Edsel Ford Fong
Edsel Ford Fong (AKA Eddie Fong, d. 1980s), a legendary Chinese-American server from San Francisco,[1] is remembered affectionately as the "world's rudest waiter.[2]
Details
Edsel Ford Fong was born and raised in San Francisco's Chinatown. He worked the third and fourth floors of Sam Wo's Restaurant on Washington Street, while his brother Henry worked the first two. As head waiter, Fong greeted visitors with an admonition to "sit down and shut up."[3]. He is also known to have called patrons "retarded" and "fat", criticized people's menu choices before telling them what they should order, slamming food on the table, complaining about receiving only 15% tips, and groping female patrons.[2] An imposing man with a crew cut hair style, he was also notorious for seating people with strangers, forgetting orders, cursing, spilling soup on customers, hazing newcomers, refusing to provide forks or English menu translations, and busing tables before diners were finished.[4]
Fong was made famous by columnist Herb Caen, who often described the misanthropic Fong during his visits to Sam Wo's. Caen would interview Fong on matters of local politics and gossip, then reprint Fong's Yogi Berra-like responses, which Fong would in turn proudly show to his loyal regulars.[4] Caen included Fong in his guide of things to do in San Francisco, under "58. See the world's rudest waiter."[5]
Legacy
Fong is remembered fondly for his rude behavior. He was a regular recurring character in Armistead Maupin's series of Tales of the City novels, and was played by Arsenio 'Sonny' Trinidad in the 1993 BBC miniseries.[6]. Robin Williams referred to Fong in his 1997 eulogy of Herb Caen: "'Oops, she [[Pamela Harriman]] is missing our table, going right to God's.' I hope they have a waiter like Edsel Ford Fong who goes, 'No water here. Only wine!'"[7] A series of club level bistros at AT&T Park are named "Ford Fong's" in his honor.[8][9] He is also memorialized by a portrait on "Gold Mountain", a mural depicting Chinese contributions to American history on Romolo Place in North Beach, a few blocks from the restaurant. Cite error: A <ref> tag is missing the closing </ref> (see the help page).
References
- ^ "Sam Wo's". home & abroad. Retrieved 2007-09-12.
- ^ a b Guest Joe Franko (June 14, 2002). "Sam Wo". Fud Court. Retrieved 2007-09-12.
- ^ "San Francisco Information". Portola San Francisco. Retrieved 2007-09-12.
- ^ a b Eric Ehrmann (1996). "Curry Noodle Time:The Sam Woh Experience". Retrieved 2007-09-12.
- ^ Nina Wu (2007). "San Francisco Restaurant and Dining Guide". Coast News. Retrieved 2007-09-12.
- ^ "Tales of the City". IMDB. Retrieved 2009-09-12.
- ^ "Robin Williams". San Francisco Chronicle. February 8, 1997. Retrieved 2007-09-12.
- ^ Rick DelVecchio (April 11, 2000). "There Are Lots of Things to Do ... Even If You Don't Watch the Game". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2007-09-12.
- ^ "Access Privileges". San Francisco Giants. Retrieved 2007-09-12.