Thrilled about Little Chef

[Arcadian]

It's a bit sad to be posting this at 3.30 am but I can't sleep and to be doing work at this hour would be even sadder.

I'm so glad Little Chef has been rescued. I've had loads of business meetings in the one at Cherwell services and the promised Olympic breakfast is the only way to get hubby to visit relatives. Generally meals at motorway services are atrociously expensive and the service/quality is dire but Little Chef is always reliable.

 

[Coding Monkey]

When did it get rescued? After my experience of them, I'd never use them again.

 

[Arcadian]

Story here. Maybe you got a bad one!

 

[Gillie]

Cant say I would miss 'em!

 

[Hayles]

I love them

H

 

[creospace]

I have to say I think they are just the ticket, at least you always know what you're going to get or what you can get.

I think we all have bad expereinces with most chain companies.

 

[Optegris]

They're a national institution. When I was a kid we would always stop at one on long car journeys...

 

[mike.young467]

I for one am glad they survived, the olympic breakfasts cured many a hangover (When i was younger).
A good fried breakfast, mug of tea and a couple of rounds of toast put everything back right for the rest of the day.
You just dont find the old fashioned greasy spoons anymore so little chef will do, but a bit expensive really.
By the way, i am not vegatarian!

 

[Shaggy]

Little Thief you mean ??

 

[Arhiann]

I cut my catering teeth at Happy Eaters and Little Chefs.

Personally I would never eat at them as a result of what I've seen (and I've worked at many, though mainly up and down the A1).

The bottomless coffee was a pretty safe bet; don't know whether they do that any more though.

 

[cjd]

When my kids were young they called them "Little Sheds"

A bit later the family name for them became "Little Sh1ts"

 

[Eagle]

Little Thief you mean ??

Lol - was thinking of posting the very same thing.

 

[leemason]

One day we went to a Little Chef with the whole family. We were sitting not from from the serving counter and watching the cook. He gave out a hugh sneeze that went over the chips. Looked around to see if anyone had seen him, and then carried on...

I still have a soft spot for them though!!!! Why? I don't really know.

 

[dagr]

I was in one this Christmas period, on my way to play golf. (I can't remember when I was last in one, if ever at all).

I didn't have much time, so thought I'd order a hot roll to take away. Well, with the restaurant only 20% full (max.), it took me 32 minutes to get my "breakfast" roll. Normally, I'd have walked out after 10-15 minutes, but I was fascinated by their main process: "Welcome - take order - cook order - deliver order". It was a pure lesson in how not to do something.

Apart from that, the staff were pleasant enough and the food was OK.

 

[Arhiann]

I was fascinated by their main process: "Welcome - take order - cook order - deliver order". It was a pure lesson in how not to do something.

Is there any other way to do it? Well, in the context of what they do, is there any other way to do it?

 

[dagr]

Is there any other way to do it? Well, in the context of what they do, is there any other way to do it?

It was how they went through the process. Almost totally sequential. For example, a table of 4 had ordered almost 4 identical meals (cooked breakfasts), yet each dish was done one at a time: 1 egg, 1 bacon rasher, etc. at a time. Absolutely amazing.

I overheard the main cook actually say "I don't know what I'm doing here" at one point.

 

[Arcadian]

You must all be going to the wrong one! I'm always impressed at how quickly the food arrives but then I was ordering from the more expensive motorway menu, which always amuses me in its brave higher pricing. A few feet away you can buy a coffee and a bun and it will cost virtually the same as an Olympic breakfast. No contest.

This thread is making me hungry now

 

[Adman]

They just need a bit of a make-over. sold brand thought.

 

[Mac Yeti]

I've never had a good meal in a little chef, thank goodness m&s are paving their way alongside englands motorways.

 

[Arhiann]

It was how they went through the process. Almost totally sequential. For example, a table of 4 had ordered almost 4 identical meals (cooked breakfasts), yet each dish was done one at a time: 1 egg, 1 bacon rasher, etc. at a time. Absolutely amazing.

I overheard the main cook actually say "I don't know what I'm doing here" at one point.

I think you've hit the nail on the haed, it wasn't the usual, experienced cook.

No experienced griddle chef would do it like that. We managed about 80 covers an hour in a 46 cover restaurant with one griddle chef. That's pretty speedy as it goes.

 

[Arcadian]

IMO everyone should do a stint in McDonalds while they're a student. I was so proud of being able to cook 36 burgers at once - and to perfection insofar as that's possible given the materials!

I can also count money extremely quickly as I worked in a bank for a year. Some life skills are indispensable.

 

[Mac Yeti]

Some life skills are indispensable.

I feel the same about having been a powder puff packer when I was 14. Nobody can touch me when it comes to my folding and stapling skills.

 

[dagr]

Some life skills are indispensable.

But some aren't.

When selling ice-cream from a van, I learned how to eat an entire box of some 144 small chocolate flakes, you know, the ones used to make "99"s, in between the boss's rounds. And hide the empty box.

 

[fastfences]

I feel the same about having been a powder puff packer when I was 14. Nobody can touch me when it comes to my folding and stapling skills.

I'll PM you about that tummy tuck my wife's been after!

Cheers, Nigel

 

[Arhiann]

IMO everyone should do a stint in McDonalds while they're a student. I was so proud of being able to cook 36 burgers at once.

As a little chef griddle chef, we looked down upon those that worked at MCD.

You only cook burgers, we cooked sausages too

Have you ever read Fast Food Nation?