A guest requests a dairy-free modification for a dish that contains cheese and butter. What is your first step?

• A. Check if a dairy-free version is available and tell the kitchen; confirm cross-contact risk.
• B. Remove cheese and butter from the dish at table service.
• C. Offer a dairy-free beverage instead of modifying the dish.
• D. Refuse the request and suggest another item.

Answer: (A)

When a guest asks for a dairy-free modification, the first step is to bring this to the kitchen’s attention and see if a dairy-free version exists, while also confirming any cross-contact risk. This approach ensures the dish can truly be dairy-free, because dairy can hide in sauces, melting butter used in cooking, or other ingredients, and dairy-free preparation requires clean equipment and separate preparation areas. Coordinating with the kitchen lets you verify availability, plan the substitution, and communicate any cross-contact measures (such as separate utensils, pans, or prep surfaces) to the guest. This sets accurate expectations and protects the guest from accidental dairy exposure. Other options don’t adequately guarantee a dairy-free result or safety—removing dairy at the table risks hidden dairy in sauces or cookware, offering a dairy-free beverage doesn’t address modifying the dish itself, and refusing the request undermines service.