Buffet for the gourmand
The mean theatre and production connects the old French word “buffet”. There aren’t many of them left. More often we hear: canteens, cafes, restaurants, coffee houses….
Meanwhile, each of these “catering” outlets has its own functions, formats and menus. A buffet is convenient because here you can have a quick and tasty snack and have a word with each other. Like, for example, in the renovated buffet at CHPP-2 n.a. A.Zhakutov.
As it turned out, this is the most convenient form of organizing quick, tasty and varied meals for the station’s employees for the production facilities where daily shifts work. At the same time, up to 300 employees are served here per day.
– Our bakers make baked and fried pies with potatoes, cabbage, liver, eggs and onions, four kinds of samsa. But especially delicious are samsa with meat and pumpkin, as well as sausages with cottage cheese, which bring sophistication and variety to our food”, said Zhadyra Soltanova, Head of the Human Resources Department.
All this food is prepared in the station’s canteen and then brought to the buffet. Moreover, the canteen workers carefully record what products are more favored by the power engineers and try to bring food exactly in line with their requests.
From a culinary perspective, historians write, the concept of “buffet” has evolved in a high direction. That is why the set of dishes offered in a buffet can be both hearty and refined. And even gourmet or delicatessen. That is why culinary delicacies are brought to the buffet of CHPP-2. Over a cup of tea or coffee, cafeteria visitors can have a snack, chat and relax with colleagues.
Vladimir Reger, Head of the Turbine Equipment Repair Section at PRE “Energoremont”, often comes here for a delicious samsa. He says that he brings his lunch from home, but samsa in the buffet is invariable… Yergenbai Kanatkul, the Master of the Boiler Shop, also to the buffet for eat the samsa. But he prefers samsa with cheese. Maral Suanbekov, Foreman of the Equipment Repair Shop, also highly appreciated the quality of products and service in the buffet. He regularly buys pies and belyashi here, and notes the convenience of being able to take a snack with him if there is no time. And you can also stop for lunch.
Realizing how important such a place for snacks and socializing is for the workers, the cafeteria was renovated last year: the windows were replaced, the room was freshened up, making it more cosy and fresh.
– These improvements create a more pleasant environment for workers”, says Gulya Zhakayeva, Chairwoman of the Trade Union of CHPP-2. – We are well aware of how important it is for the staff not only to have a properly and safely organized workspace, but also places of rest and meals. It is gratifying that this aspect of production is also given increased attention.
Another function of the buffet – to provide milk, kefir or sour cream to each employee of a shift. This norm is stipulated by the country’s current Rules for issuing milk or equivalent food products to employees at the employer’s expense.
Power engineers go to the buffet with pleasure, noting not only tasty food, the opportunity to socialize, but also the friendly atmosphere created here by Ainur Kirbassova, the buffet maid. Calm, friendly, responsive and smiling, Ainur understands well that 10-15 minutes spent in the cafeteria can ensure a good mood and keep the energy workers working until the end of his day shift. Therefore, she tries to create a cosy and pleasant atmosphere in the cafeteria and she is happy to hear good words from the energy workers.
The buffet may be small and even a little outdated, but it’s so cosy in here …