Passing out from one of the finest Hotel Management Schools in Chennai, I had no doubt in my service and operation skills. But, sometimes its only time and circumstances that decide the bar of your skillsets. I was newly appointed as a waiter at this five-star facility. Its been 4-5 months working and it did not take much time to realise how demanding my job can be.
I was appointed to work on weekends for preparation and serving the Sunday Brunch Buffet at the hotel. Being a 5-star facility means an enormously elaborate buffet of delicacies spread out in dimensions as far as our eyes could roll. But, before we proceed any further please note that it’s an all-you-can-eat-buffet. It's kind of special. Though the menu is mostly continental but definitely, being close to the sea means, a huge influence on the menu from time to time. This was one of those weekends with a lot of seafood. And, everything seemed as usual. Until all waiters went running to a table where a kid was wheezing, turning bright red, and breaking out in hives. I somehow managed to get the father to stop eating from the buffet, long enough to ask if his son was alright. To my astonishment, he replied I did not know that Eral Kozhambu is a prawn delicacy. He told that his son had a shellfish allergy and that he told him not to touch anything. But, while his parents were devouring the buffet the kid managed to do exactly what he was not supposed to. I had learnt how to serve food but a medical emergency. NO way. Luckily, someone had immediately called the paramedics. A few minutes later, they arrived and took the child to the hospital. But, the last thing the father asked me was if he could get some more Eral Kozhambu because he did not have all he could eat. If you do not have shellfish allergy and still want to try this divine delicacy, then do write to our Chef Varun Arora varun.arora@meyerindia.in.