A family meal, also known as a staff meal or crew food, is a meal prepared for restaurant staff before or after service. It can be made up of leftovers or a specific meal, and can be used as an opportunity for socializing and building camaraderie among employees.
A family meal is a meal that is prepared for the staff of a restaurant and typically eaten before service, although sometimes a family meal occurs at the end of the night. The family meal is more formally known as the “staff meal,” especially in employee handbooks, and some people colloquially refer to this meal as “crew food.” Family meals are quite different, depending on the restaurant and its attitude towards the staff, and are usually offered as a perk; in restaurants where family meals are not offered, staff may be given a subsidy to spend on menu items to compensate.
In its simplest form, a family meal is simply an opportunity to use up leftovers, ensuring that the restaurant runs as efficiently as possible. If a plate doesn’t end up on the floor, it’s very likely that it’s showing up in some incarnation in the family meal. The meal may also include things like leftover pasta, bread, and vegetables that can’t be used to serve customers. Sometimes, such family meals can be a little gruesome, depending on how the leftovers are stored and prepared.
In other establishments, cooks prepare a specific meal that may have nothing to do with the current menu as a family meal. Because the staff can be large, the meal is usually quite simple, but the ingredients are simple, wholesome and fresh. Sometimes kitchens with a large ethnic crew can have ethnic family meals, regardless of the style of the restaurant. In a very large restaurant, the family meal can also be different for different groups of people, with people in the higher ranks eating better food.
Some establishments take food quality very seriously, and family meals can take the form of tasting menus. While employees are unlikely to receive full portions, they will get a taste of the new menu items. For wait staff, this allows them to speak with authority about those items when customers ask, while the kitchen crew learns how these foods should taste. A tasting menu also instills respect for the restaurant’s ideals and goals.
As the term “family meal” implies, a family meal is often used as an opportunity to socialize and connect over minor cooking issues. Many kitchen workers grow up quite close because they work long hours in confined spaces and cooperation is crucial to the success of their restaurant. Family dining tends to be casual and friendly, as many guests at such meals have noted, building camaraderie among employees.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
