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If you are staying at a hotel on the Tulum Beach Road then take a battery operated smoke detector and flashlight with you on your trip and keep it on the nightstand in your hotel room during the night.

The Tale Of The Ever Never Once there was a He of the night. Shadow of shadows, solitar step, He walked many nights to find Her. Once there was a She of the day. Twinkle of wheat, dance of light, She walked many days to find Him. They were always looking for each other, He and She. The night was always pursuing the day. They both new, She and He, the quest for what can never be found. It seemed as if it would never happen; it seenmed impossible; it seemed never ever... And then the dawn came for Him and for Her. Always, forever...

 

 

Buckle Up!

Mexico now has
a seat-belt law.

The Kantenah/Colonial side has three buffets and four specialty restaurants and the White Sand/Riviera side has two buffets and four specialty restaurants.

There is one kitchen for each buffet. In the Kantenah/Colonial each specialty restaurant has a kitchen. In the White Sand/Riviera the specialty restaurants share one kitchen per two restaurants.

A buffet kitchen and it's satellite prep rooms are staffed by 70 employees. The specialty restaurants share kitchens with two to three specialty restaurants being serviced by one small kitchen. The stoves in the kitchens use gas LP.

There is one head chef per kitchen and an assistant to each Chef. There is a manager who oversees food preparation, service and food stocks for the Kantenah/Colonial side and one for the White Sand/Riviera side. There are six dishwashing stations for the resort.

The head chef is in charge of menus. For the buffets there is a seven day menu that is repeated every week [breakfast, lunch, dinner]. This menu is modified every six months. Specialty restaurants maintain the same menu with slight variations [depending on availability of some food stocks].

In the kitchens for the specialty restaurants are pictures of the "plates" being served. Food preparers go by these photos to consistently prepare the same plate of food.

If one of the specialty restaurants [a la carte] receives negative comments because of the food, first they try to ascertain the reason. If there are problems with a menu [different nationalities have different expectations] they try new dishes, always keeping with the theme of the restaurant.

Slight variations in the menu do occur for of a number of reasons. Maximum efficiency occurs when the hotel is operating at 80-90% occupancy. During the periods that the hotel is operating at this level of occupancy there is no wait time on food. All food is basically shipped in, cleaned prepared and served.

There is also apparently the perfect rate of kitchen personnel to guest ratio at this time of the season. During high-season the staff has to work at the maximum level. If there are personnel or delivery problems this creates new problems burdening the staff, which can affect the menu and quality of food. Low-season presents its own list of problems as the hotel must deliver the same quality and selection of foods on the menu as in high-season but with a dramatic reduction in guests. This is achieved by reducing food amounts which sometimes results in temporary shortages in some items to some kitchens because they are not ordering as much of certain items. Or the chef of another kitchen has got to the remaining item in stock before another chef.

All dry-goods packages have a delivery date sticker placed on every package when the item is delivered to the hotel.

When a package, bottle, jar or container is opened a new sticker is placed on the item with that date on it.

Food items do not stay on the shelf more than a few days before being used up but this quality control program is implemented regardless.

Damaged goods [dented cans, ripped packages etc.] are returned to the shipping department for return.

Head chefs visit the main warehouse every two days to restock their shelves.

There are two bakeries at the resort, one for Kantenah/Colonial side and one for the White Sand/Riviera side. These bakeries create all the bread and pastries you see there. Every item is made fresh daily. Breads are taken out of the ovens and sent to the buffets hot. Pastries are made and kept in the freezers until that day's service.

Some desserts for the specialty restaurants are assembled in the kitchen of the particular restaurant with the main components for the desert created in the main bakery.

Like all other rooms in the kitchen the bakery is also inspected three times a day.

Each kitchen has food-tasters who check samples during every service. Food in the buffets is temperature checked three times per service.

The most popular food item is the tomato [150 kg a day] with rice second.

Thirsty guests drink 300 kegs of beer a day in low-season and 600 in high. Tequila and rum are the most popular alcohol beverages and they go through 12 40oz bottles of rum per day in low and 24 in high season.

A two day stock of alcohol is stored in locked storage rooms on both sides of the resort. Easy access to alcohol and having a staff with an average age of twenty-one lead to drinking problems amongst the employees. Management took action and the problem was addressed with stricter security and upgraded services for employees living on site.

Training for all kitchens personnel is done at the hotel. Those who demonstrate an aptitude for food preparation and the eagerness to learn can quickly rise up the ranks. The hotel is more than willing to assist any individual who wishes to move up the ladder. It is hard to find good help. With so many jobs available to skilled resort kitchen workers an employee can up and move if they are offered two pesos more a day somewhere else. As hard as it is to find skilled workers it is harder to keep them.

The White Sand/Riviera was losing 30 glasses a day to breakage until they implemented a you-break-you-pay policy to staff. This reduced broken glasses to three a day. Accidents occur and staff is not required to pay if a genuine accident occurs.

In the restaurants, waiters usually work in pairs. A waiter will share tips "only" with their partner. In the bars it is different as tips are collected and shared with all persons working in the same area or bar.

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MAYAN RIVIERA HOTELS

For current Mayan Riviera - Riviera Maya hotel and resort information including rates, availability and secure on-line reservations please see:
Mayan Riviera Hotels & Resorts

  Cancun Airport to Hotel Shuttle see:
Transfer Information

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Answers for many of your questions may possibly be found here:

Mayan Riviera Vacation Info Mayan Riviera F.A.Q. Things To Do

Overview Weather Choosing a Hotel All Inclusive Beaches Getting Around Cozumel Ferry Golf Ruin Sites Snorkeling Popular Mayan Riviera Destinations: Playa del Carmen Playacar Tulum Akumal Puerto Aventuras Puerto Morelos Map of Mayan Riviera Hotels