Saturday, February 20, 2010
Eats I'll Have the No.2 With a Side of Tattoos
Posted by Randy King on Sat, Feb 20, 2010 at 10:47 AM
I was at dinner the other night in Nampa and was being waited on by a very young, spunky server. She was doing a great job but one thing about her uniform was bugging me. For no apparent reason, she had a sweatband wrapped around one of her wrists.
Not able to resist, I asked why she had the band around her wrist. She said, “To cover a tattoo. My manager does not think it is appropriate for our older guests.”
After I laughed a little, I asked to see it. It was a skull and crossbones on the inside of her wrist. Nothing bad, I thought, especially compared to the other things I have seen on people in the industry.
His other tattoo, of a knife, is not a normal knife. It is a tattoo of his knife. It's a Shun Santoku, a damn nice knife.
In the restaurant industry having a tattoo is like a right of passage and I say let them be seen.
Randy King is the Executive Chef at Sysco Food Services of Idaho. He has served as the Executive Chef at several locations in Boise including Richard’s in Hyde Park, Crane Creek Country Club and the Doubletree Riverside Hotel. Randy is a member of the American Culinary Federation and has been awarded the elite status of Certified Executive Chef. He can typically be found behind a stove making a mess ... and something delicious to eat.
Comments (5)
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I worked at the same hole in the wall restaurant, since I was barely old enough to serve tables--I was raised in an artistic family, often spending time at tattoo shops in AZ.-my oldest brother being an tattoo artist himself, since an early age I had always had plans for my ink.I am a very good waitress, I've been awarded the title as "Best Server in Boise Weekly's B.O.B. more than once, and if anyone should Google the restaurant's name they are met by many reviews-containing comments regarding my abilities as a sever-more so than about the menu. At the age of 31 I was in the right place at the right time-and was offered a chance at trying my hand as a tattoo artist, by a very accomplished artist.at which time I decided to began having the ink I had thought about near all my life- started-- all traditional Japanese pieces- this did not please my Bosses-they began to talk down to me in regards to my ink as well as the craft of tattooing in general-- as the economy began to slip- they even went as far as to say that the restaurant's business has grown quiet because of my tattoos--which at the owner's request was covered completely while I was on shift--- after 14 yrs of being Boise's Best Server-in the same hole in the wall restaurant where I had become very loyal to my repeat offenders---I was basically forced to move on--- I have over the top customer service skills--meaning I can identify with near anyone from any walk of life- able to plot my approach the moment my customer should step foot through the threshold-- 85% of even my business class has ink ranging from the unfortunate home made at home pieces to full color full custom pieces--- doesn't seem fair--but it's Boise
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With my son being a local Boise artist I have come to appreciate and really love the artist craft of tat. When I was younger I had a dim view of it but only due to bad relationship and interactions with a few prison-tatted guys. With or without ink, they were still who they intended to be.
I know notice many people with beautiful design, momento's of meaningful caring, dedicated ideals and representations.
It sure would be nice to see servers with a personality. I frequent restaurants with employees that have a sense of individuality. I will not go back to a restaurant where the server says, "Hi. My name is Carlos, and will be your server tonight." I feel bad that they have to work at such an uptight place. One would be surprised at what older people accept and embrace. Give them some credit. And, let your true colors shine.
Ok, how about Chef's with ink? The creative genius behind the dish being served by your tatted server may sport the oldest personal art form as well. Some of the best culinary minds I know have chosen to express themselves in the most personal art form available. Skin meets ink. The old joke is, "who is more commited to your breakfast....the Chicken or the Pig? The Chicken lays the egg and lives to lay many more. The Pig? Well let's just say that Pig will see but one breakfast. Thats commitment! When a person commits to a tatoo, it IS a commitment and often represents somthing basic and maybe even primordial to their self image. Not everone chooses to display that image in a place obvious to others, but the commitment to the image remains the same. So, maybe we could focus on the expression of creativity that a tatoo represents and not pigeon hole those that choose to express themselves.
I am a Chef and I am proud of my ink and the artists who created them from my designs. They are a part of me by my own decision, and I display them the same way.
.At age 65 I decided it was finally time to get my first tattoo and I am so glad I did so. I've seen so many beautiful tats and love discussing them with the people who have them. Just now I'm looking for an artist as my one and only tat, though only 6 months old, is very faded. Any suggestions?
Blake
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