What I've Learned Working In a Kitchen

Since I've graduated high school I've spent the last four years working away in a high volume Irish Pub. There's times when I get frustrated with my job but for the most part it's always an awesome environment. I've learned everything from dish washing, preparation, frying, sauteing, using a flat top, grilling, & basic management. Other than the actual physical job I've also learned a lot about people, we have had hundreds of people come through our front & back of the house staffs since I started.

What I've observed in the kitchen:
- You never know who you'll end up friends with.
- You never know who will become your enemy.
- Some of the smartest people you'll meet will be in a kitchen.
- Hard work always pays off.
- You can learn something new everyday.
- Age doesn't matter.

I'm not going to get into all of these but there's a few I'd like to touch on.

You never know who you'll end up friends with:

• When you first start in the kitchen there will always be some people who rubs you the wrong way. After you spend more time with those people and get more comfortable you will soon realize there's probably some similarities between you two. Obviously this isn't always the case but I feel it's better to stay open to accepting new people rather than push them away.

Some of the smartest people you'll meet will be in a kitchen:

• Intelligence is not defined by your job. Sometimes people have to take jobs to pay for priorities. You never know what's going on inside that dish washers head. Just because he's scrubbing pots and pans doesn't mean anything. He may be the smartest person in the restaurant but currently is doing what he has to do (making money). The kitchen is a revolving door for anyone who has stepped into one. You may leave the kitchen to go do some amazing job but if it doesn't work out the kitchen will always take you back. I would never put someone down for working in a kitchen because you don't know where they're at in life. Obviously there is some exceptions of people who don't plan on doing anything else.

Age doesn't matter:

• This one I really did not realize when I first started in the kitchen. Plain and simple; age does not matter. The whole industry is based around your work ethic, if you are 18 and work harder than the 35 year old they are going to take you. You may get some playful shit talk every now and again about your age but I wouldn't take it personal. I would suggest hitting them back with something like, "Whatever, old man!". The jokes can go both ways and I don't think they should ever be taken too serious because everyone is working on the same team.

I've got some more I'd like to talk about the kitchen industry but I gotta get going there now! I hope you enjoyed what you've read and maybe I'll add a Part 2 at some point!