Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) Practice Exam

What type of service requires specially trained staff and service carts for preparing and serving specific items tableside?

1. French service

2. Russian service

3. Action station

4. Buffet

The correct answer is: French service

The correct answer is French service, which is characterized by the preparation and service of food items directly at the table by specially trained staff. This style often involves elaborate presentation and offers an interactive experience for guests, as they can watch the preparation of certain dishes right in front of them. Key components of French service include attention to detail, a high level of skill from the staff, and the use of service carts for transporting and preparing the food at the dining table. In contrast, Russian service typically involves dishes being fully prepared in the kitchen and then plated and served to guests, without the same level of table-side interaction. Action stations are set up where chefs prepare some parts of a meal in front of guests, but this is not strictly table-side service. A buffet is a self-serve dining style where guests serve themselves from a variety of dishes, without the need for trained servers to prepare items at the table. These distinctions clarify why French service is the most accurate description for the type of service mentioned in the question.