Photo courtesy of Red Queen Productions

By Kelsey McQuade

For Maya Gallus, waitressing was her first job when she was 15 years old. It was an experience that stayed with her throughout her life. But unlike many waitresses, Maya made a movie about it. She wrote and directed the film Dish, which examines the work life of women at various restaurants in Canada, Paris and Tokyo.

The restaurants were as different as the cultures. Canada was home to a truck stop, a diner and an Italian restaurant known more for it’s attractive servers than its food. Paris showcased their rather stereotypical dining style with servers in tuxedos to boot. And Tokyo introduced the idea of “Maid Cafes,” where the women dressed literally as maids and referred to the male patrons as “Master.”

The juxtaposition of the establishments is clear from the start. But Maya does not just address the obvious stereotypes that women are hired for lower class restaurants and are prone to rude remarks; she portrays serving as an art form.

Ash, an owner of George Street Diner in Ontario, explains that as a waitress, there is the ability to make someone happy or completely ruin their day. Much like the idea of art, people interpret the actions of their waitress differently, for better or worse. Another waitress in Canada said that confidence is the key. As a waitress, confidence is not only what will get you tips, but also what will keep people happy.

So what could have been an ultra-feminist burning-of-the-bra kind of piece turned into something where many of the women enjoy their jobs and embrace the negatives, for the simple fact that they know how to overcome it. Whether it’s being the only woman on staff at a five star restaurant in Paris or serving food nude in Canada, they persevere.

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