- 9
- 10
- Joined Jul 25, 2010
I am more than willing to admit that, in this instance, I am probably the monkey. I have to say, to begin, that I am very grateful for the head chef I work for. When I interviewed with him, I explained how I had actually attended culinary school, but had to leave due to running out of money and having uncooperative parents. He understood, took me on, and began mentoring me in the ways of the kitchen. I work my butt off, try to keep both him and the owners happy, and have a positive attitude.
But lately things have started to get a little out of control. He's unhappy with the owners of the restaurant, so he takes it out on the kitchen staff. He even pulled me outside one time, saying that I had an "attitude" when in reality, I was just trying to get my station set up and stay out of his way. I had come into work an hour early to do pastry work, but he was frazzled and disorganized and had me do his prep work instead- which set me majorly behind as orders started coming in and the puff pastries that I had to make had to be squeezed in between pizzas, appetizers, and clean up.
When the owners asked why the pastries weren't made, he just stood there and stared at me blankly.
He's started having meltdowns in the kitchen. You can feel the tension in the room, like he's about to explode- to the point where he completely flubbed a dinner service where he was on garde manger and we weren't that busy.
When I get in the weeds from 7-8 pizzas, 5 apps, and 3 pastries coming in at the same time, I just hunker down- listen for directions, and keep on pushing to get everything out. He'll get 4 pasta orders in back to back and almost lose his mind.
I guess I'm wondering if this is normal? This is my first kitchen job so I don't know if HC's are supposed to be calm and collected, which is what I imagine they should be. But maybe my expectations are a little too grandiose and I'm living in a fantasy world.
I'm probably being the monkey.
I love this job, love the other cooks I work with, and enjoy the challenge and the rush- but I guess I'm asking for opinions as to whether I should just chalk this up to how chefs can be and think nothing more of it.
The odd thing is that we have another cook who's the owners cousin. He's not trying to take over the HC's job, but he helps out and is amazing at delegation, staying calm, and when you get in the shit he's just like me- work work work, crack a joke, work work work, have a sip of water, work work work, send out last ticket, clean up, have a cigarette.
I don't know...this whole post probably doesn't make any sense. I'm just trying to make heads or tails out of my boss' behavior I guess.
But lately things have started to get a little out of control. He's unhappy with the owners of the restaurant, so he takes it out on the kitchen staff. He even pulled me outside one time, saying that I had an "attitude" when in reality, I was just trying to get my station set up and stay out of his way. I had come into work an hour early to do pastry work, but he was frazzled and disorganized and had me do his prep work instead- which set me majorly behind as orders started coming in and the puff pastries that I had to make had to be squeezed in between pizzas, appetizers, and clean up.
When the owners asked why the pastries weren't made, he just stood there and stared at me blankly.
He's started having meltdowns in the kitchen. You can feel the tension in the room, like he's about to explode- to the point where he completely flubbed a dinner service where he was on garde manger and we weren't that busy.
When I get in the weeds from 7-8 pizzas, 5 apps, and 3 pastries coming in at the same time, I just hunker down- listen for directions, and keep on pushing to get everything out. He'll get 4 pasta orders in back to back and almost lose his mind.
I guess I'm wondering if this is normal? This is my first kitchen job so I don't know if HC's are supposed to be calm and collected, which is what I imagine they should be. But maybe my expectations are a little too grandiose and I'm living in a fantasy world.
I'm probably being the monkey.
I love this job, love the other cooks I work with, and enjoy the challenge and the rush- but I guess I'm asking for opinions as to whether I should just chalk this up to how chefs can be and think nothing more of it.
The odd thing is that we have another cook who's the owners cousin. He's not trying to take over the HC's job, but he helps out and is amazing at delegation, staying calm, and when you get in the shit he's just like me- work work work, crack a joke, work work work, have a sip of water, work work work, send out last ticket, clean up, have a cigarette.
I don't know...this whole post probably doesn't make any sense. I'm just trying to make heads or tails out of my boss' behavior I guess.