Page:Richards and Treat - Quantity Cookery.djvu/22

10 must be served hot and cold things must be served cold, yet in serving large numbers the strict observance of these rules is one of the difficult problems to be solved. It can be solved, however, with efficient equipment properly arranged, a carefully thought out organization of service and unceasing care.

Repetition of texture and consistency should also be avoided. That is to say, there should be the maximum variety in preparation of food in order that no meal shall contain two or more creamed dishes, fried foods, foods with custard basis or foods with bread foundation.

If a score card were made out for judging a meal, flavor would perhaps be given the most importance. Here again care must be taken to avoid duplicating flavors. Too many strong flavors or too many bland flavors are undesirable. While strong flavors stimulate the appetite it is unwise to employ them continually, especially where the same group of people is being served day after day. A more blandly flavored diet is likely to be less palling and more constantly inviting.

In serving the public, whether it be in the hospital, the college dormitory or the commercial restaurant, the aim should always be to have the food better than that to which the patrons are accustomed.

In almost any kind of food work, and especially in institutional food work, visiting trips to the best hotels, tea rooms, inns, cafeterias and restaurants are invaluable, since they impart a knowledge of the way things are done, which in turn creates a confidence and assurance that nothing else can give.