Contains spoilers for “The Bear” Season 3
From the dining area to the back of the house to the restrooms, maintaining impeccable hygiene standards is essential in the hospitality industry. Many agree that the quickest way to judge the cleanliness of a restaurant is to look at the upkeep of its restrooms. Both staff and guests should have access to hygienic disposables to wipe up messes and dry hands, especially in environments where strict food safety regulations apply and contamination risks are mitigated as much as possible. C-fold towels, for example, are ideal for quick cleanup tasks, making them a versatile tool in busy restaurants. But what exactly are C-fold towels? Unlike restaurant jargon like SOS (Sauce on the Side), the “C” is not an acronym, but a description.
C-fold towels (or simply C-folds) are named for their distinctive C-shape and are commonly found in public restrooms. The basic construction of a C-fold towel contributes to its overall ease of use and cost-effectiveness. The strategic design features a three-part fold, creating a compact product. When properly installed, the absorbent towels fit perfectly into dispensers that release one towel at a time, helping to control consumption and reduce waste.
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C-folds are dispensable and indispensable
C-fold towels contribute to operational efficiency, especially in restaurants with high customer traffic. The stackability of C-fold towels requires less storage space, which is a crucial consideration in the often limited space of a restaurant, be it a fast-food joint or a fine-dining establishment. So, as it turns out, the mechanics of a simple towel can be incredibly useful. C-fold towels have played another role as well—one that has found its way into popular culture.
The ubiquitous presence of C-fold towels in the restaurant world is highlighted in the final scene of Season 3, Episode 7 of “The Bear.” Natalie “Sugar” Berzatto, sister of Carmy and the late Mikey, experiences a life-changing moment when her water breaks while she’s alone lifting a heavy box of C-fold towels into her car in the parking lot of Restaurant Depot. This incident underscores the mundane reality of restaurant management, where routine tasks like shopping for supplies can overlap with important personal moments. It also reflects the invisible efforts that keep a restaurant running smoothly, emphasizing the value of seemingly mundane things like C-fold towels in the blurry depiction of hospitality — at least from a guest’s perspective.
Read the original article on Mashed.
