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Biography

Jonathan Deutsch, Ph.D.

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Jonathan Deutsch, Ph.D. is our Advice Guy and Professor of Culinary Arts and Food Science at Drexel University in Philadelphia. He is the author of six books, including They Eat That? A Cultural Encyclopedia of "Weird" Foods (ABC-CLIO, 2012).

Articles by
Jonathan Deutsch, Ph.D.

Page 1

Is 'ladies first' still best when serving wine?

Restaurants should think about the original reason for the tradition and go from there, Advice Guy says.

Workforce

Is a culinary degree worth it?

A certificate or learning on the job may be enough to get where you want to go. It depends on your goals, Advice Guy says.

Workforce

Can restaurants do anything about employees' social media activity?

Dealing with a staffer who posts hateful content is not as simple as it seems, Advice Guy says.

Operations

How restaurants can sniff out fish fraud

Operators should know the difference between a Dover sole and a flounder—and it starts with your vendor, Advice Guy says.

Workforce

Why restaurant kitchen workers should wear gloves

When it comes to bare hands in the kitchen, consumer perception may outweigh reality, Advice Guy says.

Workforce

Can restaurants require servers to bring their own equipment?

It's common for workers to supply essentials such as nonskid shoes, but a BYO vacuum policy takes things too far, Advice Guy says.

Operations

Is it OK for restaurants to recook leftovers?

While reducing waste is an admirable goal, safety and quality must come first, Advice Guy says.

Leadership

Is it OK to call out competing restaurateurs in your dining room?

Restaurants are open to the public, and if someone really wants to know what you’re up to, they will, Advice Guy says.

Should restaurant owners that wait tables accept tips?

The labor crunch means owners and managers may have to help out the front of house. But they are not typically considered tipped employees, Advice Guy says.

Financing

Should restaurant prices be based on volume or weight?

The old saying that "a pint's a pound the world around" doesn't always apply, Advice Guy says.

Workforce

Should restaurants pay staff for mandatory meetings?

The answer may prompt employers to consider an alternate way of delivering meeting material, Advice Guy says.

Most restaurants don't serve 'real' wasabi—or do they?

Fresh wasabi is very expensive and comes from Japan, but other versions of the product can still be considered real, Advice Guy says.