May 2012
4 posts
7 tags
Efficiency
People talk a lot about being “fast”:
fast with a knife
fast to plate
prepping fast
walking fast
setting up fast
etc
etc
etc
But let’s take a hot second to look at the definition of fast:
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Fast
Adjective. Moving or capable of moving at high speed.
Ok. So you can physically move at high speed. But for all of that running around, and moving at high speed,...
6 tags
11 tags
When Burnout Strikes.
A few weeks back I wrote a post about avoiding the dreaded burnout, and how the satisfaction at the end of the day is worth it.
I still believe that. It’s totally worth every minute. I love my job, I love my career.
It’s kind of like… like you accidentally flicked the burning cherry out of your cigarette… you know there’s still more there to burn, you know you can...
7 tags
Chef;
A.K.A.
Mentor
Teacher
Judge
Jury
Executioner
Engineer
Electrician
Fire Marshal
Mediator
Accountant
Coach
Father/Mother
Lifeguard
….
An experienced chef is many things. There are one or two that stand out, however, as being more significant to young chefs:
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Mentor and Teacher (which are two different things, just to be clear. google it.) are, as a young chef, two of the most...
April 2012
1 post
7 tags
March 2012
6 posts
9 tags
Oatmeal.
An instructor of mine told me a few weeks ago that eating oatmeal for breakfast would change my life.
I was a disbeliever - thought he was nuts and yaddayadda. But, being one who is always up for a challange, I thought I would give it a shot.
I’ve been eating oatmeal (real steel-ground oats, none of that instant packet crap) every morning for about 10 days now, and I’ll be honest,...
Sorry for the delay
I know I promised a recipe for the biscuit sandwich yesterday, but I haven’t had a chance to get it all written down yet. It’ll be up soon, just not right this moment. Come back in a day or two and check in, I’ll do my best for y’all!
8 tags
"Remember back in the day when we had lives and...
Yes, my friend, I remember.
It was a long, long time ago, back when the grass was green and the loveliest of the animals was the Unicorn. Before Culinary School, before Restaurants, before.
…Before this industry started claiming our lives bit by little bit… at first in pieces so small we didn’t notice, and then in bigger and bigger chunks, until all of a sudden, we started...
5 tags
Eggbeater →
This is quite possibly my favorite blog ever.
Shuna - the Chef who writes it is blunt, to the point and honest at all costs. She tells you like it is, no sugar coating. She writes for Chefs and their line cooks, anyone who ever thought they knew what was up in the back of the house.
Read through a couple of posts, you’ll fall (very quickly) just as in love with her as I have.
...
5 tags
A little repeat info:
Hey Y’all, this is from my very first post, and I thought that for any new readers out there I’d repost it and just let you know what’s up.
I’m a professional cook (I’d go with chef, but I don’t think I’ve been doing this quite long enough to say that yet)…For fear of losing my job, I can’t tell you who I am or where I cook and I can’t use any...
February 2012
2 posts
10 tags
Ode to the perfect knife. I can't help it. I'm in...
This, friends, is my knife.
Well, not my knife individually, but they are one in the same. You get the picture.
I’m not a rep, a salesperson, nor do I have any affiliation with the company. But I am OBSESSED with my Wusthof Classic Chef’s Knife.
It is a thing of beauty. It fits my hand like it was designed for me. It balances perfectly. I can hold it a solid four different...
7 tags
January 2012
1 post
7 tags
Teamwork
The kitchen is a battleground. It’s you and your team versus everyone sitting in the dining room. If that team isn’t a cohesive unit, you go down in flames. When your team doesn’t work together, it’s like going to war with just your sidearm.
Recently I have become frustrated with my team. No, not with the whole team, because most of them are on the same page as...
December 2011
4 posts
6 tags
Citrus Vinaigrette
See the previous post for the story, but, this is my take on a fresh citrus vinaigrette. It is sweet enough to cut the acid of all the citrus juice, but not so sweet that you can’t find the flavors. Goes great on any summer salad, or as a marinade for chicken and fish.
1/2 c Fresh Orange Juice
1/2 c Fresh Lemon Juice
1/2 c Fresh Lime Juice
1/3 to 1/2 c Fresh chopped cilantro
1 Tbsp...
Citrus Vinaigrette and Satisfaction.
It can be frustrating to go to the same kitchen, the same station, every single day. You get tired of making the same food over and over, you get bored, you lose motivation. It happens. To everyone.
Then there are these brief shining moments that make it all ok.
Like when someone trusts you enough to hand you 30 short ribs and say “braise these, here’s the recipe.”...
7 tags
Now trending....food lists for 2011 and 2012... →
I thought this guy was nuts... then I got the... →
November 2011
1 post
Simple words, great weight.
Nothing great ever came from taking a shortcut. Look at your finished product… it was worth it, wasn’t it?
A wise person in my kitchen said this tonight.
She then continued to say (later in the conversation):
High risk, high reward, you know? I almost burned down the house tonight, but ….. mmmmmm delicious.
Sometimes, simple words carry an incredible weight....
September 2011
1 post
Welcome to Friendly's, Can I take your order?
SO here’s a good one -
person comes into the bar a few nights ago… and proceeds to order 20 bud lights and 20 servings of ice cream…. to go.
the bartender laughed in the person’s face before the realization set in that they were serious.
Here’s my beef - I do not work at friendly’s. While yes, icecream is on our menu, and I suppose you are entitled to...
August 2011
2 posts
I don't care what you have to do, SHOW UP.
Quick story about my day/night last night, then we’ll get into the deep-seeded issue I have that makes this such a big deal.
So the east coast got pounded by Hurricane Irene over the past few days, we all know this.
I live 40 minutes from the restaurant, which happens to be on the east coast. I went to work yesterday. I drove back into Irene, after she had cleared out of my vicinity,...
New Day, New Job, New Rants.
Recently I began working as a professional cook. For fear of losing my job, I can’t tell you who I am or where I cook and I can’t use any names, but stay tuned for a variety of ranting, raving, laughing, crazy times. Topics will include:
get up, show up, shut up
never, ever, stop moving.
disillusioned culinary arts students
what ever happened to integrity, anyway?
THERE IS NO...