Pizza Today - December 2015 - 3
commentary
with JEREMY WHITE
Empty Tables, Angry Patrons
W
e walked into the restaurant after a 90-minute basketball practice. "Uh oh," I thought.
"Gonna be a long wait." There was a crowd
of about 20 customers waiting to be seated. The smiling
hostess politely told us our wait would only be about 15
minutes. "Great," I thought. "No problem."
The other customers in queue didn't share my understanding. The discontent was evident on their faces and in
their body language. The snide remarks flowed freely.
"I guess that booth isn't getting cleaned tonight."
"Couldn't we just have that table?"
"This is ridiculous. Let's go somewhere else."
You see, there were about eight completely empty tables
scattered throughout the dining room. That's seating for
32 for those of you who aren't math whizzes - more than
enough chairs/booth space for every waiting customer.
I understand. It was a Wednesday night. The manager
prepared the staffing level based on an analysis of historical Wednesday night sales in the fall. And then a server or
two called in sick or skipped out early and left the dining
room shorthanded. I get it. But that's because I spend my
days talking to pizzeria owners and understanding their
businesses and needs. The average Joe, on the other hand,
just wants his food. He doesn't comprehend that those
tables were empty because there weren't enough employees on duty to serve them. And he doesn't care.
Follow Us Here!
@pizzatoday
As I pondered the situation, ultimately I asked myself
why the management hadn't called in reinforcements.
Surely they had more help that could've been summoned,
right?
Maybe, maybe not. It seemed like a no-brainer to me.
But then Tony Gemignani submitted his "Respecting
the Craft" column (page 20) for this issue and the empty
tables immediately came to mind. Perhaps there's a connection here. Or maybe the restaurant in question was
simply poorly managed.
Are you having difficulty keeping staffing levels where
they should be? Is good help currently hard to find in
your area? Shoot me an e-mail (jwhite@pizzatoday.com)
and let me know what you're experiencing. We'll put your
comments to good use in the future.
Lastly, this issue contains our 2016 Menu Guide.
Beginning on page 48, you'll find scores of recipes from
appetizers to pizzas to desserts and more. Here's to hoping
you find your next big hit while flipping through them
and trying them out. When you test a recipe that sounds
good to you, take a photo of it and give us a shout out on
Instagram. We can't wait to see your work!
Best,
JEREMY WHITE
EDITOR IN CHIEF
Pizza Today® (ISSN 0743-3115) is published monthly. Domestic U.S.
subscriptions are $29.95 for one year. Published by Emerald Expositions, 85
Broad Street, New York, NY 10004. Periodicals Postage Paid at New York
(USPS 019-749) and additional mailing offices.
Postmaster: Send address change to: Pizza Today, 85 Broad Street, New
York, NY 10004 .
D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 5 / P I Z Z AT O D AY. C O M / 3
http://www.PIZZATODAY.COM
Pizza Today - December 2015
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pizza Today - December 2015
Pizza Today - December 2015
Commentary
Contents
Contributors
Expo Spotlight
Interact
Conversation
Man on the Street
Respecting the Craft
Trending Recipes
Destinations
Dough Doctor
Server Shadowing
Trending Toppings
Research & Development
Child Labor Laws
2016 Menu Guide
Product Showcase
Pizza Today Yellow Pages
The Marketplace
Reader’s Resource
Snapped
Pizza Today - December 2015 - CT1
Pizza Today - December 2015 - CT2
Pizza Today - December 2015 - Pizza Today - December 2015
Pizza Today - December 2015 - Cover2
Pizza Today - December 2015 - Commentary
Pizza Today - December 2015 - 4
Pizza Today - December 2015 - 5
Pizza Today - December 2015 - Contents
Pizza Today - December 2015 - 7
Pizza Today - December 2015 - 8
Pizza Today - December 2015 - 9
Pizza Today - December 2015 - Contributors
Pizza Today - December 2015 - 11
Pizza Today - December 2015 - Expo Spotlight
Pizza Today - December 2015 - 13
Pizza Today - December 2015 - Interact
Pizza Today - December 2015 - 15
Pizza Today - December 2015 - Conversation
Pizza Today - December 2015 - 17
Pizza Today - December 2015 - Man on the Street
Pizza Today - December 2015 - 19
Pizza Today - December 2015 - Respecting the Craft
Pizza Today - December 2015 - 21
Pizza Today - December 2015 - Trending Recipes
Pizza Today - December 2015 - 23
Pizza Today - December 2015 - Destinations
Pizza Today - December 2015 - 25
Pizza Today - December 2015 - Dough Doctor
Pizza Today - December 2015 - 27
Pizza Today - December 2015 - 28
Pizza Today - December 2015 - 29
Pizza Today - December 2015 - Server Shadowing
Pizza Today - December 2015 - 31
Pizza Today - December 2015 - 32
Pizza Today - December 2015 - 33
Pizza Today - December 2015 - Trending Toppings
Pizza Today - December 2015 - 35
Pizza Today - December 2015 - 36
Pizza Today - December 2015 - 37
Pizza Today - December 2015 - Research & Development
Pizza Today - December 2015 - 39
Pizza Today - December 2015 - 40
Pizza Today - December 2015 - 41
Pizza Today - December 2015 - Child Labor Laws
Pizza Today - December 2015 - 43
Pizza Today - December 2015 - 44
Pizza Today - December 2015 - 45
Pizza Today - December 2015 - 46
Pizza Today - December 2015 - 47
Pizza Today - December 2015 - 2016 Menu Guide
Pizza Today - December 2015 - 49
Pizza Today - December 2015 - 50
Pizza Today - December 2015 - 51
Pizza Today - December 2015 - 52
Pizza Today - December 2015 - 53
Pizza Today - December 2015 - 54
Pizza Today - December 2015 - 55
Pizza Today - December 2015 - 56
Pizza Today - December 2015 - 57
Pizza Today - December 2015 - 58
Pizza Today - December 2015 - 59
Pizza Today - December 2015 - 60
Pizza Today - December 2015 - 61
Pizza Today - December 2015 - 62
Pizza Today - December 2015 - 63
Pizza Today - December 2015 - 64
Pizza Today - December 2015 - 65
Pizza Today - December 2015 - 66
Pizza Today - December 2015 - 67
Pizza Today - December 2015 - 68
Pizza Today - December 2015 - 69
Pizza Today - December 2015 - 70
Pizza Today - December 2015 - 71
Pizza Today - December 2015 - 72
Pizza Today - December 2015 - 73
Pizza Today - December 2015 - 74
Pizza Today - December 2015 - 75
Pizza Today - December 2015 - 76
Pizza Today - December 2015 - 77
Pizza Today - December 2015 - 78
Pizza Today - December 2015 - 79
Pizza Today - December 2015 - 80
Pizza Today - December 2015 - 81
Pizza Today - December 2015 - 82
Pizza Today - December 2015 - 83
Pizza Today - December 2015 - 84
Pizza Today - December 2015 - 85
Pizza Today - December 2015 - 86
Pizza Today - December 2015 - 87
Pizza Today - December 2015 - 88
Pizza Today - December 2015 - Product Showcase
Pizza Today - December 2015 - 90
Pizza Today - December 2015 - 91
Pizza Today - December 2015 - Pizza Today Yellow Pages
Pizza Today - December 2015 - 93
Pizza Today - December 2015 - 94
Pizza Today - December 2015 - 95
Pizza Today - December 2015 - 96
Pizza Today - December 2015 - 97
Pizza Today - December 2015 - 98
Pizza Today - December 2015 - 99
Pizza Today - December 2015 - 100
Pizza Today - December 2015 - The Marketplace
Pizza Today - December 2015 - 102
Pizza Today - December 2015 - 103
Pizza Today - December 2015 - 104
Pizza Today - December 2015 - 105
Pizza Today - December 2015 - 106
Pizza Today - December 2015 - 107
Pizza Today - December 2015 - 108
Pizza Today - December 2015 - 109
Pizza Today - December 2015 - 110
Pizza Today - December 2015 - 111
Pizza Today - December 2015 - 112
Pizza Today - December 2015 - Reader’s Resource
Pizza Today - December 2015 - Snapped
Pizza Today - December 2015 - Cover3
Pizza Today - December 2015 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/pizzatoday/202502
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/pizzatoday/202501
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/pizzatoday/202412
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/pizzatoday/202411
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/pizzatoday/202410
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/pizzatoday/202409
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/pizzatoday/202408
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/pizzatoday/202407
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/pizzatoday/202406
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/pizzatoday/202405
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/pizzatoday/202404
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/pizzatoday/202403
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/pizzatoday/202402
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/pizzatoday/202401
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/pizzatoday/202312
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/pizzatoday/202311
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/pizzatoday/202310
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/pizzatoday/202309
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/pizzatoday/202308
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/pizzatoday/202307
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/pizzatoday/202306
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/pizzatoday/202305
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/pizzatoday/202304
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/pizzatoday/202303
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/pizzatoday/202302
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/pizzatoday/202301
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/pizzatoday/202212
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/pizzatoday/202211
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/pizzatoday/202210
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/pizzatoday/202209
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/pizzatoday/202208
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/pizzatoday/202207
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/pizzatoday/202206
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/pizzatoday/202205
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/pizzatoday/202204
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/pizzatoday/202203
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/pizzatoday/202202
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/pizzatoday/202201
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/pizzatoday/202112
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/pizzatoday/202111
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/pizzatoday/202110
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/pizzatoday/202109
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/pizzatoday/202108
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/pizzatoday/202107
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/pizzatoday/202106
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/pizzatoday/202105
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/pizzatoday/202104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/202103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/202102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/202101
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/202012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/202011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/202010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/202009
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/202008
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/202007
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/202006
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/expo_2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/202005
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/202004
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/202003
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/202002
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/202001
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201912
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201911
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201909
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201908
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201907
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201906
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201905
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201904
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201903
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201902
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201901
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201812
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201811
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201810
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201809
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201808
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201807
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201806
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201805
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201804
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201803
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201802
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201801
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201712
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201711
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201710
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201709
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201707
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201706
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201705
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201704
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201703
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201702
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201701
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201612
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201611
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201610
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201609
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201608
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201606
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201605
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201604
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201603
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201602
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201601
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201512
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201511
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201510
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201509
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201508
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pizzatoday/201507
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com