WEATHER AND FOOD

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 73, 27 March 1935, Page 6

WEATHER AND FOOD

THE CATERERS' PROBLEM

(Written for "The Post" by Nelle M.

Scanlaai)

LONDON, February 8.

The Indians eatcurry in sweltering heat, but I doubt if the Eskimos are partial to ice cream;, they have too much ice in the scenery to. eat it. Temperatures, however, play an important part in catering for the public, and tastes vary considerably with the rise and fall of the thermometer.

This variable British climate, which can turn on Spring in mid-Winter, and next day rival the Arctic, provides a great problem for those who cater for the millions who must be fed. The weather, that unfailing topic of conversation, has considerable cash value for those who can read aright the climatic indications,: and have. the flexibility to switch from one commodity to another at brief notice.

A large catering firm which also runs several, of London's popular hotels, has an expert who decides at the crack of dawn, or before, what climatic changes are likely to occur within the next 24 hours, and the day's menus are arranged accordingly. Between 3 a.m .and 5 ajn every morning he casts his weather eye over the prospects, and before the first oven is hot, the day's food is planned. At zero hour, before the world is awake, all decisions are made, and. it has been' found after experience of 40 years, that the betting at 3 a.m. is usually right.

When the temperature is fooling around freezing point, or flirting with 80 in the shade, there is little to worry about, It is when it lingers in the vicinity of 50 or 60 degrees that special care must be taken if catering is to prosper, and profits be made. A temperature of 50 is regarded as cold, and hot soup, hot entrees, stewed steak, suet pudding, and jam. roll will be the most popular things on the menu. But 60 marks the verge of warm weather, and ice creams are in demand.

With 250 teashops to provide with food, a few degrees of temperature may mean a great deal; The other day we had a taste of real, but misplaced. Spring, and ice creams jumped up 25 per cent, on the previous day's sales; Easter is a ticklish time, though this year it is so late, that perhaps there will be greater certainty. But I have seen platoons of those little ice cream carts, propelled by a boy on a bicycle, with the inviting inscription'"Stop me and buy one," roaming deserted streets, and lads shivering in their white linen coats, because the date and, the temperature were not in happy accord. What the few hardy ones abroad really demanded were hot sausages and cups of tea.

Not only in food, but in clothing, weather plays an important part If snow is predicted, out come the goloshes and snow boots. If we are in for a spell of rain, the windows are full of umbrellas and rain coats. It is useless to display spring muslins when a biting Vind from Siberia sends people tottering indoors. But the first burst of warm sunshine, and up go the sales ofSpring hats, so the wise shopkeeper rushes them to the fore, I