Numbers Game
In homage to the Harper's Index, (alas, Lewis Lapham, we hardly knew ye) Gotham Gastronomy looks at some numbers in the world of food.
30 Degrees - The angle between a bar stool and the bar. Apparently, the seats are positioned in this fashion for the benefit of women who are more likely to wear skirts than men (excepting the occasional Scott donning his birthright) and are also far more prone to crossing their legs (the women that is, the Scots prefer to air it out). Keeping the chairs in said positions prepares these pedestals for easier ascension by female customers.
72 Degrees - The average setting on most restaurant thermostats. While this may sound a bit hot, particularly for a crowded room, the high ceillings of most restaurants coupled with the door traffic makes this mark ideal.
Six Degrees - Yea, the cliche reigns true in restaurant-world as well. (It's damn incestuous in that, there kitchen.) Chefs and staff tend to follow one another up through various restaurants and promotions leaving us with the ability to write a viurtual family tree beginning with the French Pavillion at the World's Fair throught the present. Moral: Don't piss off someone in the restaurant business unless you are prepared to restrict your dining options for years to come.
Table Numbers - In many establishments, my coat is taken and returned at the door, and no chit, no plastic card, no shameless Amex promotion is aver exchanged. How do they do check coats without those tickets? Well, the belongings are simply filed according to the table number.
Fifty Percent - The average retail mark up on one lobe of Grade A Foie-Gras. Res Ipso Loquitor!
Eight People - The maximum number most restaurants will allow at one table in the dining room. If exceeded, the service becomes unwieldy and the room must be roconfigured. Further, such large numbers at a table generally inspire the patrons to speak louder and louder until their not-as-impressive-as-they-think conversation about the time they were at Smith & Wollensky and bought a magnum of Opus One on expense account is broadcast to the remainder of the restaurant who really couldn't care less.
30 Degrees - The angle between a bar stool and the bar. Apparently, the seats are positioned in this fashion for the benefit of women who are more likely to wear skirts than men (excepting the occasional Scott donning his birthright) and are also far more prone to crossing their legs (the women that is, the Scots prefer to air it out). Keeping the chairs in said positions prepares these pedestals for easier ascension by female customers.
72 Degrees - The average setting on most restaurant thermostats. While this may sound a bit hot, particularly for a crowded room, the high ceillings of most restaurants coupled with the door traffic makes this mark ideal.
Six Degrees - Yea, the cliche reigns true in restaurant-world as well. (It's damn incestuous in that, there kitchen.) Chefs and staff tend to follow one another up through various restaurants and promotions leaving us with the ability to write a viurtual family tree beginning with the French Pavillion at the World's Fair throught the present. Moral: Don't piss off someone in the restaurant business unless you are prepared to restrict your dining options for years to come.
Table Numbers - In many establishments, my coat is taken and returned at the door, and no chit, no plastic card, no shameless Amex promotion is aver exchanged. How do they do check coats without those tickets? Well, the belongings are simply filed according to the table number.
Fifty Percent - The average retail mark up on one lobe of Grade A Foie-Gras. Res Ipso Loquitor!
Eight People - The maximum number most restaurants will allow at one table in the dining room. If exceeded, the service becomes unwieldy and the room must be roconfigured. Further, such large numbers at a table generally inspire the patrons to speak louder and louder until their not-as-impressive-as-they-think conversation about the time they were at Smith & Wollensky and bought a magnum of Opus One on expense account is broadcast to the remainder of the restaurant who really couldn't care less.
posted by The Baron | Thursday, March 23, 2006
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