Beverage knowledge is essential for any waiter. It's important to learn about whiskeys, beer styles, wine varieties and cocktails. A waiter should be able to provide recommendations, prepare cocktails on the go, and offer wine and beer pairing options. It's important to familiarize yourself with the common ingredients and terminology used in bar and cocktail recipes, the essential mixing techniques, such as shaking, stirring and muddling, and the equipment that can help you prepare everything.
It's a lot to take in all at once, but none of that is difficult and you can do it at your own pace. This also relates to keeping your work area clean. Here is an excellent video that shows how to make a free pour of 4 units. In addition to beverage knowledge, waiters should also have an alcoholic beverage sales license or certificate to serve alcohol. This certification is usually valid for three years.
No summer drink menu is complete without the daiquiri. While it's easy to assemble, it still has a touch full of flavor. This Italian drink is very appealing with its mix of intense bitterness and smooth gin. While the Negroni has a lot of variations, it's nice to have the basic basics. When working in the fast-paced environment of a waiter, it's inevitable that a glass will break and the drink will spill.
Whether it's your first day as a waiter or if you're a seasoned veteran, there's always more to do. As one of the most classic drink recipes out there, all waiters will do well to perfect this savory cocktail. Managing all the tasks of working behind the bar and, at the same time, keeping good service as the number one priority is the biggest challenge of being a waiter. There's a reason why the best waiters have a lot of experience; this isn't a job you're going to be very good at right away. Whether you're just going to the bar for a happy hour or you're a professional waiter, it's good to know some jargon.
Making friends with other waiters is also great for finding someone to hang out with during those unholy hours when almost everyone else is sleeping and you're sitting down to dinner. If you want to learn bartending skills, Typsy has plenty of online courses that you can choose to watch in your spare time. Advanced knowledge in cocktail making and the study of mixology are what differentiates great waiters from the average consumer of beverages. There are very good reasons why waiters use certain tips and tricks and why they pay attention to particular aspects of mixing drinks. As a new waiter, it's easy to fall into the trap of spending too much time talking to just one customer.
If you like cocktails, I'm glad, but you're still a waiter and they'll ask you to serve beer, wine and, of course, food. A waiter might say, “I'm going to work behind the stick tonight” when they talk about working a waiter shift.
