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Absolutely excellent!! An absolute must for those starting out on their own, or running their own bed and breakfast business. We only wish it was around when we first started out as it would have helped us a great....  |
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Food Preparation and Service
The objective of developing a food plan is to provide the guest with a memorable
culinary experience. A number of factors, such as a pleasant dining atmosphere, attractive
food presentation, stimulating conversation, and a unique regional menu, can add considerably
to your guests' breakfast pleasure.
Always remember a basic rule in food preparation is to serve hot foods hot and cold foods cold.
It is also imperative that the kitchen area, the utensils and the person preparing and serving
the food is clean and sanitary.
State and local health regulations will restrict the kinds of food you may serve. Due to the lack
of elaborate food preparation facilities, many B&Bs are limited to serving a continental breakfast,
which normally includes rolls, fruit, coffee and juice. However, you can make a continental breakfast
distinctive by offering high quality pastry and fresh fruit that are attractively garnished and
presented.
In addition to serving breakfast, it is good to have coffee, decaffeinated coffee, tea, soft drinks,
and sherry or wine available to guests when they arrive or throughout their stay. A homemade cake or
cookies also create a memorable visit for your guest.
Preparing Breakfast
Be creative in planning and developing breakfast menus. Croissants, muffins and bread rolls can be
varied and specialized. A variety of home baked goods and homemade preserves also provide a nice
touch. Garnish the plate with slices of fresh fruit to provide color and fill the plate. It is better
to charge a little more and provide a quality breakfast, than to skimp and disappoint your guests.
A variety of breakfast menus and ideas may be found in cookbooks. Also visit some other B&Bs or
bistro-type restaurants to get ideas for an elegant, unique breakfast. Browse through a bookstore
which may have books on country inns and other B&Bs to obtain new ideas.
Serving Breakfast
Take care to create a pleasant experience and environment for your guests.
- The table should be set with a nice tablecloth and napkins and your best china
and flatware. Freshly-cut flowers from your garden and crystal glasses for juice
provide an elegant touch to any morning meal.
- Serve breakfast in the dining room, not the kitchen.
- Unless invited by the guests, neither the host nor his/her family should eat
with the guests. It is acceptable to join guests for coffee and tea once the
meal has concluded.
- When more than one group of guests share the breakfast table, the host should
introduce everyone.
- Breakfast may be served by preparing individual portions for each guest or by
letting the guests serve themselves, country style, from dishes centrally placed
on the table. You may also choose to serve buffet style from a separate table or buffet.
- There should always be plenty of coffee and tea available.
Breakfast in Bed
You may choose to provide the option of breakfast in bed to guests celebrating special occasions.
However, if you choose to offer this service, remember that accidents will occur and permanent
food stains may damage comforters, blankets, or carpets.
Selling Your Area
When guests come to your property to stay, they may depend on your expertise in determining what
they should do for entertainment. As a service to your guests, it is important to be aware of all
of the different opportunities available in your area. You should make yourself an ambassador for
the area within a 30 mile radius of your B&B. A list of local attractions, such as museums, historic
homes, theme parks, zoos, restaurants, state parks, theaters, tours, shopping opportunities, etc.,
in the area should be compiled for your guests.
Extras
Most of your guests select a B&B or inn over a standard hotel or motel because they are searching
for "something more than the same old thing." The extra services that you provide to enhance their
visit are limited only by your imagination. Here are a few ideas that you may choose
to incorporate:
Some "Secrets" of Great Guest Relations
- Greet each visitor with a smile!
- Present a clean and neat appearance.
- Be attentive and friendly. Listen carefully to what visitors say.
- Think of the visitor as a welcome guest. Treat them as you would want to be
treated.
- Don't be "right," be polite!
- Make a friend.
- Speak of your community with pride. Never be negative.
- Anticipate the needs of your guests. Have area brochures and local
information such as church schedules and restaurants available for them.
- Provide a copy of public transportation schedules.
- Provide turn-down service in the evenings with a candy on the pillow.
- Follow up your guests' visit with a personal note and invite them back in the
future.
- Make friends of your guests, discover their likes and dislikes and provide
information to them which they would like to use.
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