How to Answer: What does it mean to 'romanticize' a menu?
Advice and answer examples written specifically for a Hillstone Restaurant Group job interview.
16. What does it mean to 'romanticize' a menu?
How to Answer
There are terms used in the restaurant industry that you should understand. When you are training for your new role, you may come across the word 'romanticize,' which refers to the way you describe a menu item. When you romanticize something, you are giving the beautiful and enticing details. For instance, rather than saying that the salad is spring greens with a vinaigrette, you may say that the dish is made from locally grown baby greens and topped with a house-made rosemary vinaigrette. Show the interviewer that you can bring passion and excitement when it comes to menu descriptions.
1st Answer Example
"I have training in the art of romanticizing a menu, and understand the importance of the practice. For instance, rather than saying that it's a steak, I could let the customer know that it's Japanese Wagyu beef, seared to perfection."
2nd Answer Example
"I am newer to the restaurant industry, but I believe that to romanticize a menu is to make the menu items sound as delicious and enticing as possible. I could describe the details that go into the preparation, point out the items that are house-made, locally sourced, or organically grown."