Got a dining question you're too embarrassed to ask your server about? Ask Zagat.
Once again we turn to John Fischer, an associate professor in table service at the Culinary Institute of America's Escoffier Restaurant, to answer this week's question.
Zagat Buzz: What's the difference between a sommelier and a wine steward?
Fischer: A sommelier [is] the person in the room selling wine to people, helping them choose good wine for the money they want to spend. They should know enough about the wine to recommend it with food and know if the wine is good enough.
A wine steward is essentially the same thing – just using English instead of French.
But when you get to something like wine director, that’s someone who has managerial responsibilities. Sometimes they will also be called the wine buyer or even beverage manager.
Do you have a dining question you'd like answered? Drop us a line at buzz@zagat.com!