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layout, title, date
| layout | title | date |
|---|---|---|
| post | Frenetic Scribblings #16: Kitchen life! | 2017-12-17 |
Working in a commercial kitchen is a more difficult job than I think most of the general public realise.
The hours are long, the pressure is intense and the pay is terrible. I often joke that kitchens run on foul language, caffeine, cigarettes and (post shift!) alcohol. Though I only say it jokingly, my Kitchen Manager has a saying of her own — every joke hides a kernel of truth. In this case, my ‘joke’ has more than a kernel. Almost without fail any kitchen worker abuses caffeine, nicotine and/or alcohol just to get through the week. More often than it’s all three.
I myself am far too dependent on coffee and energy drinks. I’m going to try to limit the damage by going cold turkey on caffeine in the New Year. That’ll soon tell me if I’ve developed a full blown dependency as I suspect I have!
The industry sorely needs a change, but I don’t see it happening in the near future. It’s largely outside of the power of individual pubs and restaurants to change conditions in kitchens without committing financial suicide.
Fairer pay and more staff (of which the former feeds into the latter) which are most needed, can’t happen without raised prices that would have to be passed onto consumers. Which would drive business away. Consumers would have to be made aware of conditions, and there would need to be a coordinated effort of businesses to raise prices tougher. Unlikely to happen. But writing this is my own (small) way of pushing towards that.
Nevertheless, in a more positive light, kitchens don’t just run on substance abuse. Good kitchens also run on individual work and smooth teamwork fueled by camaraderie.
Bearing under the stress of a busy service demands from you a level of focus that will make you a calmer person outside of the kitchen.
Bonds forged — in the semi-literal fire of the ovens and grills — are incredibly strong.
So despite the poor conditions and worse pay, I’m immensely grateful for the chance to be part of such a strong team. It’s teaching me many life lessons that I have no doubt will continue to be valuable in the years to come.
Perhaps if everyone had to work retail or food service, everyone would treat those people a little better!
Over and out.
Thought for the day: Pressure can burst a pipe, or pressure can make a diamond