How Safe is Dining Out?

My Exclusive Interview with an Ex Chef and a Waitress. They Tell All

You find that perfect restaurant to take your significant other out to. You hear it's fine dining at its best! But is the food safe? Do waiters and waitresses live up to "Service with a smile", without contaminating your food in some way?

A few days ago, I had the unique opportunity to phone interview Jeff, an ex head chef for a restaurant here in Oklahoma. He also happens to be a friend of mine. He has been in food service for over 20 years. I also phone interviewed a woman named Maria at the same time, who waited for about 5 years at a popular restaurant chain. She is now a stay at home mom whom I met on a play day with my daughter.

Some of the stories they told me while head chef at a well known restaurant was mind staggering to put it lightly. I asked them questions on what he experienced and here are some of his answers. The names of the restaurants and his co-workers are not displayed for legal purposes:

Dahlia: Thank you for allowing me to interview you today Jeff and Maria.

Jeff: "You're quite welcome."

Maria: "No problem, someone should tell the public to watch out."

Dahlia: "Jeff, how many instances would you see per night of food tampering?"

Jeff: "Oh my...It depended on who was waiting that evening. I worked with one guy who always seemed upset with the customers. He would do horrible things like cough on their food when he had a cold someone's food at least once per night. He once dropped ice in dish water, and fished it out with his hands and put it back in a glass and served it."

Dahlia: "Why didn't you say anything to the owner?"

Jeff: "There are more waiters and waitresses than there are chefs. Get my drift?"

Dahlia: "Um, I think so." You were afraid of retaliation from them against you, right?"

Jeff: "Yes. That and I didn't want to lose my job." Almost all the waiting staff I worked with did some type of tampering once or twice, and if one goes down, the others were probably guilty of it to. They stick together. Keep in mind too, this was a well known, first class establishment."

Dahlia: "Maria, is what Jeff is telling me correct?"