Scratch Bar chef declares Back of the House Appreciation Month, #BAM

If you’re part of a restaurant’s back of the house staff, also known as the BOH in the industry, chef Phillip Frankland Lee wants to treat you to a free meal. The Scratch Bar and the Gadarene Swine chef has declared the entire month of February Back of the House Appreciation Month, along with the hashtag #BAM.

If you are any back of house restaurant employee, whether you’re a chef, line cook or a dishwasher, Lee will treat you to a six-course meal at Scratch Bar, his small plates restaurant on La Cienega Boulevard, and the Gadarene Swine, his vegetarian restaurant in Studio City.

“This is my way of giving back and hopefully strengthening my community,” Lee said in a statement. “Not just getting my boys drunk.”

To receive the free meal, bring in a pay stub that shows you’re a BOH employee. If you’re with your friends, their food is 50% off. The promotion does not apply to alcohol.

In a statement, the restaurant sited recent BOH compensation debates as the inspiration for #BAM.

A growing number of Los Angeles restaurants have decided to add 3% surcharges to all guest checks, intended to help pay for employee health benefits. Josiah Citrin’s Melisse and Suzanne Goin’s Lucques, the Larder restaurants, Tavern and the new A.O.C. are just the latest in a growing group implementing the charge.

Gadarene Swine, 11266 Ventura Blvd., Studio City, (818) 508-5500, thegadareneswine.com.

Scratch Bar, 111 N. La Cienega Blvd., Beverly Hills, (310) 289-8010, scratchbarla.com.

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