back of house
Behind the scenes
Back of house refers to areas of a business not seen by customers—kitchens, storage rooms, offices, loading docks.
The term originated in restaurants and hotels, where it distinguishes operational spaces from the dining room or lobby.
It extends to any workplace division between customer-facing and behind-the-scenes functions: She worked back of house for years before becoming a server.
Often abbreviated BOH.
Professional kitchen leader
- sous-chefKitchen's second-in-command
- line cookKitchen staff at stations
- prep cookEntry-level culinary worker
- dishwasherAppliance that cleans cookware
kitchen porter · pastry chef · expediter · commis · mise en place · ticket · plating · garnishing
Kitchen's head professional cook
- sous-chefKitchen's second-in-command
- line cookKitchen staff at stations
- prep cookEntry-level culinary worker
- dishwasherAppliance that cleans cookware
pastry chef · saucier · commis · kitchen porter · steward · butcher · baker · extern
Catalog of held assets
- suppliesResources for a task
- equipmentTools for a task
- maintenancePreserving working condition
- storageSpace for keeping goods
walk-in · dry storage · receiving · FIFO · requisition · vendor · deliveries · waste management
Cutting into pieces
- seasoningSubstance improving food taste
- marinatingSoaking food in flavored liquid
- roastingCooking with dry heat
- grillingCooking on metal grates
sautéing · braising · poaching · blanching · simmering · reducing · filleting · kneading
Assigning times to events
- labor costPrice of human effort
- food costPrice of edibles purchased
- orderingPlacing in sequence
- trainingDeveloping abilities through practice
hiring · oversight · delegation · performance review · shift lead · kitchen manager · head chef · portion control
chef
Professional kitchen leader
- sous-chefKitchen's second-in-command
- line cookKitchen staff at stations
- prep cookEntry-level culinary worker
dishwasher · kitchen porter · pastry chef · expediter · commis · mise en place · ticket · plating · garnishing · food prep
chef de cuisine
Kitchen's head professional cook
- sous-chefKitchen's second-in-command
- line cookKitchen staff at stations
- prep cookEntry-level culinary worker
dishwasher · pastry chef · saucier · commis · kitchen porter · steward · butcher · baker · extern · stage
inventory
Catalog of held assets
- suppliesResources for a task
- equipmentTools for a task
- maintenancePreserving working condition
storage · walk-in · dry storage · receiving · FIFO · requisition · vendor · deliveries · waste management · sanitation
chopping
Cutting into pieces
- seasoningSubstance improving food taste
- marinatingSoaking food in flavored liquid
- roastingCooking with dry heat
grilling · sautéing · braising · poaching · blanching · simmering · reducing · filleting · kneading · baking
scheduling
Assigning times to events
- labor costPrice of human effort
- food costPrice of edibles purchased
- orderingPlacing in sequence
training · hiring · oversight · delegation · performance review · shift lead · kitchen manager · head chef · portion control · staff meeting
- hotelshotel staff, hotel room, accommodations, hotelier, innkeeper
- restaurant workwaiter, waitress, server, chef, cook
- restaurantsmenu, chef, reservations, table service, waitstaff
- food workersbutcher, bartender, server, caterer, chef
- restaurantkitchen, dining room, booth, counter, host stand
- restaurant termskitchen, table, gratuity, seat, reservations
back of housefront of house
Guest-facing venue operations
dining room · dining area · FOH · front desk · lobby
back of housefront of house
Guest-facing venue operations
auditorium · house · seating area · box office · lobby
back, house, backs, backed, backing, backer, backside, backward, backwards