Hospitality is care in action
The hospitality and café team helps people feel welcome through a kind greeting, an orderly space, and thoughtful service. A warm interaction matters, and so does doing the work carefully behind the scenes. Follow the café leader's current menu, setup, food-handling, and clean-up instructions.
1. Schedule, shadow, and learn the café flow
After completing the required Sit in Class lessons, schedule a date to serve alongside the hospitality or café leader. During your Shadow Serve, learn where to report, how the area is prepared, what the current menu includes, how guests are served, and how the team closes and cleans the space.
Ask which tasks you may perform and which require leader approval. Follow the menu, service times, and setup plan the leader gives you; do not make unapproved substitutions or changes.
2. Prepare the space and welcome guests
"Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality."
Arrive at the scheduled time, check in with the leader, and prepare only the areas and items assigned to you. Keep serving spaces orderly and walkways clear. Greet guests warmly, answer simple questions when you know the answer, and connect them with the leader when you do not.
Be attentive without rushing people. Offer help respectfully and allow guests to choose whether they want assistance.
3. Follow food-handling instructions
Follow the leader's current food safety instructions for handwashing, gloves or utensils, serving tools, surfaces, storage, and clean-up. Use the designated utensils and containers. Keep food and service areas protected and tell the leader promptly if something is spilled, contaminated, damaged, or no longer suitable to serve.
If you feel ill, especially with symptoms that could affect food handling, do not begin food-service tasks. Tell the café leader and follow their direction and the applicable food-safety procedures.
4. Handle allergy questions carefully
Never guess about ingredients or promise that a food is free from an allergen. Check only the ingredient information and labels approved for that food, and ask the leader to respond if you are uncertain. Follow the café's instructions for utensils and surfaces so foods are not unintentionally mixed or cross-contacted.
If a guest reports an allergy, take the concern seriously and connect them with the café leader. Do not recommend that they try a food when you cannot verify its ingredients and handling.
5. Work as one team
Communicate when supplies are low, a guest needs help, or a task remains unfinished. Stay within your assigned role and let the leader coordinate changes. Treat guests and teammates with patience, and avoid discussing private information in the café or serving area.
6. Close, clean, and hand off
Follow the leader's close-out list for leftovers, surfaces, equipment, trash, and resetting the space. Do not guess how food should be stored or discarded; ask the leader and follow the current procedure. Report any supply shortage, spill, or equipment issue before leaving. Check out with the leader when your assigned tasks are complete.
During your Shadow Serve, learn:
- The current menu, service times, and setup plan.
- Which tasks you are approved to perform.
- The café's food-handling and allergy-response procedures.
- How to answer guest questions or connect them with the leader.
- The close-out, clean-up, and handoff process.
After shadowing, debrief with the café leader. Confirm any additional instructions and wait for the leader to confirm when you are ready to serve in your assigned role.