Wedding Etiquette Forum

I just do not get people

DH just got a call from the resort.  Apparently a guest wants to cook thanksgiving dinner in DH's main kitchen tomorrow morning for their family.

WTF?  The resort is 100% booked, DH had 500+ reservations for thanksgiving dinner tomorrow. That does not include breakfast or lunch meals.

Why would you even want to cook while on vacation at a resort?  Whe do you think it would even be possible to be able to use a hotels kitchen to begin with let alone on a busy day like Thanksgiving morning?

I just do not understand people






What differentiates an average host and a great host is anticipating unexpressed needs and wants of their guests.  Just because the want/need is not expressed, doesn't mean it wouldn't be appreciated. 

Re: I just do not get people

  • That's really kind of strange. 
  • Our resort tries not to say 'no' but give them other options.  So he told them they can use the kitchen today, but not tomorrow.

     All hands are on deck tomorrow.  Who needs someone not use to being in a commerical kitchen in the mix?  I get scared walking through the kitchen because there are cooks carrying knives moving at warp speed.






    What differentiates an average host and a great host is anticipating unexpressed needs and wants of their guests.  Just because the want/need is not expressed, doesn't mean it wouldn't be appreciated. 
  • me thinks this person should have just stayed home if they wanted to cook thanksgiving dinner so badly.
  • so true Nebb.

    You can not imagine the requests we get at the hotel.  Sometimes they are mind-boggling.






    What differentiates an average host and a great host is anticipating unexpressed needs and wants of their guests.  Just because the want/need is not expressed, doesn't mean it wouldn't be appreciated. 
  • Was this a male or female guest?  How big is the family?  I'm just trying to figure out who is so self important that "Thanksgiving just wouldn't be Thanksgiving unless Dad, carved, mom made the stuffing or whatever".

    I'm assuming they are American?  Where are they from?
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  • I do not know aMrsin09.   People are just weird.

    I imagine when they go to the store and see the price of everything and then the cost DH will make them pay for using the kitchen they will change their minds.







    What differentiates an average host and a great host is anticipating unexpressed needs and wants of their guests.  Just because the want/need is not expressed, doesn't mean it wouldn't be appreciated. 
  • That is so self absorbed of them. I know "the customer is always right" and all that jazz, but not when it sorely inconveniences staff members and other customers. I can guarentee people like that have never worked in a kitchen, in service or in hospitality and dont have any idea how it would affect anyone.
  • Can they cook the meal for all 500 guests? If so, it might be a good opportunity for your DH to get the day off. Wink
  • Sounds like someone is a fry short of a Happy Meal.

    That is just crazy!  Seriously, aside from even thinking this is possible, who would possibly think this is appropriate to ask?  Who would travel with every little item to make Thanksgiving dinner when you are at a resort staffed with chefs who are getting paid to make it for you?

    We will be in Florida for Christmas, staying in a hotel.  All I know is I'm not cooking Christmas dinner.  I'm hoping we don't end up in a Chinese restaurant with waiters singing "Fa Ra Ra Ra..." a la The Christmas movie.  If we do, oh well!
  • That is the strangest thing.
  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_just-not-people?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:2f429bb0-962e-49ab-be20-2d7aa9d23456Post:b264daea-4205-467a-94a6-463bdc684d1a">Re: I just do not get people</a>:
    [QUOTE]Can they cook the meal for all 500 guests? If so, it might be a good opportunity for your DH to get the day off.
    Posted by cew515[/QUOTE]

    I could only wish.  They would be so overwhelmed. Heck I'm overwhelmed when I walk through the kitchen.  It's crazy, huge cooking pots.  Huge 8 foot high ovens with computer control panels.  Staff of 30 running around with knives.   The poor interns speading all day just peeling potatos.  DH yelling because some did something stupid.

    The pastry shop is fun though.  It smells go good there.  They have all these cool deserts for the buffet tomorrow.  And they are more mellow.






    What differentiates an average host and a great host is anticipating unexpressed needs and wants of their guests.  Just because the want/need is not expressed, doesn't mean it wouldn't be appreciated. 
  • That is just so weird. Isn't that pretty much exactly why people go on vacation? That guest has some set of balls to ask to use a resort kitchen to cook a personal meal. Who does that?
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  • Your H may shoot me, but this could be an interesting marketing thing for the resprt. 

    For some absurd pirce, 1 guest (or small group, each night,  could cook thier own dinner in the kitchen under the guidance of the executive chef.
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  • To be honest DH gets that request from time to time, mostly from kosher guests.  While some kosher guests will trust DH to cook with the correct pots, pans and ultensils.  Others will either send down pre-made meals for them to cook when requested.   Real hard core kosher guests will stand in the kitchen to make sure it's done correctly or make a meal themselves.

    DH does not mind, it's part of the job. But I do not think these are kosher guests and most of the time the arrangments are made well in advance, not the same day or on a busy day like thanksgiving morning.






    What differentiates an average host and a great host is anticipating unexpressed needs and wants of their guests.  Just because the want/need is not expressed, doesn't mean it wouldn't be appreciated. 
  • I dont understand that saying, a fry short of a happy meal. If your happymeal is missing ONE fry, thats not really a big deal. It doesnt mean its an incomplete happy meal because it must come with atleast 30+ fries. Thats like saying someone is a hair short of a full head of hair (OMG!!).
  • lyndausvilyndausvi mod
    Moderator Knottie Warrior 10000 Comments 500 Love Its
    edited November 2009
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_just-not-people?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:2f429bb0-962e-49ab-be20-2d7aa9d23456Post:de72ada1-7e7b-4a6c-9369-778d2e015e01">Re: I just do not get people</a>:
    [QUOTE]Your H may shoot me, but this could be an interesting marketing thing for the resprt.  For some absurd pirce, 1 guest (or small group, each night,  could cook thier own dinner in the kitchen under the guidance of the executive chef.
    Posted by aMrsin09[/QUOTE]

    Our hotel has a fractional-ownership section with full kitchens in the rooms.  He cooks for guests there for $500.  That is just his fee, that does not include food, booze or the helper.  (he does not do that every often, but he does have 3 families that book him every year for the last 3 years)  (btw - he does not get the $500, the resort does)

    But actually there is a program where guests can get cooking lessons in the kitchen with DH.  They get a jackets and learn how to cooks.

    Again it's organized, known in the advance,  and would never happen on a holiday morning.






    What differentiates an average host and a great host is anticipating unexpressed needs and wants of their guests.  Just because the want/need is not expressed, doesn't mean it wouldn't be appreciated. 
  • That's bizarre.
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  • When I hear stories like this, they reaffirm all those personality profile/career assessment tests that steered me away from hospitality or working with the public. This is nuts!
  • I never understand how people can be so self-absorbed.  Especially around the holidays when everyone is supposed to be nicer than usual. 
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  • There is no way on hell or earth that I would want to be near a commercial kitchen on Thanskgiving day.  I'd be worried about being stabbed, burned, or screamed at.

    My only hope for your DH is that either, this guest is a chef themselves and knows the routine, or will get scared and not stay more than 5 minutes.  I would imagine today is almost as busy as tomorrow, prepping and all that jazz.
  • It looks like  they decided it would not be a good idea.   Some employees have a tough time saying no.  DH has a way of explaining why something is not going to work and gives them another option.  He (okay his staff)  is going to cook dinner and have it setup in their room.  That way they can have a private dinner.

    One crazy request down, I'm sure many more to go.






    What differentiates an average host and a great host is anticipating unexpressed needs and wants of their guests.  Just because the want/need is not expressed, doesn't mean it wouldn't be appreciated. 
  • Er, since the restaurant will obviously be open, it would make sense that they, like, book a reservation and get served their Thanksgiving dinner that way.
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  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_just-not-people?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:2f429bb0-962e-49ab-be20-2d7aa9d23456Post:30b1ff97-7ce7-4de1-8cd2-c9c89d872827">Re: I just do not get people</a>:
    [QUOTE]Er, since the restaurant will obviously be open, it would make sense that they, like, book a reservation and get served their Thanksgiving dinner that way.
    Posted by msmerymac[/QUOTE]

    You would think right?   People are just weird.  I wonder if it's their first holidy not at home? 

    <strong>Update to poor DH's day</strong>

    Salvation Army called to asked if they could use his kitchen to cook.  He said yes come in the morning. They showed up, dropped off 6 turkeys and said here you go, when should we pick them up???

    He said "I thought you are cooking". they said "no you are". 

    I'm sure he just shook his head and said fine. Then he asked where  the containers to put the turkeys when they are done.  They had blank look and said good question, they will be back.

    Poor guy.  The good thing is Friday morning his name will be all over WGOD  (the christian radio staion if you could not tell) about how great DH and the resort are for feeding the poor.






    What differentiates an average host and a great host is anticipating unexpressed needs and wants of their guests.  Just because the want/need is not expressed, doesn't mean it wouldn't be appreciated. 
  • lynda, your DHs guest stories soooo top my DHs guest stories.
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  • I don't think this will help, Lynda, but I read one of your posts as people in the kitchen in a commerical mixer.

    I thought, wow, that's one big mixer.
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  • As frustrating has it can be.  There is a lot of humor in the hospitality world.

    It will get better next month during xmas/NYE. 






    What differentiates an average host and a great host is anticipating unexpressed needs and wants of their guests.  Just because the want/need is not expressed, doesn't mean it wouldn't be appreciated. 
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