Careers in restaurants are also very important for the ASEAN Economic Community. Besides the English language, employers have to know about the local cuisine, especially the national dishes and drinks, which are a signature of the country you are working in.
Normally, national and popular dishes can represent a particular country, nation or region. One small problem is that there are so many of them. As a restaurant waiter or waitress you have to learn about them to be able to describe them. For example;
In Burma, the most famous food is unquestionably mohinga: a light fish curry soup served with rice noodles. You may have to explain the dish, too. “It comes in a clay pot and consists of sliced cucumbers, diced carrots and other vegetable garnishes eaten with noodles. You can add boiled eggs and deep-fried tempura-style vegetables as an extra.”
In Singapore, there are many dishes to choose from, but the most popular is Singapore’s chicken rice or ‘Singapore’s Hainan chicken rice’. It consists of succulent spring chicken, steamed or boiled and served with garlic rice, sliced cucumbers, and chili sauce.
In Malaysia, everyone always thinks about the perfect bowl of laksa garnished with sliced cucumber, pineapple, onion, chilies, and bunga kantan, or ginger buds. It is a traditional food, a popular dish and the delightful national local cuisine of Malaysia.
In the Philippines, Filipino food is also interesting. With influences from Spain and the United States, one example is Crispy Pata, or deep-fried pork, with a smooth flavor and served with bread or vinegar sauce. That is awesome.
In Indonesia, Nasi Goreng is the most popular dish of all. It is fried rice with diced meat, carrots and other goodies. And here is the only place that serves durian with Nasi Goreng. You should try it if you like that special fruit.
In Cambodia it is also difficult to pick the right choice as there are plenty of foods, but the most famous one is dried smoked fish salad with raw green mangos and other fresh vegetables and fruits. You can change from mango to raw papaya, it depends on you.
In Laos, the dipping dish Jiao Bong is the most amazing. It is glutinous rice or sticky rice with fresh vegetables and preserved meats. The most interesting thing is the dipping sauce, which is very delicious. It is also served with a selection of grilled buffalo rinds, onion, garlic and chili paste.
In Vietnam people always think about noodle-based dishes or Vietnamese Pho. These are cooked rice noodles in a bowl, served with sliced meat: either beef or chicken. You cannot miss it.
In Myanmar: if you can’t think of anything else (as there are plenty to choose from) please pick Lahpet Ohk. It is a national dish served on a big plate, which can be divided into small compartments. It contains sesame oil in the central compartment, which is surrounded with other ingredients such as crisp fried garlic, peas and peanuts, toasted sesame, crushed dried shrimp, preserved shredded ginger, and fried shredded coconut.
In Brunei I would prefer Ambuyat as it is the most popular dish. It is made from sago, and eaten by dipping a serving in a hot and thick sauce called Cacah Ambuyat. You can also order steamed hot rice to eat with it.
Finally in Thailand: if you prefer hot and spicy, Thai food is the best choice. Tom Yam Kung or hot and sour soup with prawns can be a delightful dish here. It contains fresh herbs such as lemongrass, galangal and kafir leaves, mixed with a little red chili and lime juice. But if you don’t like prawns you can replace it with fish, chicken, or other seafood.
These are the local cuisines of ASEAN; however, there are many more of them. Working in a restaurant you will have to learn and try to explain them all in English.
In addition, you have to learn the processes of welcoming and managing when customers come into your restaurant. Some processes are as follows:
12.2.2 Welcoming guests
The host or hostess will ask if you have a reservation and how many people are eating with you. Then he/she will show you the table and give you a menu and wine list.
Example dialog:
Host/hostess: Good afternoon, sir. Do you have a reservation? (And then, when it's your turn to sit) Host/hostess: Your table is ready, sir. Shall I take your coats? Follow me, please. Bill will be your server |
12.2.3 Taking the order and serving food
The waiter/ the waitress will take your order. He or she may describe the dishes and ask for details on the order as to how the customers would like the food. Then they will ask about drinks like wine, water or local drinks such as orange juice, coconut juice and Roselle juice. After that, the waiter/ the waitress will serve the food and drinks.
Example dialog:
Waiter: Good afternoon, sir, madam. My name is Bill. Here is the menu and the wine list. Let me tell you about our |
12.2.4 Offering dessert and paying
After the meal, the waiter will come to collect the empty plates and then they might recommend you have desserts / coffee or liqueurs. After that it will come to the paying process and saying goodbye.
Example dialog:
(After you're finished eating everything, someone will come to collect your dishes, ask about your meal, and offer dessert.) Waiter: How was everything? Would you like me to take that? |
12.2.5 Handling customer complaints
Besides these normal processes there might be some mistakes that happen and the customers may complain. You also have to learn to handle the complaints.
Example dialog:
Customer: Excuse me! Are you out of vegetables today? 20 minutes pass (A few minutes pass) |