Health Care

You go out for dinner on a Saturday night at a restaurant in San Francisco. You enjoy the ambiance, the service is great, and, best of all, the food is awesome. But, of course, you have to pay the price for your culinary experience. You get the bill and notice that there is a 2 % surcharge on top of the price of the dishes, the tax, and the tip. How would you feel?

But how would you feel knowing that the extra 2 % you have to pay goes to supporting health care for the restaurant employees. That includes your server who remembered the "dressing on the side" and the "water, no ice." That includes the prep cook who chopped up the cauliflower in your cauliflower gratin, the line cook who grilled your steak perfectly to your choice of medium rare, and the pastry cook who plated your chocolate espresso pot de creme.

San Francisco now has a health insurance ordinance which provides a way for the uninsured to get access to health care. Sounds like a great idea.

But, how does this affect your dining experience?

Restauranters were required earlier this year to find a way to provide coverage for their employees or pay a fee to the city for this health care program. In order to raise the funds to pay for health coverage, restaurants have to be creative such as: adding small fees to the bill, charging for items like bread (that would have otherwise been complimentary), etc.

Being a cook myself, it would be nice for everyone in the kitchen to receive health insurance. (I am fortunate to be covered by my husband's.) But the funds have to come from somewhere and I don't think that the general public would want to pay more taxes for this health ordinance. So it comes down to the employers.

Raising the prices on the menu would not be the tactful since prices at some restaurants have already been adjusted due to the rising cost of food.

So please, when you go out and see those small addition to your tab, understand that there is someone in the kitchen who endures long hours of standing, who been trained to cook your meal with precision. For a moment, think about those who after you have long finished your meal and have heading out to enjoy the rest of your evening, has still yet to finish the night over flaming stoves and hot ovens.

Think about us who are good at what we do and love it, who endure it whether or not we get the health care or not, who after a long day of busting in the kitchen can still find satisfaction in what we do.


You can find out more about the health care ordinance at SFGate or at Golden Gate Restaurant Association.