Food & Beverage Service

Frequently Asked Questions in Interview

Beverages
Q: What is the difference between liquors and liqueurs?
A: Any liquid that contains alcohol and is safe to be consumed by humans is
liquor whereas a liqueur is a basic spirit that has been flavored & sweetened.
All liqueurs are liquors but all liquors are not liqueurs.

Q: Name the five basic spirits.

A: Whisky, Rum, Gin, Vodka & Brandy.

Q: What is a Demitasse?
A: It is a small cup, usually made of bone-china, used for serving small
portions of coffee like Macchiato.

Q: What are the liquors that go into a Long Island Iced Tea?
A: Vodka, White Rum, Gin, Tequila & Triple Sec.

Q: What is the minimum age of a Scotch whisky?

A: 12 years.

Q: From which regions do the best quality brandies come from?

A: Cognac & Armagnac in France.

Q: What is the standard garnish of Bloody Mary?

A: A Celery stick.

Q: What is the standard glassware for Bloody Mary?

A: A Roly-Poly.

Q: What is O.T.R.?
A: O.T.R. is an abbreviation for “On The Rocks”. When a guest asks for, for
example, Whisky O.T.R., it should be poured on a glass full of ice cubes
without any mixers. The ideal glass for serving such drinks is the Old
Fashioned glass.

Q: What is a Screwdriver?
A: It is a cocktail of Vodka, ice cubes, lime juice & orange juice. It is served in
an Old Fashioned glass, garnished with an orange slice.

Q: What is the standard garnish of Martini cocktail?

A: Pickled Green Olives.
Q: What is Tia Maria?
A: It is a Jamaican liqueur which consists of dark rum flavored with chocolate.

Q: What is the national drink of Russia?

A: Vodka.

Q: What are the accompaniments of Tequila?

A: Lemon wedge & table salt with silver tequila, grapefruit wedge & white
pepper with golden tequila.

Q: Which glass is cognac served in?

A: Brandy snifter or brandy balloon.

Q: What is a wine waiter called in French?

A: Sommelier.

Q: Name an Indian brand of stout beer.

A: Hayward’s Black.

Q: Which region produces the best quality Indian wines?

A: Sahyadri Valley, Maharashtra.

Q: Name three types of tea.

A: Orange Pekoe, Earl Grey, Oolong.

Q: What are the three species of the coffee plant?

A: Arabica, Robusta, Cannefora.

Q: Name five single malt Scotch whiskies.

A: Glenfiddich, Cardu, Talisker, Strathmill, Glenlivet, Oban, Mackellen,
Balvenie.

Q: Name five international Vodka brands.

A: Stolichnaya, Finlandia, Absolut, Karmazov, Moskva, Diva.
Q: Name five international beer brands.
A: Heineken, Budweiser, Carlsberg, Foster’s, Guinness, Tuborg, Anchor
Steam, Corona, Beck’s, Stella Artois.

Q: Name three types of beer.

A: Pilsner, Stout, Lager, Ale.

Q: Name some famous brands of tequila.

A: Sauza, Jose Cuervo, Camino, Patron, Herradura.
Q: Name five black grape varieties.
A: Gamay, Nebbiolo, Pinot Noir, Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon, Barbera,
Shiraz, Tempranillo.

Q: Name five white grape varieties.

A: Chardonnay, Columbard, Chenin Blanc, Marsanne, Muscat, Palomino,
Reisling, Rousanne.

Q: What are Sherry and Madeira?

A: Fortified wines. Sherry is from Spain whereas Madeira is from Portugal.

Q: Name five vodka based cocktails.

A: Bloody Mary, Screwdriver, Moscow Mule, Black Russian, Blue Lagoon,
Beach-comber, Black Velvet.

Q: What are the flavoring agents for Gin?

A: The primary flavor of Gin is Juniper berries. Different combinations of
liquorice, Rosemary, Lemon, Limes, Citrus peels & Angelica are employed by
Gin producers around the world.

Q: Name five international brands of Gin.

A: Bombay Sapphire, Tanqueray, Beefeater, Gordon’s, Belgravia, Hogarth,
Pimlico.

Q: What does the word “glen” mean in many of the names of single malt
scotches?
A: “Glen” literally means “valley” in Gaelic or Scots. Glenfiddich means
“Valley of the Deer”, Glenlivet means “Valley of the Livet river”,
Glenmorangie means “Valley of Tranquility”.

Q: What does the word ’Vodka’ mean?

A: ‘Vodka’ means ‘little water’ in Russian. It is a derivative of the Slavic word
‘voda’ which literally means ‘water.

Q: How do you make Irish Coffee?

A: Irish Coffee is a cocktail. Its base is Irish Whisky. First of all, one measure
of Irish whisky is poured into a heated Irish Coffee glass. Black coffee is then
poured on top and two spoonfuls of sugar are mixed into it, Cream is then
floated on top of it. Chocolate shavings are sprinkled on top, & it is served on
an underplate.

Q: Which city is famous for Sherry production?

A: Jerez, Spain.

Q: What is Mistelle?
A: The fortification process of Vermouth.

Q: What do you get by oxidation of alcohol?

A: Vinegar.

Q: What is Agravé?
A: The mesh of copper wire that is used to hold the cork of a Champagne
bottle in place.

Q: What is the country of origin of Angostura bitters?

A: Trinidad & Tobago, West Indies.

Q: What is Pulque?
A: Fermented juice of Agavé. It is distilled to produce Tequila.

Q: What are Hops?

A: The female flowers of the plant species Humulus Lupulus. They are used
as a flavoring & stabilizing agent in the production of beer. The characteristic
bitter, tangy flavor of beer is attributed to hops.

Q: Name five Champagnes?

A: Pol Roger, Mumm, Bollinger, Taittinger, Moet & Chandon, Dom Perignon,
Veuve Clicquot.

Q: What is the origin of the word ‘beverage’?

A: It is derived from the French word ‘bevere’ which literally means ‘to rest
after exhausting work’.

Q: How do beverages like tea & coffee stimulate the human body?
A: The caffeine in these drinks induces the adrenal gland to secrete small
amount of adrenaline into the blood stream. This increases the heartbeat
and blood pressure and makes the brain more active, thereby giving the
feeling of being stimulated.

Q: Name five Cognacs.

A: Hennessey, Henri IV Dudognon, Martell, Remy Martin, Courvoisier.

Q: What is Triple Sec?

A: It is a liqueur that has neutralized spirit flavored with dried citrus peel.
Cointreau, Bols, DeKuyper are some famous brands of Triple Sec.

Q: What is Zinfandel?
A: It is a variety of red grapes which has its origin in California, USA. The
wines made from Zinfandel are robust & full bodied.

Q: What is Solera System?

A: Solera System is the process of aging wines. It is used for aging many
table & fortified wines from different countries, but is most commonly
associated with Sherry, the fortified wine from Spain.

Q: Name five French white wines.

A: Gevrey Chambertin, Pouilly Fuissé, Meursault, Nuits Saint Georges,
Pommard, Volnay, Vosne Romanée.

Q: Name five French red wines.

A: Beaujolais Nouveau, Cru Mont Brouilly, Grand Cru Classé, Pouillac Rouge,
Barons de Rothschild, André Brunel, Cru Mont Clivet.

Q: What is Sekt & Asti Spumante?

A: Both are sparkling wines. Sekt is from Germany while Asti Spumante is
from Italy.

Q: What is Jack Daniel’s?

A: It is a brand of sour mash whisky made from corn. It comes from
Tennessee, USA.
Q: What do the words Vert, Blanc, Noir, Rouge & Rose mean?
A: In French, they literally mean Green, White, Black, Red & Pink,
respectively. These five colors are commonly associated with grapes &
wines.

Q: What are Serçial & Verdalho?

A: Both are varieties of white grapes with high sugar content. They grow best
in the unique Atlantic coast climate of Portugal. The best Madeira wines of
Portugal are made from Serçial & Verdalho.

Q: What are the different types of distillation methods?

A: There are two types of distillation methods. They are Pot Still Method &
Patent Still Method.

Q: What is a Punt?
A: The concave bottom of a sparkling wine bottle.

Q: What is Perrier?
A: A brand of bottled aerated mineral water from Vergèze, France.

Q: What type of salt is used for rimming a glass?

A: Celery salt.

Q: What is Drambuie?
A: It is a Scottish liqueur made by flavoring whisky with heather honey & a
secret blend of herbs & spices. Upon tasting, one gets appreciable hints of
nutmeg, anise & saffron.

Q: What is Edelfäule?
A: It is the German term for Noble Rot. The fungus Botrytis Cinerea infests
ripened grapes on vines. It is used for producing high-quality sweet wines.

Q: What is Midori?
A: It is a Japanese liqueur made by flavoring neutral spirit with muskmelon.

Q: What is Marsala?
A: Fortified wine from Italy.

Food Service
Q: Who is called the Father of the Fast Food industry?
A: Raymond Albert Kroc, the man behind the fast food behemoth
McDonald’s.

Q: What is Café Complet?

A: Café Complet is another name of Continental Breakfast.

Q: What is Trancheur?
A: It is the French term for Carver or the Waiter whose duty it is to carve
meat preparations on the table in front of the guests.

Q: What is Raan?
A: It is Hindi for Leg of Mutton.

Q: What is Tete?
A: In French, Tete means Head of Pork.

Q: What are the accompaniments of Roast Beef?

A: Horseradish Sauce & Yorkshire Pudding.

Q: What is the accompaniment of Roast Pork?

A: Apple Sauce.

Q: How many portions does one litre of soup yield?

A: Five.

Q: What are the condiments served with pasta?

A: Olive Oil, Red Chili Flake, Oregano & Fresh Black Pepper.

Q: What are the condiments for Chinese cuisine?

A: Soy sauce, Red Chili Sauce & Chili Vinegar.

Q: What is the first course of a French classical menu?

A: Hors d’Oeuvres. It literally means “before the work”.

Q: What are the accompaniments of Fish & Chips?

A: Tartar sauce & Malt Vinegar.

Q: What is the accompaniment of Roast Turkey?

A: Cranberry Sauce, roasted Parsnips & Apple and Sage Garnish.
Q: What are the accompaniments of Dum Biryani?
A: Burrani Raita & Mirchi ka Salan.

Q: What is chowder?
A: An American soup thickened by potato starch. Best example is clam
chowder.

Q: What are the accompaniments of idli-sambhar?

A: Tomato chutney & coconut chutney.

Q: What are the accompaniments of pizza?

A: Olive oil, oregano & chili flakes.

Q: What is the French term for chicken?

A: Poulet

Q: Which country does Stilton cheese belong to?

A: England.

Q: Which country does Teriyaki sauce belong to?

A: Japan.

Q: What is the Black Forest cake named after?

A: The Black Forest in the Bavaria region of Germany.

Q: What is the French term for cake?

A: Gateau.

Q: Name five Italian cheeses?

A: Gorgonzola, Mozzarella, Parmesan, Belmonte, Caprino, Mascarpone,
Paddraccio.

Q: Name five pastas.

A: Farfalle, Fuseli, Linguini, Spaghetti, Papardelli, Macaroni, Penne,
Fettuccine

Q: Name one vegetarian & one non-vegetarian Hors d’oeuvres.

A: Vegetarian – Melon Frappé (Melon cubes on a bed of crushed ice)
Non-vegetarian – Saumon Fumé (Smoked Salmon)
Q: What is the accompaniment of fresh cut papaya?
A: Lemon wedges.

Q: What is “Chingri”?
A: Bengali for prawns.

Q: Name five breakfast cereals.

A: Corn Flakes, Wheat Flakes, Muesli, Fruit Loops, Chocos, Porridge

Q: What is Caviar?
A: Salted roe (unfertilized eggs) of Sturgeon fish. It is served as Hors
d’oeuvres.

Q: What is the accompaniment of sweet juices?

A: Castor sugar.

Q: What is the accompaniment of Roasted Duck?

A: Orange Sauce.

F&B Equipment

Q: Give another name for dinner plate.

A: Full plate, joint plate.

Q: What is the measurement of a dinner napkin

A: 21” x 21”

Q: Name five folds of dinner napkin.

A: Bishop’s cap, Lady’s Fan, Book Fold, Windmill, Star Fold, Star of David.

Q: What is the capacity of High Ball glass?

A: 200 ml., 7 fl. oz.

Q: Give another name for American Service.

A: Pre-plated Service.

Q: Name five glasses.

A: High Ball, Martini, Shot Glass, Beer Goblet, Pilsner, Margarita, Hurricane,
Old Fashioned, Washington.
Q: What is K.O.T.?
A: K.O.T. stands for Kitchen Order Ticket. It is used by the service personnel
for writing down the food order being dictated by the guest(s).

Q: Name five different glasses used for serving beer.

A: Beer Goblet, Pilsner, Beer Mug, Beer Stein, Duvel Tulip, Stange, Pint Jug,
Beer Boot, Ale Chalice.

Q: Give another name for Side-station.

A: Dummy Waiter, Sideboard, Service Console.

Q: What does the abbreviation P.O.S. stand for?

A: Point of Sale.

Food
English French
Lamb Agneau
Mushroom Champignon
Beef Boeuf
Mutton Mouton
Brinjal Aubergine
Cheese Fromage
Milk Lait
Tea Thé
Coffee Café
Sugar Sucre
Chili Piment
Mint Menthe
Green Beans Haricots Verts
Pepper Poivre
Fish Poisson
Dry Sec
Soup Potage
Cream Crème
Peanuts Cacahuètes
Lobster Homard
Ham Jambon
Vegetables Legumes
Duck Canard
 Goose Oie
Bread Pain
Salt Sel
Salmon Saumon
Tomato Tomate
Potato Pomme de Terre
Grape Raisin

Q: Name five French cheeses.

A: Roquefort, Camembert, Munster, Reblochon, Boursin, Chèvre, Epoisses.

Q: Name five British cheeses.

A: Cheshire, Brie, Caerphilly, Cheddar, Chevington, Cotswold, Tintern, Stilton,
Wensleydale.

Q: Name five Swiss cheeses.

A: Emmental, Gruyére, Fondue, Raclette, Helvetica.

Q: What is the standard garnish of crème soups?

A: Cream & croutons.

Q: What is the accompaniment of Club Sandwich?

A: French Fries, Home Fries or Fried Potato Wedges.

Q: What is Specialty of the Day called in French?

A: Plate du Jour.

Q: Which condiments are served with a Club Sandwich?

A: Tomato Ketchup, Honey Mustard & Mayonnaise Sauce.

Q: What is Club sandwich?

A: Three layered toasted sandwich which contains ham, chicken & fried egg.

Q: Name five bakery items served in breakfast.

A: Croissant, Brioche, Banana Bread, Muffin, Toast.

Q: Name five Indian breakfast items.

A: Dosa, Idli, Stuffed Parantha, Poori Bhaji, Poha, Upma.

Q: What is Yakitori?
A: Japanese Chicken Kebab.

Q: What is Escalope?
A: Thin slices of meat, often served as Hors d’oeuvres.

Q: What is Falafel and what is its accompaniment?

A: Middle Eastern street food of spiced chickpea fritters. It is served with
warm Pita bread.

Q: What is Feta?
A: It is a creamy cheese from Greece. It is made from sheep’s milk.

Q: What is Minestrone?
A: It is an international soup from Italy. It is an unpassed soup which contains
vegetables & pasta.

Q: What is Rôti?
A: It means ‘Roast’ in French. For example, Roasted Lamb is called Agneau
Rôti in French. Rôti is the ninth course in a French Classical Menu.

Q: What is the staple food of Bengal?

A: Rice.

Banquets

Q: What is F.P. or B.F.P.?

A: Function Prospectus or Banquet Function Prospectus. It contains each and
every detail of an upcoming banquet event.

Q: Name five different seating arrangements for conferences.

A: U-shape, T-shape, Herringbone, Classroom, Boardroom, Hollow Rectangle.

Q: Give the dimensions of a rectangular banquet table.

A: 6’ x 2.5’ or 6’ x 3’

Q: What is state dinner?

A: It is a highly specialized function, usually organized by government, for
visiting heads of state. Only the most skilled and expert service personnel
are deputed for service of guests in such functions.
Tobacco

Q: What is a Humidor?
A: A wooden box for storage & display of Cigars.

Q: What are the three parts of a cigar?

A: Filler, Binder & Wrapper.

Q: Name five famous brands of Cuban cigar.

A: Bolivar, Cohiba, Guantanamera, Monte Cristo, Diplomaticos, El Rey Del
Mundo, Juan Lopez.