Isn't That Special?

Speaking off the toque: Janice Beeson, owner of the Daily Review Cafe, 3412 West Lamar, (713)520-9217.

Q. When a customer is told about a daily special, he may, logically, interpret the phrase in several ways. What does the term “special” or “daily special” mean to people in the restaurant business?

A. Usually this refers to the “specials of the day,” dishes that have been prepared to be verbally offered to the customer for only that day. Here at Daily Review Cafe, we change half the menu every day; therefore, half the menu would be considered the “specials.” We type a new menu each lunch and dinner. There is not much advance planning. There is collaboration between chef and cooks each day, and about an hour before the dining room opens, the office receives the menu to be typed for the following shift. Our vendors fax us product lists almost daily. We can then order products that are in season and available, or new and different items being introduced into the area. Recently we tried a fish that we were not familiar with. It was a pleasant surprise for us as well as the customers. The changing menu keeps the creative juices flowing and produces excitement among the staff and customers. And that is very special.