What is the first task to undertake during the initial 15 minutes of the day?

The first task to undertake during the initial 15 minutes of the day is to check for expired products. This is crucial because expired products can pose health risks to customers and negatively impact the overall safety and quality of the food served. Ensuring that no expired ingredients are available for use helps maintain food safety standards and compliance with health regulations. It also ensures that the kitchen operates efficiently throughout the day, as fresh ingredients are essential for preparing meals.

While cleaning the kitchen, preparing daily specials, and counting the cash register are important tasks, they take a backseat to verifying the integrity of the food that will be served. If expired products are not addressed first, it could lead to serious issues later on in the day, such as waste, customer complaints, or compliance problems during health inspections.