LARDER

DEFINITION & INTRODUCTION OF LARDER WORK

The larder or Garde Manger is a department set aside for the storage of perishable food, both
raw and cooked and was food stuffs such as meat fish poultry and game are prepared and
made ready for cooking.
In this department all cold food items found on the menu such as Hors d’oeuvre cold fish or meat dishes,
cold sauces, salad dressings are prepared and dressed. One particular special duty of this department is
the preparation and presentation of all types of cold buffet, which are nowadays a feature of so many
functions.

For these functions to be carried out, it is essential that:

1. The larder be separated from the kitchen and located in a cool place. At the same time, it
must be close to the kitchen to avoid undue running about between two departments which are
closely interrelated.
2. It should be light, airy and well established and sufficiently spacious to allow the staff to
carry out their duties in a clean and efficient manner. It must also be able to store prepared foods
and buffets in a cool and hygienic manner.
3. It should be equipped with the necessary fitting, machinery and tools. In accordance with
the volume and/or quality of the trade of the catering establishment in which it is situated.

BREAKDOWN OF WORK
Taking the above into consideration, it naturally follows that the work is broken down into various
fields such as Hors d'oeuvre, Salads, Butchery, Poultry, Cold Buffet etc, and in effect, in large
busy establishments each of these functions or duties are carried out by one or more men or
sometimes women, who specialize in the work of that particular sub-department. As an
example, the Butcher, Poulterer or Fishmonger may be an expert in that particular field without
being a trained chef or cook, and it sometimes happens that the salads or Hors d'oeuvre are
prepared by female staff trained in those particular duties only.
More frequently, these various duties are allocated by the Chef Grade Manager, who is in
overall charge of the department, to commis or assistant chefs, and they are known as Commis
Grade-Manager, whatever duties they are assigned to. Naturally, the busier the establishment,
the more Larder work it entails, therefore more is required to man the department. The smaller
the volume of trade the fewer commis required, and so on. In many establishments the Chef
Grade-Manager is single handed and carries out all the various functions himself.
It should be mentioned at this stage that often quality rather than quantity, of trade is the
determining factor in deciding the number of staff required in the Grade-Manager, or for that
matter in the kitchen as a whole.

EQUIPMENTS FOUND IN THE LARDER

Heavy:
1. Refrigeration equipment including refrigerators, walk-ins, reach-in, pull outs, traulsen, deep
freezers, bottle coolers, ice machines, coolers and chillers.
2. Food Processors with attachments for grinding, pureeing, kneading, mixing, Buffalo choppers,
bone saws
3. Gas range, boilers, heaters (if required)
 4. Weighing scales - Electronic and manual
5. Steel tables, cupboards, storage racks and sinks

Light:
Mixers, juicers, Butchers block, Storage bins and shelves, Slicers, Blow torch, Pots, pans,
stockpots, larder tools such as serving spoons and ladles, sieves , Colanders , Conical strainers and
Chinois, heat Presses , Pie moulds, whisks, egg slices, steel basins and graters

Miscellaneous:
Frying and flat spoons - Assorted knives (Butchers Boning knives ,butcher’s steak or cutting knives ,
Butchers saw(Tenon), Butchers saw(Bow), Butcher’s choppers and cleavers, Butchers chopping Knives,
Cook’s 30 cms(12 inches)Knives, Cook’s 20-24 cm (a/7 inches) knives, Cook’s 6-8 cm (4 inches) knives,
Cook’s 14-20cm(7 inches) filleting Knives Tranchelard Knives, Palette Knives) - Butchers saw (Tenon and
bow) - Butchers chopper - Filleting knives and palette knives - Piping bags and assorted nozzles –
Peelers - fancy cutters - mandolin slicer - Wooden spoons and mushrooms (wooden mushrooms are
used for pressing food stuffs through sieves) - Cutlet bat and steak hammers (for flattening cuts of meat) -
Larding and trussing needles and pins(for larding and trussing joints of meat and poultry) - Lemon zesters
& decorators (for scraping and channeling lemon peel) - decorating knives and vegetable scoops (for
shaping vegetables & potatoes) – Skewers - butchers hooks (for hanging joints) - Brining syringe (for
pumping brine solution into joints) - brinometer(for measuring density of brine solution) - assorted
thermometers - Assorted trays for storage of food.

PLANNING THE GARDE MANGER

Layout: Planning the layout for a garde manger department can be a complex task. Unlike other
departments that can depend on a basic menu and basic work load, the Garde Manger department is
unique in its operation. On a daily basis the Garde Manger department may handle its own butchery, its
own bakery, its own sauce making ,its own frying , smoking of fish and cold meats , all the decorating
including tallow and ice sculpture , Plus a complete line on charcuterie products such as galantines and
pates.

When a Garde Manger department Executes food order on an ala Carte basis, this is known as Pickup
.This system operates in an unpredictable fashion ,Since the number and timing of orders is not known in
advance. Work load is set depending upon the dishes listed on the menu.

When the Garde Manger department Executes food orders in advance for a known quantity, to be
delivered at a certain time (Parties, banquets) this is known as the distribution basis. The main problem
here is workloads will be different each day depending upon booking, functions etc., For this reason it is
difficult to establish an appropriate mise-en-place on a daily basis as it is bound to vary.

COMMON TERMS USED IN THE LARDER & LARDER CONTROL

Aging: Holding meats in coolers under controlled conditions to allow natural tenderizing to take place.
AP required: As-purchased amount necessary to yield the desired EP weight. AP required is computed
as EP required divided by yield percentage.
Antipasto: Italian Hors d’oeuvre
Beginning inventory: The dollar value of all products on hand at the beginning of the accounting period.
This amount is determined by completing a physical inventory.
Bin card: An index card with both additions to and deletions from inventory of a given product. To
facilitate its use, the card is usually affixed to the shelf that holds the given item. Used in a perpetual
inventory system.
Canapé: A hors d’oeuvre consisting of a small piece of bread or toast, often cut in decorative shape,
garnished with savoury spread or topping.
Carpaccio: Very thin slices of meat or fish, served raw.
Carryover: A menu item prepared for sale during a meal period but carried over for use in a different
meal period.
Casing: A synthetic or natural membrane used to enclose sausage forcemeat.
Caul: A fatty membrane that covers the stomach of a pig; used for wrapping meats for cooking and for
lining terrines.
Chitterlings: Pork intestines.
Coulis: A vegetable or fruit puree, used as a sauce.
Crepinette: A sausage patty wrapped in caul.
Crudités: A raw vegetable served as a relish.
Daily inventory sheet: A form that lists the items in storage, the unit of purchase, and the par value. It
also contains the following columns: on hand, special order, and order amount.
Edible portion (EP): This term refers to the weight or count of a product after it has been trimmed,
cooked, and portioned.
Ending inventory: The dollar value of all products on hand at the end of the accounting period. This
amount is determined by completing a physical inventory.
First-in, first-out (FIFO): Term used to describe a method of storage in which the operator intends to sell
his or her oldest product before selling the most recently delivered product.
Forcemeat: A mixture of chopped or ground meat and other ingredients used for pates, sausages and
other preparations.
Garniture: Garnish; the act or process of garnishing.
Inventory turnover: The number of times the total value of inventory has been purchased and replaced
in an accounting period.
Lard: The rendered fat of hogs; to insert strips of fat into meats low in marbling.
Last-in, first-out (LIFO): Term used to describe a method of storage in which the operator intends to sell
his or her most recently delivered product before selling the older product.
Par level: A system of determining the purchase point by using management-established minimum and
maximum allowable inventory levels for a given inventory item.
Requisition: When a food or beverage product is requested from storage by an employee for use in an
operation.
Shelf life: The period of time an ingredient or menu item maintains its freshness, flavor, and quality.
Tripe: The muscular stomach lining of beef or other meat animals.
Waste percentage: This formula is defined as product loss divided by AP weight and refers to product
lost in the preparation process.
Working stock: The quantity of goods from inventory reasonably expected to be used between
deliveries.
Yield percentage: This formula is defined as 1 minus waste percentage and refers to the amount of
product available for use by the operator after all preparation-related losses have been taken into
account.
Yield test: A procedure used to determine actual EP ingredient costs. It is used to help establish actual
costs on a product that will experience weight or volume loss in preparation.

LARDER CONTROL

If the larder is to be run effectively, efficiently and economically, it is essential that the Chef Garde Manger
exercise strict control over the foodstuff received and stored in the department.
This will involve:
1. Checking the quality and quantity of all food received in the department.
2. Ensuring that all food stuff is stored at the right temperature and that they can easily be checked
3. That the food is protected from contamination by vermin.
4. That portion control is ensured.
5. That stock is regularly turned over.
6. That food is not over stocked.
7. A simple daily stock sheet to be maintained by each sub department.
8. Every possible effort is made to ensure the highest standard of hygiene.
9. Pilferage is discouraged and controlled.

STOCK SHEET

The stock and order sheet should be as simple and easy to keep up to data as possible. A complicated
stock sheet requiring too much writing will defect the whole purpose as it will be neglected during busy
rush periods, the very time it is needed most. For some sub departments, devising an easy and simple
system is reasonably easy. In some cases it is not so easy for example; also keeping of the stock of food
sent in and returned by the cold buffet can be complicated and time wasting if one is to measure every
ounce or inch. Therefore it is necessary to accept some rule of thumb providing it is well supervised. An
experienced chef Garde Manger should be able to tell at a glance the weight, or number of Portion of a
given joint or cold dish. The butchery department also presents some Problems and the stock sheet for
this department needs careful consideration. Each establishment will devise its own system taking into
account its own problems.

Dep a rt men t Da y an d d at e
It e m Un it S to ck Un it P rice Co st O rd e r
To ma t o e s kg (lb ) 2 12
Sa rd ine s t in s 4 8
E gg s do z 11/2 4
O il 1. (g a l) 1/2 1
Vin e ga r 1. (q t ) 1 2

YIELD TESTING

Most foodservice products are delivered in the AP or As Purchased state. This refers to the weight or
count of a product, as delivered to the foodservice operator. EP or Edible Portion refers to the weight of
a product after it has been cleaned, trimmed, cooked, and portioned. Thus, AP refers to food products as
the operator receives them; EP refers to food products as the guest receives them.

Yield % is important in the area of recipe costing. This is true because a recipe cost must take into
account the difference in price of products in their AP or EP state. In order to determine actual recipe
costs, it may sometimes be necessary to conduct a yield test to determine actual EP ingredient costs. A
yield test is a procedure used for computing your actual costs on a product that will experience weight or
volume loss in preparation.

Total Yield % = Remaining Weight x 100

Original Weight

Waste % is the percentage of product lost due to cooking, trimming, portioning, or cleaning.

LIAISON WITH OTHER DEPARTMENTS

The Larder is both a storage department for most perishable foods and a preparation department for such
foodstuffs. The Larder staffs, under the supervision of the Chef Garde-Manger, are responsible for the
ordering, storing and preserving of stores, keeping stocks up to date, and accounting for such items as
 meat, fish, poultry, game etc. which pass through the department on their way from the suppliers to the
kitchen and eventually to the restaurant or banqueting rooms. The bulk of such foodstuff needs dissecting
or cleaning, dressing, cutting into the required joints or portions, and generally preparing for cooking.
To function in an effective manner, the Larder department must operate in harmony with the Kitchen in
particular, if confusion and wastage are to be avoided. A good layout of the Larder in relation to the
Kitchen will avoid undue running from place to place. Lack of liaison between the departments could
result in duplication of work, or sometimes in certain processes not being carried out to the best
advantage.

For Instance:
- Certain foods intended for cold service are best cooked in the Kitchen where there are greater facilities
for carrying out the operation
- Pastry for pies or puddings, and various savouries served from the Larder department, are best prepared
by the Pastry staff, who will be more skilful in such work, and who are equipped with the necessary
apparatus and tools for producing such items.
- Savoury fillings as are required by the Pastry chef for such items as sausage rolls, patties, or pasties,
ravioli, etc., will be prepared in the Larder and transferred to the Pastry department as and when required.
- Another important function of the Garde-Manger is to process and utilize the ‘leftover’ which is
transferred from the Kitchen to the Larder at the conclusion of every meal.
- A number of garnishes or accompaniments to dishes served from kitchen departments are prepared by
the Garde-Manger. Such items as stuffing’s, forcemeats, lardons or bacon rashers, are naturally provided
by the Larder, as well as cold sauces for the accompaniment of hot dishes.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE GARDE MANGER DEPARTMENT

1) Butchery (including the fish mongery & ecaillage)

2) Marinated Products
a. Salads
b. Pickled Products – Vegetables, Fruit, Fish and Meats
c. Brines / Cures – Smoked Products.
3) Cold Soups and Sauces
4) Appetizers and Hors d’oeuvres
5) Forcemeat products
Pâté, Galantine, Terrine, Sausage, Quenelle, etc.
6) Gelatin Products
Aspic, Mousse, Aspic jelly coating, Colle, Chaudfroid, etc.
7) Cold Fish and Meat – Roasted, Poached
8) Pièce Montée (Centerpiece)
Ice-carving, Tallow/Butter Sculpture, Salt Dough, Vegetable & Fruit Carving
9) Specialty items – Cheeses, Caviar, Foie gras, etc.
10) Food Garnishes
11) Overseas pantry station

Menu Responsibilities of the Garde Manger Department

1- A la Carte: Hors d’oeuvres, Appetizer, Salad, Entrée
2- Buffet: Cocktail receptions, Dinners, Conference breaks, Salad bars.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE CHEF GARDE MANGER

 1. He is responsible to the Executive chef for the smooth running and operation of his department.
2. He is also responsible for co ordination between his staff and has to make sure that they have
understood the work required from them and the production schedule, either daily or weekly.
3. Training is another important function he has to carry out. The work of the larder is of a highly
skilled nature and involves a lot of expensive ingredients, procedures and equipment is therefore
imperative that the staff is well trained.
4. The larder Chef is also responsible for staff scheduling and duty rotas.
5. He is also required to co ordinate with the other departments like the kitchen and the bakery. A lot
of pre preparation is done in the larder for the other departments and satellite kitchens. Their
requirements must be made available well in advance.
6. He also has to maintain registers to record the receipts and dispatch of the foodstuff.
7. He is also responsible for maintaining hygiene and sanitation standards in the department. A lot of
the foodstuff being processed here is in the raw sate and susceptible to contamination and
possible food poisoning.

Layout of larder kitchen