The Restaurant Doctor - Electronic House Call

ELECTRONIC HOUSE CALL - August 21, 1998

MAKE IT EASY
When sending e-mail messages, many people refer to their website address or even to another e-mail address in the text of the message. The information is good but not terribly convenient for your reader who then has to start up their browser (if they use a separate program for e-mail) and type in the address. If people are pressed for time (who isn't?) this may look like too much work at the moment so it gets put off and they may never get back to you. So make it easy by creating a link.

Here is how it works: If I just gave you my website address as restaurantdoctor.com, you have to do a lot of work to get to it. But if I type it as http://www.restaurantdoctor.com, I create a link. When you click on the link, it will open your browser if necessary, automatically enter the site name and take you directly there. With e-mail addresses, it is simply the difference between typing bill@restaurantdoctor.com and mailto:bill@restaurantdoctor.com. This doesn't work with everyone (AOL people are very different!) but it will certainly make it easier for a lot of folks.

ANY IDEAS?
Joe Wagner from Jackson Java in Mississippi (mailto:JXNJAVA@aol.com) has a question:

Has anyone out there hired a hearing impaired or deaf person as a Barista or as a Waiter? I want to hire a hearing impaired or deaf person to eventually pour espresso at our coffee bar. I welcome any response.

DON'T 86 THIS YET
Cliff Wener called to ask if I knew the origin of the term "86" in the restaurant business. I have seen it used two, slightly different ways. If someone is "86'd" they are no longer welcome in the establishment. If an item has sold out, we tell the service staff to "86" the halibut. So what is the origin of this expression? In this case, please reply to me and I will let you know what we find out.

If you will be in Orlando next week for either the Florida Restaurant Show or the Foodservice Marketing War College, look me up. I am giving presentations at both. Happy whats-left-of-the-summer!

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