hotels, I always get guests ( in the dining restaurant ) summoning me to their table. Pleased with their entree they ask how it’s made or if I can make it privately in their room suite. We like to accommodate if we can ; depending on how busy we are, I can suggest a La carte room service with our Maître d. However, there’s times they really want the service of the Executive Chef. Depending on the dish served we try our best to accommodate them. The only thing is, there’s a extra service charge for a “ Private Chef “. Nevertheless the clients asking aren’t worried about the price.
Some customers request if they can feed their favourite Pet a top Filet Mignon ; rare of course. Due to food safety issues, we always suggest a fine butcher that may help you out. Otherwise our hands are tied in regards to food safety in the hospitality management field. With hotels offering Pet Stays at finer resorts now, I’m not sure if they changed their views.
In banquets we always get requests for vegans, vegetarians, those with Celiac disease, while others are culturally bound from having pork dishes. In a few incidents we even have the Jewish Rabbi present, to make sure all utensils are boiled and everything is done kosher, including Kosher spices and seasonings. That’s all he does, he stands there and double checks everything is done to their perspective religion.
Talking about Banquets, there are times when a male customer sees us carving beef at the side table and remarks, “ What an easy job you guys got, slicing beef all day”. To these customers I simply say,” Is that so ? How about you come here tomorrow. I’ll suit you up in a nice chefs jacket and we’ll put you to work in the kitchen. Deal ? “ Only one customer took me up on that offer , and boy, after a day in the kitchen, he gave us a lot of respect— lol. Trust me, when I say, you have to be a particular person to be able to work in the kitchen, preparing for several functions per day, plus dining room service and not end up crazy, at the end of your 14 hour shift, six days per week. On top of that, we plan for functions, that can take us a whole week, just to prepare. It can be madness in the kitchen.
Celebrity requests in finer resorts are common throughout the year. I have personally worked with Wayne Gretzky, Brook Shields, Kenny Rogers and Ronny Lancaster, making sure their dining or banquet requests are resolved and respected.
On other occasions I’ve been asked by intoxicated customers, some embarrassing and questionable requests I can’t do , requests I have to censor here – lol.
For example: You would be totally surprised what happens at annual oyster bar banquet events , where high end Premiers and wealthy individuals participate in what I would call … maybe I won’t say.
Overall, Chefs can get the strangest requests in their career. Strangest Requests a Chef Will Receive is indeed on the wild side. Just use your imagination is all…
Cheers !
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