After 10 years in this industry, there was a part of me that was proud to realize that I had become hard as coffin nails. I was as the industry had made me. I had also become quick: quick witted, nimble in close quarters, and fleet of foot. I could think my way out of …
“Dear Chef, Today I learned compassion, something this industry is lacking. So many times we don’t care about what’s going on in other’s lives and respond with ‘suck It up sunshine’. Something happened to me personally, on a Saturday, where I couldn’t be there for service and how some people reacted really astonished me.” This …
“You know, you’re the only chef I’ve worked for that I didn’t want to burn down and take his place,” my sous chef said quietly, head down as we both cut fish. I didn’t say a word in response. I just kept slicing slabs of tuna. It took a while for this to sink in. …
Once, after having personally cooked a staff meal for the prep crew, I stood off to the side with my sous chef, beaming like a proud poppa as they tore into the food. My sous chef, sensing my smugness, elbowed me into the present by saying, “Don’t think for a moment that just because you …