party

Definition

The number of guests in a reservation or table, used to quickly communicate group size. A 'four-party' sounds more elegant than 'table of four,' apparently.

Example Usage

We've got a six-party VIP coming in at 8—prep the private room.

Origin

Restaurant reservation and service terminology

Fun Fact

Large parties (8+) strike fear into servers' hearts due to complicated split checks, dietary restrictions, and the inevitably terrible tip despite the automatic gratuity.

Source: Front-of-house service terminology

Related Terms

Advanced

blanc

In culinary terms, a white sauce made from fat, broth, and vegetables used for braising, not to be confused with the cosmetic kind or the wine. It's one of those French cooking fundamentals that sounds intimidating but is basically fancy butter soup. The liquid foundation for making tough cuts of meat remember they're supposed to be tender.

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tournant

A swing cook who can work any station in the kitchen, filling in wherever needed. They're the utility players of the culinary world, skilled at everything but master of being flexible.

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vegetolerable

Someone who tolerates vegetarians and vegans despite being an unapologetic carnivore themselves, or alternatively, someone who'll eat vegetables but clearly wishes they were steak. It's the dietary version of being bilingual—you understand the language but wouldn't call it your first choice. Perfect for describing that friend who respects your plant-based lifestyle while aggressively side-eyeing your tofu.

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clopen

The dreaded shift combination where you close the restaurant late at night and then open it early the next morning, getting maybe four hours of sleep between. Inhumane but surprisingly common.

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crumb coat

A thin layer of frosting applied to a cake to trap rogue crumbs before the final, prettier frosting layer goes on. It's cake decorating's primer coat, proving that even desserts need a good foundation routine.

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Plating

The art of arranging food on a plate to make it look beautiful before someone destroys it in thirty seconds with a fork. It's interior design for dinner, and chefs will spend more time on plating than most people spend on their actual living rooms.

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