2pm
since 14th July 2008
banquet
Tuesday, July 24, 2007 ( 11:06 AM )
Lemme share with you some of my banqueting experience @ Mertius Mandrian.
Initially banqueting wasn't my cup of tea, cos it made my shoulders, back and biceps ache like mad. I guess carrying all the heavy stuff caused my sleeping and weak muscles to wake up and rack up a fuss. I seem to be fearful of carrying huge trays and I have nv carried huge trays to carry out huge or heavy servings of food. I was very afraid bcos I dun have the strength to carry them and was afraid that the food will topple over halfway before I even reach my side station.
My first encounter with the banquet stuff happened to coincide with a western corporate function. Behind the scenes, in the kitchen, I was greeted by the rude and selfish attitude of banquet waitresses and waiters. We had to prepare butter packets and keep them cold and frozen in small metal containers. Being a newbie, I often learn by route, wut other people do, i oso follow, so I tend to be on the slow side. The guys grabbed the butter like there was no tmr and I was seriously shocked, cos they were shouting at each other and saying "不要抢我的 butter!" Super scary lah. One aunty was actually quarrelling with a 18-20 years old boy over packets of butter. I tried to grab as many butter as I could, but aiyah, the butter ran out. So I tried to kope the boy's butter, and he scolded me like mad. I tried to kope the aunty's butter, she oso scolded me like mad! I was really furious and didn't know wut to do, then the boy said "我教你， 没有butter该做么， 站在这里哭啦！" I immediately retorted "SHUDDUP LAH!"
That was real maddness and perphaps one of the reasons why I wanted to quit banquet asap. The boy was really rude and made unnecessary comments that gave him a sense of superiority.
Corporate functions are generally more relaxing and not as fast paced as wedding functions. Just that sometimes you will encounter some rude and demanding guests who request for hard liquor or wine and talk down to you even though you're towering over them.
I once served an Indian wedding function and I bet the bridegroom and bride are REALLY rich, cos they booked the entire ballroom which usually seats 50 over tables (a normal number for corporate functions). What was interesting was that Indian weddings are so much more happening than Chinese weddings. The newlywed hired bands and singers to perform for their wedding and the songs were damn catchy. I like catchy songs, and there were a lot of drums and i tot i was tuned into bollywood radio for a while.
You could tell that the majority of the guests were really in a good mood, bcos there was good music, good food and wine to enjoy. The attitudes of the guests from this particular indian wedding was perphaps the best I've ever encountered. Majority of the indian and some chinese guests were really kind and polite and thanked me kindly each time I topped up their drinks or changed their plates. The guests joked with me and I was touched that these people actually appreciated wut I'm doing for them. Some of them helped me collect the utensils when they see that I'm coming over to clear the utensils. One of them even wanted to give me chocolates as a reward for serving them, but i politely declined bcos i was afraid i would get into trouble with the management if they found out abt it.
I remember this particular couple very fondly. The minute they sat down at the table, I asked them wut drinks they wanted, and the husband jokingly said "I want diet coke, now." "I'm sorry sir, we only have pepsi and 7up, wine, beer and liquor will be served ltr during dinner." I said. "No, I must have a glass of red wine now." He smiled again. Then his wife gently hit him on the shoulder and I realised he was just playing with me. They were so polite and chatted with me whenever I went over to their table. Finally, when the banquet was over, he and his wife walked over to my side station and gave me a handshake.
I actually wanted to quit banqueting after that indian wedding function, but the kind gestures and friendliness of the guests made me realised that actually banqueting can be quite fun, if you treat the guests nicely and smile more at them.
Majority of the chinese guests whom I've encountered in various banquet functions aren't as friendly as that particular group of indian and chinese guest. Most of them actually behave as if topping up their drinks and changing their plates is 理所当然 and they actually frown at you when you are changing their plates. Some would show displeasure immediately (think black faces from male guests), if you fail to notice their empty wine glasses. On my part, I should make sure that my guests always have water to drink, but sometimes I'm so caught up with other stuff that I actually forget guests' request. My mistake.
I actually saw some familiar faces when I was serving banquet, quite pai sei cos i didn't want them to know how lousy i was as an banquet waitress.
Other than the different type of guests, the people working as banquet waiters/waitresses or managers differ greatly in many ways. Some managers are really strict, some very naggy, some very smiley. Waitress/waiters...majority are either aunty/uncle or ITE/POLY/private sch students (both china and singapore students).
Majority of the people there think I'm from china and I'm 18 years old. One smiley manager never fails to ask me whether I'm china, while the dish cleaning gang in the kitchen from china also asked if i'm from china. The way I look, talk and walk, is super un-china loh. Dunno why lah, maybe bcos I have an oriental look pasted on my small face. When some of the staff finds out that I'm older than them and that I'm a undergraduate, the inescapable "woah" and look of disbelief never fails to come out from their mouths. Later on, they will bully me and joke abt how I 丢大学生的脸, cos I'm not as zai as them. But they are nice and funny people to hang out with lah.
Majority of the staff there are nice and friendly after seeing my face more frequently. Some of them actually bother to talk to you and correct you when you do sth wrongly. That is good, cos i'm still learning many things from them every time i work. They are so lao jiao in this line of service, cos majority of them have at least 1 year of experience in banqueting. I'm only a green horn who will stop banquet as soon as sch reopens. One thing that I realised is that it is easier to speak to staff of the opposite gender. They are more friendly and more helpful, compared to the aunties. But when Eugene went to do banquet, the aunties treated him more warmly than I've expected. Heh, opposite attracts. NOT FAIR.