Out In The Field: Industry Pro James Schulze Talks Why #TabletopMatters

I think at this point we can all agree that #TabletopMatters.

It’s been TabletopJournal’s battle cry for quite some time and if you’re a perpetual plate, cutlery, or glass flipper your love of tabletop has probably rubbed off on a few friends and family. But like with most movements, sometimes the intent can get lost in the weeds. You might find yourself asking the question “why does tabletop matter?”

This photo was taken at a well-known but small L.A. based chain; it’s an image of the restaurant’s B&B plates. The restauranteur admits paying attention to tabletop wasn’t really something on his list of priorities. In effect, tabletop does not (or did not at one point) matter to him. But I believe, in this picture lies the truth as to why it should. Bare with me here.

By not paying attention to tabletop, and by not making “Tabletop Matter,” he has an uneven stack of plates, waiting to tip over. This matters, because if an operator doesn’t maintain a spec for dinnerware, breakage and wear increases dramatically. As seen in this picture, the dinnerware is wobbly and is not nesting as it should. This creates an opportunity for breakage, glaze abrasion, and abnormal metal marking. All of this creates additional cost, and takes away from the bottom line. Tabletop truly matters to a restaurant trying to maintain profitability.

But perhaps most importantly, what does the guest see?

A bread and butter plate is one of the first items to be place and seen on the table. Does the guest notice the dinnerware doesn’t match? How about the different body colors?

While it might not be overt to every patron, certainly a well-matched tabletop intrinsically looks better. If the aesthetics of a properly set table with matched tableware doesn’t matter to an operator, what else might not matter to them?

Does food spec slide based on distributor availability? Are hygiene issues similarly ignored?

Guest perception is everything and tableware is seen by all guests. Again, tabletop matters to the operator that wants to make a great first impression and create a lasting memory of a superior dining experience.

Tabletop absolutely matters, hopefully this anecdote reinforces that. By making “Tabletop Matter,” an informed operator can increase profitability by decreasing needless breakage and wear, while also creating a better guest impression and dining experience through attention to detail.

James Schulze has been a tabletop lover since he started his foodservice career working for his father in 1996.  Mr. Schulze has worked as a manufacturer’s rep, dealer sales rep, and senior manager in several leading tabletop companies.

#TabletopMatters