Kitchen Life: Every Day is a New Day

September 27, 2010 at 4:12 pm (Kitchen Life, Uncategorized) (chef, difficult co-workers, pastry, pastry chef, pressure cooker, sabotage in the kitchen)

There will be people in the kitchen you can’t stand.

Rest assured, they can’t stand you, either.

However, it’s important to try to start every day as a new day. Let go of whatever stupid/lazy/deceitful/awful/terrible thing they did yesterday. Every day is a new day in the kitchen, and it’s a good thing, too. Otherwise, we’d all kill each other. Repeatedly.

Every kitchen is a pressure cooker. The rattle of the pressure valve is very like the warning rattle of a rattlesnake: Coincidence? I think not.

Once the Chef screams at everybody, and everybody screams at everybody else, the pressure is relieved and things can get back to normal. They get back to normal every day.

With few exceptions, people don’t hold grudges in the kitchen. It’s like we all have the memory of a dog — about 5 minutes — plus “what have you done for me lately” plus “you’re only as good as your last meal (dessert).” Past successes (and failures) create a general background hum for you, but don’t overshadow the minute. So if you were brilliant yesterday, great. What have you done today? If you and “Bob” were at each other’s throats yesterday, that was yesterday and doesn’t necessarily have any bearing on today. 

Once in a while somebody will do something you simply can’t overlook, no matter how hard you try. Whatever they did will make you wonder why the chef keeps that person around.

The answer is simple: “Bob” hasn’t done “it” to the chef or to the sous chef. He comes to work, does what he’s asked (for the most part), there’s no replacement for him on the immediate horizon, and chances are he works cheap. Grit your teeth and make sure he has what he needs from you — you don’t want to be “uncooperative” or “not a team player.” That’s worse than lying or stealing in some kitchens. Keep your good eye on him, and make sure he doesn’t get  an opportunity to screw you over again.  That may mean being aware of his schedule and monitoring his actions when he’s in the kitchen. When he’s there, and you’re not, you may want to think about ways to safeguard your tools and work. And it never hurts to have an ally who’s there when you’re not to help keep things under control. Don’t forget to note any issues that airse in your work log, just in case.

Be patient. Chances are “Bob” will shoot himself in the foot sooner or later, and he’ll be gone.  Then some new “Bob” will show up and you’ll have to deal with it again. There’s always a “Bob.” Don’t let him undermine what you’re doing.