Let's say you are eating lunch at a local eatery, that is housed in an old "historic" building. I put historic in quotes, because while nothing eventful happened in the building, it is around 200 years old.
So you're eating lunch there, and since you know it is in an old building, with many additions over the years, you understand the kitchen area is pretty small.
Now the eatery is also known for their desserts. The dessert menu is one page long, listing all of the cakes, cheescakes, that they have. When you walk into the restaurant, close to the hostess stand, is a large bake case in which all the desserts are presented. Desserts are known to be shared at the end of the meal (huge massive 4 layer ckes, etc).
So because you know the kitchen is small and the building is old, while eating your meal in one of the dining rooms, you look out the windows to see that the "bakery" kitchen, is across the parking lot housed in an old cotton warehouse. And walking out of the bakery kitchen, you are surprised to see one of the kitchen staff carrying a freshly prepared iced cake across the parking lot (really the width of a one lane road) over to the restaurant to be placed in the bake case.
Now, would it bother you that the cake was carried for 25 or 30 seconds from one kitchen, outside, over to the restaurant?
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I had this experience today during my lunch. I was eating in said historic building when I overheard a lady at another table exclaim "OMG! Look at that cake she's carrying. It's not even covered or anything." (I wasn't evesdropping, the lady said this quite loudly to everyone at her table).
At first I thought that she brought up a good point, but then I thought about it, and realized that the bakery kitchen is a good 20 steps away or so from the side entrance of the dining room I was in. The cake was prepared in an inspected kitchen, so I had no qualms with it. I also had the thought that every restaurant kitchen has so much ick that we don't get to see (and critters, you know they are there), that an uncovered cake should be the least of anyone's concerns (thank you Gordon Ramsey and his "Worst Kitchens")
So, would it bother you?
Would you eat there after seeing that -- the uncovered cake?
I would. More dessert for meeeeeeeeeeeeeee.
So you're eating lunch there, and since you know it is in an old building, with many additions over the years, you understand the kitchen area is pretty small.
Now the eatery is also known for their desserts. The dessert menu is one page long, listing all of the cakes, cheescakes, that they have. When you walk into the restaurant, close to the hostess stand, is a large bake case in which all the desserts are presented. Desserts are known to be shared at the end of the meal (huge massive 4 layer ckes, etc).
So because you know the kitchen is small and the building is old, while eating your meal in one of the dining rooms, you look out the windows to see that the "bakery" kitchen, is across the parking lot housed in an old cotton warehouse. And walking out of the bakery kitchen, you are surprised to see one of the kitchen staff carrying a freshly prepared iced cake across the parking lot (really the width of a one lane road) over to the restaurant to be placed in the bake case.
Now, would it bother you that the cake was carried for 25 or 30 seconds from one kitchen, outside, over to the restaurant?
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I had this experience today during my lunch. I was eating in said historic building when I overheard a lady at another table exclaim "OMG! Look at that cake she's carrying. It's not even covered or anything." (I wasn't evesdropping, the lady said this quite loudly to everyone at her table).
At first I thought that she brought up a good point, but then I thought about it, and realized that the bakery kitchen is a good 20 steps away or so from the side entrance of the dining room I was in. The cake was prepared in an inspected kitchen, so I had no qualms with it. I also had the thought that every restaurant kitchen has so much ick that we don't get to see (and critters, you know they are there), that an uncovered cake should be the least of anyone's concerns (thank you Gordon Ramsey and his "Worst Kitchens")
So, would it bother you?
Would you eat there after seeing that -- the uncovered cake?
I would. More dessert for meeeeeeeeeeeeeee.
Is it the dangers of outside air?
I wouldn't think a bit about a cake being carried uncovered outside. I imagine she would have felt quite silly had she been reminded of picnic and all the other outdoor food stuffs.
And I am very picky and germ phobic, and a clean freak about restaurants. I am sure that are ickier things that are never seen ( that we just don't think about ) yes thank you Gordon.
But, I do think they probably should be covering it just because you never know!
