Comments on: Are restaurateurs bad at maths?

By: Little Red Dot

Little Red Dot — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 02:57:59 +0000

Folks,

Follow this link to more bad news on the restaurant front:

"We were paying $18 for 25kg of Thai jasmine rice 12 weeks ago and it's gone up to $50. We are told to expect further increases."

Sorry, but I call BS. Rice prices here in Singapore fell 10% two weeks ago and are continuing to fall as new shipments arrive. And yes, we also get our rice from Thailand. Let's see if they pass on the price decreases. Could you imagine them saying "Yep, prices have fallen, so rice is free at Red Lantern again." Psst, did I see the Pope distributing condoms on the steps of St Mary's before he left?

Sorry, but in so many ways, the mainstream press have become apologists for the restaurant industry. Perhaps this is unsurprising given one is hardly likely to cast down from a pedestal the gods one exalted to such heights in the first place.

By: Amelita (Squishy)

Amelita (Squishy) — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 11:09:25 +0000

All of this is very true and the owners of these restaurants sound like tight wads who want slave labor. What really goes on in most of the restaurants I have encountered, is that apprentices are doing the majority of the work which in turn is saving them huge amounts of money. First year apprentices earn about $230 a week and work a stupid amount of hours. Most second year apprentices are on about $320 a week and do the same job in big hotels as a fully qualified chef. So really what are they bitching about?

By: Y

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 00:57:45 +0000

Haha.. I'm still waiting for my wage increase! Hmph!

By: harry

harry — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 12:49:27 +0000

With maths like that, Duncan, it's no wonder you're so good (and I so bad) at making macarons!

By: Sarah

Sarah — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 11:30:57 +0000

I love maths! Good post.

xox Sarah

By: ut si

ut si — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 11:06:01 +0000

Yes, the major dailies continue to disappoint with sloppy journalism like this…or is it the old adage…'never let the truth get in the way of a good story'! As an aside, the Prof and I paid 10.5 euros for a coffee and a tonic water in Vienna yesterday…the coffee was fab and the waiter suitably surly!