[Blindtlk] Thank you very much!

Sat Mar 8 14:09:17 UTC 2014

You can tell a lot about what sort of food to expect by the type  of 
container is presented in.  Things like scrambled eggs, sausage and French 
toast are going to be in a steamer table.  the cold cereal is in a plastic 
bin thing with a thing to pull on the front.  Beverage machines make a bit 
of noise, so those are usually fairly easy to find.  Serving trays with dome 
covers usually contain pastries or muffins of some variety.  Also the type 
of serving spoon can give you a clue...scrambled eggs are going to have a 
spoon, while the French toast will have tongs.

It's also helpful not to bee too picky.  If you are just as happy with a 
blueberry muffin as a banana nut, then it's going to be okay.  If you have a 
nut allergy, better be going to find a reader.

The hotel breakfast buffets are usually small with limited offerings. 
Sometimes, especially with chain hotels, the website will tell you what they 
have for the free breakfast.  If I know they are only offering cold cereal 
and muffins, I know what I might encounter and can narrow down my guesses 
much more quickly.  If the breakfast is bigger, there is usually a person 
around, refilling and cleaning, so I'd ask for them to tell me what's what.

It's not my preferred way of managing a buffet, but sometimes you just have 
to get on with things.

Julie

-----Original Message----- 
From: justin williams
Sent: Saturday, March 08, 2014 7:41 AM
To: 'Blind Talk Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Thank you very much!

I have some idea as to what I would do, but who do you do to learn a buffet
on the run at a hotel like that?
-----Original Message-----
From: blindtlk [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Julie J.
Sent: Saturday, March 08, 2014 8:35 AM
To: Blind Talk Mailing List
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Thank you very much!

I carry trays just as Linda described.  If I need to carry a drink on the
tray I put it so that I can hook my thumb around it.  So the hand that is
supporting the tray against my hip has my fingers curled around and
underneath palm down, my thumb hooks around the cup at the edge of the tray.

I'm not really holding the cup so much as making sure it doesn't slide
around and checking to make sure it's level.

I handle buffets in a variety of ways depending on the situation, the
proximity of available help and my mood at the moment.  Generally I like to
fill my own plate.  I have someone else tell me what's what.  I move my hand
around the edge to find the spoon and get what I want.  If the spoon isn't
easily found or if it's fallen into the bowl, I'll ask my reader to show me
where it is.

Sometimes I'll go up to the buffet and let my reader fill my plate for me.
Sometimes I'll sit at the table and let someone do everything for me.
Sometimes I do my plate and have someone else get my drink and sometimes
I'll make two trips, one for the food and one for the drink.  Sometimes I'm
tired and just skip the drink.  I've been at hotels with the free breakfast
and managed the whole thing without a reader because it was early and no one
was around.

I'd suggest trying out some different approaches, see what works in what
situation and do something different if it didn't work as well as you
wanted.  Practice helps too.  Oh, if you wanted to practice carrying a tray
at home, a cookie sheet works great!

Julie

-----Original Message-----
From: Linda
Sent: Saturday, March 08, 2014 6:23 AM
To: Blind Talk Mailing List
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Thank you very much!

When I was sighted, I would spill things all the time, so I would not blame
that on being blind.  Now that I am blind, I have not had an accident yet.
It will happen, but not because I am blind, it will be because I am just
clumsy sometimes.

I read another response that said you just have to take small steps.  It
might be a hassle the first couple of time, but you can get the hang of it.
.  I was at a blind training center a couple of years ago and we were taught
to hold the tray just above the hip bone, pressing into your side with
enough pressure so that the tray remains straight and stable along the hip
line.  The arm is over the top of the tray and the hand hold the edge of the
tray that is away from the body so that you can press the tray into your
body so the tray is stable and it will not fall.  Then you can use the other
hand for your cane.  It worked very well for me.  I know there are other
techniques and you have to find out what works for you.  If you can get a
cheap tray from eBay or a thrift shop then you can always practice at home.
Just try putting a bookor something on the tray and practice.  Then you may
be more confident carrying at least one plate at the restaurant and jusst
letting the waitress bring your drink.  just my two cents contribution.

> On Mar 7, 2014, at 5:49 PM, "Tom Cramer" <tom.cramer1 at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Hello everybody,
>
> I just wanted to say thank you for your posts and suggestions.  I
> think you all basically were right on with what my family and people
> said about it being too challenging and a big hassle and not really
> worth trying on my own.  This would be difficult for a blind person
> without any sight, and someone sighted also reminded me that carrying
> a tray with food would not be very wise of me because I'd easily have
> the chance of spilling or accidents.
> Not really wise to try and use a cane and carry a lot of food.
> Believe me, I have no problem asking for any kind of help.  It might
> just be easier to go grab a burger somewhere.
> Thanks again for your thoughts.  It's always good to get ideas.
>
> Tom
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: blindtlk [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
> Arielle Silverman
> Sent: Friday, March 07, 2014 11:00 AM
> To: Blind Talk Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Handling a big buffet
>
> And I think it goes without saying that if you get extra help from
> wait staff, be sure to tip generously. That makes it a partnership and
> makes it more likely they will want to help you in the future.
>
> Arielle
>
>> On 3/7/14, Hyde, David W. (ESC) <david.hyde at wcbvi.k12.wi.us> wrote:
>> First, there are no dumb questions. Secondly, given a choice, I don't
>> do buffets. Not given a choice, it depends upon the situation.
>> Preferably, I ask someone for help. If it is at a conference,
>> particularly for parents of blind children, I do as much as I can of
>> it for myself. If I need to locate the utensil, I work around the
>> outside
> of the container to find the handle.
>> I will generally take too little on to the plate, rather than too
>> much. I can always come back. I ask what is in the container. I find
>> tongs a bother since there does not seem to be enough tactility to
>> tell what is being grasped in them, and sometimes how much is in them.
>> I find building a salad to be the most difficult.
>>
>> I always make a second trip for the beverage, since I have the plate
>> in one hand, and the utensils and napkin in my pocket. Again, I may
>> ask someone to grab me a deink when they go to get one. The
>> absolutely worst buffets are those where you build your own sandwich.
>> Those I always
> ask for help.
>>
>> The bottom line, If you need help, or if it will make you feel more
>> confident about what you're doing, get it. There are very few
>> situations where you need to use a buffet to send a message.
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: blindtlk [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Tom
>> Cramer
>> Sent: Thursday, March 06, 2014 11:46 PM
>> To: 'Blind Talk Mailing List'
>> Subject: [Blindtlk] Handling a big buffet
>>
>> Hello,
>>
>>
>>
>> I hope this isn't a dumb question.
>>
>> I'd like to know from other blind people, especially those who are
>> totally blind, how they handle big buffet type of restaurants when
>> they're not with sighted people.  I'd like to be able to go to a
>> couple of places that are close to where I live but don't really know
>> how
> to best handle them.
>>
>> How much do you do independently and how much do you ask of the wait
> staff?
>> How do I best know what's on the buffet line and how do I best get it
>> on my plate without slowing others down?  Is it easier for the wait
>> staff to get my food and carry it for me or is that something I need
>> to do
> as well?
>>
>> This place has wonderful food and I'd like to go this weekend but
>> haven't done it without sighted family who isn't around right now.
>>
>>
>>
>> All tips are appreciated.
>>
>> Thanks.
>>
>> Tom
>>
>>
>>
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>
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