“I Want it Hot!”

With my having rejoined Caronia this month, it became my first trip as an adult-rating, and along with my best mate, we were assigned as 1st Class Waiters in the Balmoral Restaurant. Our station was right by the entrance doors with 2 deuce and 2 four-tables, all adjacent to the Restaurant Manager's desk.

On our departure from New York, we were at station whilst the passengers came down to the restaurant for their first table assignments during the Summer Mediterranean Cruise. After what seemed an eternity, we were to be introduced to our first family.

I can well remember the approving glance my mate gave me about the two teenage daughters as they queued outside the restaurant. However, his elation was to be rather short-lived. Duly, the family were ushered to one of our tables, and, just as the Restaurant Manager was about to introduce us, he was rather rudely interrupted.

In a broad drawl, father piped-up with the following speech. “I notice that we are placed furthest away from the kitchens”, he began. “Waiter!”, he went on, “Whenever I order my food hot, I want it hot! and…”, he continued, “Whenever I order my food cold, I want it cold!” Almost in unison, from the 3 of us, the replies came “Yes, Sir!”

Needless to say, more knowing glances were exchanged between us. His word, our command!

Thankfully, most of the family could be steered toward various things that we'd specially prepared and had tipped-off the Restaurant Manager about prior to their arrivals. With the help of the pantryman, melon balls, prawn cocktails and fruit juices etc., were all chilled to perfection.

Providing hot plates was not a problem either. Prior to leaving the galley, we'd run them under a tap, to trap water between them, and then place them on the hot-plate at our station and allow the resulting steam to do its work.

As we wiped each plate dry, ready to place them, we'd warn that they were very hot! To begin with, almost inevitably, fingers would stray to test this statement. Of course, instead of the usual two finger-bowls on the table, we had already provided one each. No-one on this table was to be given reason to complain, about anything!

The tipping-point came at lunchtime on about the 3rd or 4th day out of New York, when we served everyone with a ham and eggs platter, again prepared to perfection. These were served individually in enamel dishes that were so hot they scorched our serving cloths! We made sure to fully emphasise just how hot they were, even though the still sizzling ham was probably evidence enough.

A little while after that lunch, as we were laying-up for dinner, father came back to the restaurant on his own. “Alright boys”, he began, as he proceeds to brandish an envelope, suitably filled with dollar bills, “You have made your point!” For the next 3 weeks, it was always a great pleasure to serve this family.