done in good taste by Lance Nitahara Action! (Stations)
With the right planning and a willing and able staff, action stations can be just what you need to bring your meal service to the next level. Action stations are strategically placed stations that feature a live person doing all or most of the cooking preparation of a menu item to order in front of the guests. Te possibilities are endless. When I was
the chef of a large Christian camp, we featured three to four different action stations per week at almost every meal period. Here are a few examples that worked well for me and could be a welcome addition to your offerings.
Omelet station Using two portable burners per cook, we employed two cooks to make omelets to order for guests, using nonstick pans and pre-whisked eggs. Guests were given a menu of fillings and add-ins for their omelets like ham, scallions, mushrooms, cheese, peppers, onions, etc. Te lines became long at times, but once the cooks became proficient at omelet making, guests received them within one to two minutes and were happy to wait.
Our pasta station
offered guests pasta plates that were fully
customizable and served hot and fresh.
Pasta station A popular lunchtime action station, our pasta station offered guests pasta plates that were fully customizable and served hot and fresh. Like the omelet station, guests were given a menu of add-ins for their pasta dishes, various noodle options and a choice of two sauces. Add-ins included mushrooms, grilled chicken, broccoli, caramelized onions, meatballs, pro- sciutto, peas, etc. The pasta was pre-cooked and cooled, to be reheated in the sauté pan in front of the guests with a little vegetable stock after add-ins were sauteed.
Sushi station Tis was a risky venture, but it paid off. Cooks were taught how to properly cook and season sushi rice and prepare various add-ins for sushi fillings, such as spicy ahi tuna, cured salmon, cucumber strips, avocado slices, tofu strips, etc. Garnishes included scallions, sesame seeds and crispy fried garlic. Guests could choose up to two fillings and one garnish. Te cooks loved learning how to make “temaki” (or hand rolls) for guests in under a minute! It was a fun station for our guests and cooks.
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www.ccca.org September/October 2024
iStock / kcline
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