The Back of the House

The Choreography of Food

story by DANIE CONNOLLY

“I’m so glad we came here. The food is delicious!” Have you ever wondered about all the work that goes into making a really wonderful experience at a restaurant? Take, for instance, an awesome burger — you know, there’s more to it than just slapping a patty on a grill!

I used to own restaurants, so I’ve seen it all firsthand. It’s a beautifully orchestrated culinary dance. From the fry guy getting those fries perfectly golden brown, to the chef’s gentle touch, knowing the difference between medium rare and well-done, the precise timing of flipping and removing the burger from the grill. A perfectly choreographed show! Then there’s the artistic placement of the burger in the bun, the haystack of fries alongside, and the runner delivering each masterpiece. It happens hundreds of times a day in restaurants everywhere!

And it doesn’t end there! Once you’re done with your delicious burger (and dessert!), the busser swoops in like a silent ninja, clearing the table with grace and efficiency. It’s remarkable how many people collaborate to ensure you have the best dining experience.

These folks are truly the unsung heroes of the restaurant world. They’re doing it for all sorts of reasons — to provide for their families, for the love of the craft, for the camaraderie, or perhaps to follow in their family’s footsteps. But they all share a common goal: To hear you say, “That was delicious!”

Do you want to celebrate these amazing people and the incredibly talented artists who took the time to paint our local “Back of the House” heroes?

Local Beaufort County favorite restaurants like Fishcamp, Scratch, Calhoun Street Tavern, Captain Woody’s, G&Gs, The Corner Perk, Slider’s, Hearth, Coffee Jazz, Longhorn, The French Bakery, Bad Biscuit, British Open Pub, Plums, Breakwater, Jamaican Food Truck, Q on Bay, Chef Frank’s Bistro, Local Pie, Grits and Griddle, SERG’s Signature Kitchen, and many more who generously permitted us to capture their restaurants’ “Back of the House” magic.

We invite you to come see how local artists have transformed those photo images into paintings of the food dance going on behind those back kitchen doors. A choreographed world so deserving of our applause and recognition.
Enjoy oil paintings, pastels, acrylics, photographs, sketches, and collages in many styles.

It’s all for a cool exhibition called “The Back of the House,” happening on Monday, July 14, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Restaurant Equipment Company of Bluffton, 1 Sherington Drive, Bluffton, SC.

“The Back of the House” is an affectionate name for the whirlwind of creativity that exists behind restaurant kitchen doors. If you’ve ever had a job at a restaurant, you’ll identify with the cast of characters. It’s where dishwashers and bussers and line cooks and head chefs and egg men and deep fry cooks and pastry chefs and grill chefs and barbecue cooks and prep cooks and expediters and runners and servers perform their daily ballet.

There are approximately one hundred fabulous pieces of art showcasing the amazing folks working behind the scenes to satisfy your palate and make you smile.

In addition, there will be yummies for your tummies and live bluegrass music by the local favorite band Flatt Silly!
It’s a FREE event and open to the public for one day only before it hits the road and travels north.

Please join us on Monday, July 14, from 4-7 p.m.!