The dress code is clear, under penalty of penalty: black pants or skirt, white shirt or top with the establishment’s logo. Thierry Plé, boss of La Petite Auberge, a gourmet restaurant in Saint-Jean-d’Assé, added an orange bow tie, for the race of waitresses and waiters, this Saturday in Le Mans. “The goal is to participate”he notes humbly. In reality, he has a revenge to take: last year, he arrived the fastest, but his glasses were not completely full and earned him penalties and a second place.
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Without running
A little further away, the Brasserie Madeleine, in Le Mans, sent a whole team, at the forefront of which was the director, Sonia Bourasseau. “We’re here to have a good time, meet other colleagues”she smiled. His waiter and cook, Yassen Alandaj, corrects: “The goal is to win. I have confidence in myself. My training is work. We provide services for 500 seats, calmly”he boasts.
The trays are stocked: a beer, an orange juice and a coffee to carry without spilling them. The test is carried out at a run, but without running, over two two-kilometer laps, including slopes and stairs. The start is given at the Jet d’Eau fountain, fifty competitors set off. Straight back, fast pace, regular glances at his glasses… Thierry Plé quickly takes the lead of the race.
Overturned tray at the finish line
After 30 minutes, he arrives first, but disappointed: his shirt is stained with orange juice, his tray no longer contains coffee or soft drinks. The restaurateur sees victory slipping away: “A spectator crashed into me… It’s my fault, I should have been careful. » A waiter from the Baraque à Bœuf comes down the stairs shouting, galvanized by the encouragement of his supporters… Before knocking over his tray just a stone’s throw from the finish line. Yassen Alandaj arrives with his shirt soaked and looking disgusted after taking the wrong route: “I did three laps!” »
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Once the race times are weighted by the penalties (adequate clothing, glass and cups filled), the surprise is great for Thierry Plé, from La Petite Auberge, who climbs to the top of the podium, followed by Yassen Alandaj, from Brasserie Madeleine, and Charles Taranne, of La Baraque à Bœuf. On the apprentice side, the first is Noah Vollaine Poupart (Funay-Hélène-Boucher high school), the second Thibault Lemay and the third Corentin Quilbault (both apprentices at the Sainte-Catherine trades campus).
