Back of house (BOH) refers to the areas and operations of a business that are not visible to customers. In restaurants, this includes the kitchen, storage areas, and other supporting operations. BOH technology systems are designed to streamline food preparation, timing, and coordination between different cooking stations. These systems often include kitchen displays or printers that show incoming orders, preparation instructions, and timing information.
Key Components of BOH Systems
BOH systems are essential for maintaining efficient food preparation and delivery. They include:
- Kitchen Displays: Digital screens that show incoming orders and preparation instructions.
- Printers: Devices that print out orders for different cooking stations.
- Timing Information: Systems that track the time taken for food preparation to ensure timely delivery.
Roles and Responsibilities
BOH staff includes chefs, line cooks, dishwashers, and kitchen managers. These individuals rely on BOH technology systems to coordinate their tasks and ensure smooth operations. The area where staff interacts with the customer is known as the front of house (FOH).
Applications Beyond Restaurants
The terms front of house and back of house are also used in the performing arts, hospitality, and retailing industries. In these contexts, BOH refers to any operations that do not have direct customer contact, such as accounting, maintenance, and repairs.
