I'll Have The Bacon Wrapped Filet, and a Side of Coronavirus Please

You might be wondering why all restaurants are currently closed. I'm not. The simple reason is that Coronavirus is deadly, as opposed to other virus' that are just an inconvenient nuisance. Restaurants are known to spread germs.

My personal motivation to write this is a passionate LOVE for the Cruise Industry, and a frustration in getting their attention. But the scenario I will discribe, can happen any place where food service is taking place.

It is crutial to the well being of my beloved cruise travel industry, that they dot all of the "i"s, and cross all of the "t"s. Because of the COVID-19 Pandemic, I am no longer considered a "Germ-o-phobe". So, now maybe someone will listen. It is my belief that ALL Cruise Lines are obligated to provide a safe and sanitary, code compliant, environment for liesure travel of the world! And they should not sail until they can do that!

But It's not just their responsibility - it is ALL of our responsibility! We need to educate those who are not compliant for our own safety. We need to get over the stigma surrounding confrontation. We need to speak up, and politely convey the infraction, to the person doing it, and their management, without GUILT.

Dining staff training - is so important!

Did you know? It is a violation of Health Code to pick up a water glass in order to re-fill it, in a restaurant setting?

Think about it. The server picks up your glass, re-fills with water, sets it back down at your place setting. Then he/she immediately picks up the glass belonging to the person next to you. Right there - the server just spread your germs, and his/her own germs, to the water glass of that next person. Imagine the server doing the rest of your table, and then going on to re-fill water glasses at the next table, and the rest of the dining room in the same way.....

Pretty soon the entire dining room has been introduced to all of the germs of all of the people, by the server that is simply, pouring water.

The ONLY time I have ever been sick on a cruise, was caused by this. I watched it happen. The lady across the table from me had a terrible cold. The server picked up everyone's glass to refill it, around the table he went. A few days later I had the cold.

My husband Rob, works locally with restaurants, as their Architect. He has regular conversations with the Winnebago County Health Departhment about code and acceptable protocol. After listening to me, he asked our local Health Department about this. They confirmed that it is absolutely a violation for a server to touch the water glass in order to re-fill it. After knowing this I also asked servers at the various places where we dine, if they were aware of this. NONE seem to have any knowledge of the rule, and have not been trained, as such.

Sure - I get it. Who thinks they need to be trained in - How to pour water?

Likely it is the new person, or the support staff that is charged with this activity. They may have little or NO training in Sanitation Code. But it's true, they NEED training. And apparently they are not going to get it unless someome steps up to the plate. Unfortunately that leaves YOU, and ME!

I believe in SAFE cruising AND dining for everyone, everywhere!

So lets do this - Here is how YOU can HELP:

1. Share this article.
2. Pay attention (if we are ever allowed to dine out again) to how your server is re-filling your wanter. If they are touching your glass, politely ask them not to, and make them aware of the Health Department code.
3. Ask for the Manager or Maitre d on the way out - let them know of the Health Department rule.
4. Then contact your local Health Department, Food Inspection Department to let them know that you witnessed a server picking up a water glass to re-fill it. Most local agencies have a process for reporting this sort of thing, and sending out an inspector to verify and educate.

Lynn Belles is the content creator at TravelLikeAnArchitect.com (when she is not burried in work at Belles Firm of Architcture). She has traveled on over 30 cruises with her husband Rob, with more than a dozen cruise brands. She says - "When I cruise, I ALWAYS notice the details. I try to contact the cruise line privately, when something fundamental is happening. Over the years, I have seen slight behavioral changes in the industry, but I have never received a response to my communication. Especially NOW - I really want my voice to be heard!"

#coronavirus #restaurants #healthcode #sanitationcode #foodservice #beverageservice #training #cruiselines

We have codes for a reason.... Lets get up to speed with training so that all restaurants are compliant! I for ONE am ready to dine out again!