SOP – Buffet setup and Maintaining in Banquets
SOP Number: F&B - 30 ( SOP serial number and department code )
Department: Food and Beverage Service – Banquet
Date Issued: DATE THE DOCUMENT WAS CREATED
Time to Train: 30 Minutes
Banquet Buffet setup:
The hotel offers different kinds of buffets. Each hotel/outlet category has a number of buffet set-ups to choose from according to the budget and selection of dishes.
Buffets must be rigorously set up according to the pre-established layouts. Any buffet set-up must fulfill the following requirements :
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Efficient for both guest service and replenishment.
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Layout and decoration attractive for the customer.
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Adequate lighting, with colors if required.
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Sufficient power points for connecting all the required electrical appliances.
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Sufficient quantity of alternative heating fuel, e.g., gas, and adequate corresponding safety features.
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The buffet service shall be similar to that applied in the restaurant procedure.
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The buffet shall be ready 15 minutes before the starting time indicated on the BEO.
Maintain Buffets:-
Keep hot items hot:
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If there is less than one quarter of an inch of water in the liners of hot chafing dishes, user a pitcher of water to refill the liners.
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If the chafing dishes are heated by canned, gel type fuel then make sure the cans stay lit, and replace them when they become empty.
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Replace lid on serving dishes when guests are not in the buffet line.
Keep cold items cold:
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Use pitchers to add ice to the buffet as needed to keep the containers holding cold items surrounded by ice.
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Remove ice that gets into the food containers and replace any items that become waterlogged.
Refill Food and water:
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When a container is less than one-quarter full get a full container from the kitchen.
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Remove the old container and replace it with the full one. Do not combine food from the old and new containers.
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Bring the old container the kitchen and give it to the appropriate person.
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Place enough drinking water glasses filled at all time.
Maintain service ware:
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Restock dishes when there are fewer than ten dishes in a stack. Never let a stack get below five dishes.
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Make sure each container has an appropriate serving utensil.
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Return serving utensils to the correct containers.
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Replace utensils that fall on the floor with clean utensils from the kitchen.
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Use a damp, food-safe cleaning cloth to wipe spills on the buffet table.
Training Summary questions:
Q1. Why it is important to have a buffet layout which is efficient for guest service?
Q2. What all items taken care while setting up a buffet?
Q3. How to keep hot items hot in Buffet?
Q4. How to replace / replenish food containers?
Q5. How to maintain service ware during banquet function?