A regular asked me why I pre-salt my cutting board every shift

It was a Tuesday lunch rush and this older guy watches me for a minute, then goes 'you seasoning the board or the food?' I told him it helps control moisture when chopping onions and tomatoes, and he nodded like I just handed him a secret. Has anyone else had a customer actually notice a prep habit like that?

2 comments

2 Comments

miller.jason1mo agoProlific Poster

That bit about the customer asking if she was pickling the board got me. I had this one time where a guy watched me salt my board and then deadpanned "saving some for the food or is the wood your actual customer?" Made me laugh so hard I almost dropped my knife. Now every time I do it I half expect someone to ask if I'm making a salt crust for the cutting board itself. Ever had a customer turn a prep habit into a full bit like that?

reese_singh871mo ago

My wife has been a prep cook at a diner for 23 years and she does this same thing with her cutting board. She salts it before dicing anything wet, especially tomatoes for the lunch crowd. One time a customer asked if she was trying to pickle the board itself. She just smiled and said no, it stops the tomatoes from turning into soup on the plate. That customer ended up coming back every week for three years, always asking for her specifically. It is funny how the little habits get noticed by the people who really care about their food.