So I have been working in the restaurant business now for almost 10 years, so I have seen alot of kitchens. Some have different rules than others but most have the same standing rules that one must obey, if not you will get no respect and will not be well liked in the kitchen. Some of these rules are also just for people outside of the kitchen as well. So listen up, read every one and take note if you plan to be a professional cook. This may help you one day.
Rule #1: Never trust the front of the house aka the servers- Now this also includes those people at the bar and the hosts. They are not to be trusted for many reasons and I shall explain. For one, they seek to cause trouble. They will try and be your friend one minute and then the next they will use you. Do not date one or sleep with one. They will ruin your life. They will never keep a secret because they are servers, you are a cook. Trust only the back of the house. We know you better than them, and we hate what is going on just as much as you do. Plus we throw better parties.
Rule #2: Never, ever get offended- You will hear some of the grossest, most disgusting and meanest things working in the kitchen. It is all said in fun and amusement. So do not take it literally or get mad about it. If someone is doing it to make you mad, the best thing to do is roll with it and throw it back at him. If you get upset and start a fight, you will not last long in the kitchen.
Rule #3: If it is not your knife or utensal, do not take it, use it, or break it- Sometimes I take my knives to work and I never let them out of my sight because I have seen how some people treat their knives. You break my knives, I will break yours or your neck. Same goes for company property. If I am using a knife, and I set it down to grab a pan, do not take it without asking. If you do, it will get taken right back and no one will trust you. Trust and show respect and you will get it in return. Do not and see what happens.
Rule #4: If you are not a cook, stay the hell out of the kitchen- I do not care if you are the front of the house manager. If you do not cook in the kitchen, stay out and stay in your area. I will not feel bad about burning or cutting someone who is not part of the kitchen. We know our way around it, you don't, accidents happen, and we will laugh. Nothing pisses a cook off more than a server who walks through the kitchen asking questions. Stay out, stay back, and leave us the hell alone. Would you want us stumbling around in your area or waiting your tables? I doubt it.
Rule #5: If you are sick, stay the fuck away from everyone- Don't you hate being sick? So does the rest of us. So stay home and stay the hell away from us. Get us sick and you will pay the price.
Rule #6: Bathe yourself- Everyone sweats and such, that is fine. But if we can tell you have not showered in a week, we will soak you in soap and run your ass through the dish machine.
Rule #7: Do not overuse breaks- if you smoke, smoke, don't gab and sit there for 15 minutes while the rest of us are dying to rest. Take your break, get back, and let someone else go. If I am getting stuck in the weeds while you are outside, smoking, talking to your girl, and just being lazy, prepare for hell when you get back, because you will be doing everything by yourself. Cooks never forget or forgive.
Rule #8: Culinary School means nothing to those who have been in the kitchen longer than you have been at school- Culinary school does not make you a cook or a chef, so do not act like you are better than a cook who has been in the kitchen twice as many years as you have been in school, he will laugh in your face and make you wash dishes. I have seen good cooks come out of the schools and I have seen terrible cooks come out of them. I know some who are spoiled because they went to school and daddy bought them their own restaurant so they can play chef, only to laugh later when they fail. Earn your stripes, make your bones, then you can brag. No one likes a loud mouth who does not have the experience. I know I can not out cook my chef or Mario Batali, but I know I can out cook some newbies with a chef complex.
Rule #9: Learn fast or get the fuck out- As someone who has had the pleasure of training those who have never cooked before, I know from first hand, not everyone can do it. If after 2 months of training you are still asking me what to do, how to do this, or what goes in this, maybe you need to find a different job. Learn fast, adapt, and keep learning. You want to advance and make more money, don't keep fucking up the simple chicken wrap or the house salad. Cooks are a dime a dozen, but good cooks are hard to come bad.
Rule #10: Snitches will get stitches- Now if I kill someone, please tell the cops, but if I drop a bowl, do not go running to the chef and start telling him. He will roll his eyes, and I will claim your right index finger the next chance I get. Accidents happen, don't blow them out of proportion because the chef will not reward you and the kitchen will see you as untrustworthy and will kick you out of our world. Now if someone hurts someone else, steals the $1000 mixer, or pisses in the pickle jar, tell the chef, but a nibble of food, a broken bowl, a bent spoon, a dropped steak, or a little drink outside should not be shared with anyone. Learn what is wrong and what is acceptable.
Rule #11: If you can't do your job, leave-This is different from Rule#9 because I am directing this at the older folks and those who weak and lazy. If you are so old you can not lift a 10# pot or a 5# bag, retire. Lifting a 50# pot of potatoes is best with help, but not something small. Most things in the kitchen can get heavy, so if you can not handle it, beef up or move on. Ask for help with the real heavy things, but handle the small shit yourself. Same at remembering things. I know a server who has been working at the same place for 30 + years. When asked why the steaks she had written down didn't have temps, she said, "Oh I didn't know I was supposed to ask." Time to retire lady because it has been the same setup for 30 + years there. Also if you are lazy and keep passing up work or keep trying to get others to do it for you, the kitchen will soon catch on and will kick you out. Do your job, do it well, or find another job.
Rule #12: Use common Sense- If it is hot, use a towl. If it is too heavy, ask for help. If the knife is falling, do not try to catch it. If the water is boiling over, turn it off. If they grill is on fire, put it out, but not with the fire extinguisher, unless it is that bad, a little water goes a long way.
So I will probably remember some more rules or have some friends suggest some more, so stay tuned. I hope these help and remember I wrote this as a kitchen guy. I am no chef so I will sugar coat nothing.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment