I’ll always remember where I was when I first encountered a $3 ATM fee—the Venetian in Las Vegas (now they’re charging $4 at Key Bank on 15th!)—and I’ll never forget where I was when I encountered my first tip jar for cooks…
…Gailey’s Breakfast Cafe in Springfield, Missouri. The eggs were excellent. In other Springfield, MO, notes: the only bike shop in town doesn’t rent bikes (but it’s worth going in to ask about renting a bike because the clerk has dreamy eyes), the Mud House (“Your Downtown Coffeehouse”) has a huge selection of high-quality loose-leaf teas (there’s no excuse for serving Stash Tea, Skillet Diner (and charging $2 for it! ($2 for floor sweepings!))), and based on the posters I’m seeing around town I’d say that Springfield, MO, has a more active theater scene that Seattle, WA.
Danny always tips at least 25%.
He’s just waiting for you to ask him……
Here’s the trick if a shop doesn’t rent bikes. Ask about their return policy. Most likely you can return a bike inside thirty days if it’s not obviously worn.
So buy a bike, go for a ride, then return it. They’ll hate you with the white hot fury of a thousand suns, they might charge you a restocking fee, but they’ll do it.
I’ll never forget getting gouged > $5.00 by the Stranger for my Bumbershoot ticket.
I recommend going to The Coffee Ethic in Springield. If it’s still open. I can not vouch for their tea selection but they make excellent espresso drinks.
This Horseman of the Apocalypse is named Branson. Wow, you really are behind enemy lines. Good luck. Say hi to the American Pickers guys when you eventually cross paths, which you will.
Insulting to customers
You should make a quick trip to St. Louis!! And go to Kaldi’s Coffee in Clayton. It’s pretty bomb. And go to the UCity loop too. Skip the arch though. The name my 91 year old grandfather calls it, The World’s Largest Wicket, pretty much sums up how interesting it is.
I think cooks should get tips. The problem is that you can not mandate that service people tip out to cooks. I was a line cook for twelve years and quite honestly, I’d still be doing it if I had gotten paid a little bit better. Now I work high end retail, make almost double what I had and have no satisfaction with my job. It is ok that the guy who makes your latte gets a tip, but not the girl who perfectly cooked your meal?????
Let’s just make all gods and services a bazaar style open negotiation.
I’m a cook and I should be able to half ass your order if I don’t like the price point.
Former Springfield, MO girl here. Try the Springfield Missouri style Cashew Chicken- but go to one of the better places like Hong Kong Inn on Glenstone and Sunshine. Yes, it is really bad for you- but try it a little anyway. Also check out Martha’s Vineyard- it’s a GLBT club that the city has attempted to shut down for the last 20 years and have yet to succeed. Also for some decent thrift/outlet store digs, look at NBC 1/2 of 1/2 store across from the Battlefield Mall. I bought a full and beautiful evening gown there for $12, and I noticed a mens designer leather jacket for $40 (the original mall tag still attached read $500)
Wait staff get tips because 1) their employers are allowed to pay less than minimum wage on the expectation that they will get tips and 2) the IRS taxes them for 8% tips whether the customers actually forked over the money or not.
As far as I know, none of this applies to cooks.
@11
Not in Washington state. We have a required wage that includes service employees.
8.67hr bitches!!!!
@12
Yes, the minimum wage for cooks in WA is $8.67/hr, and the minimum wage for waitstaff is $8.67 plus tips.
Cooks in Seattle are typically paid $12-$15/hr, outside union shops (read: hotels).
I see it this way. If you’re going to make the effort to go up to my kitchen window and compliment my cooking, you can make the additional effort to reach into your wallet and toss me a dollar. Front of house does get paid less, but tips more than make up for the difference.
I know I don’t work for tips, but it makes me feel appreciated. And if I get to know you, trust me, I will care A LOT more about your order. Tipping your cooks is like an investment.
If you want some home style Missouri cooking, and your hot rolls thrown at you from across the room, try Lambert’s!
http://www.throwedrolls.com/
My Dad grew up in Nixa just outside Springfield, so remember, it’s Missour-ah, not Missour-ee where you’re at.
I have always wished that I could tip the cook rather than the waiter. I don’t really give a rat’s ass about the quality of service, but I care quite a lot about the quality of the food.
This business of “the cooks get a higher set pay than the wait staff” is a total smoke screen. Every experienced waiter knows that the total compensation of the front of the house dwarfs that of the back. Waiters are not getting bumped up to be equal to the cooks, they are getting two to four times what the cooks make.
In a just world, the wait staff would make a set wage, probably 25% or so above minimum wage, and the cooks would have a slightly diminished base wage and take home all the tips. Waiting might no longer be a profession as it is now under that system, but tough, it is an unskilled profession. Go work at the mall. In the meantime, the people actually responsible for my enjoying a meal would be compensated more fairly for their actual skilled work.
Are you kidding me? Of course you tip the cook. Is this for real?
Just today I tipped an old lady $20 for pushing the walk button when I was waiting for the light to change.
I tip my kids school teacher, lord knows she’s not making what she deserves.
Shit, let me list all the people I tip (and you should, too. No excuses, poor people! I probably tip you.)
– I tip the doorman at the night club on my way in and on my way out.
– I tip the mailman.
– I tip the guy who comes to read my gas meter.
– I tip the girl who rings me up at Nordstroms, Coldstone Creamery, 7Eleven and where ever else.
– I tip the clipboard jockeys in front of QFC.
None of these people are making a killing at what they do so don’t be a miser. Break bread.
People I don’t tip (and you shouldn’t either)
– I never tip my mechanic (I don’t trust him and I now he just gouges me)
– I refuse to tip the cop who pulls me over (sorry, that’s just me)
– The league made me quit tipping the refs at my son’s soccer games (whatever)
– I don’t tip people who aren’t in front of me (tech support, bank call center…stuff like that)
– I never tip movie ushers (It’s a fake job for people who want to watch movies for free)
I pretty much tip everyone unless it occurs to me I shouldn’t.
Don’t be a heel. Keep loose $20s in your front pocket at all times.
Which reminds me.
Leave your paypal info in your comment and if I like what you say I’ll tip you.
You know, if you’re a cook then you’re an artist (Culinary Arts, anyone?). You should start a kickstarter for supplemental income!
Fuck, I’m a genius.
Which reminds me.
Leave your paypal info in your comment and if I like what you say I’ll tip you.
You know, if you’re a cook then you’re an artist (Culinary Arts, anyone?). You should start a kickstarter for supplemental income!
Fuck, I’m a genius.
Which reminds me.
Leave your paypal info in your comment and if I like what you say I’ll tip you.
You know, if you’re a cook then you’re an artist (Culinary Arts, anyone?). You should start a kickstarter for supplemental income!
Fuck, I’m a genius.
I used to cook at Gailey’s. Only wish we’d been allowed to ask for tips then… glad you liked the eggs! Their food’s been spotty ever since I moved away. (c;
Poor Gailey’s. Gotta admire them for soldiering on without you.