To would be culinary students who thinks being a chef is easy and glamorous, spoiler alert!
I am wide awake, and I do not feel bad about it.
The service rush still flows through me, despite my legs aching and my arms throbbing.
No more light headedness, no more hours asleep during the day
Waking up to prep lists, recipes and costings
Moving up to storage reorganization, science projects and waste
Finding out who is stealing what, what is compromising who
Finding out the weakest link, and who to suck up to
Pet peeves on guests’ requests off-the-menu
Satisfaction in knowing that I can pull a roasted rabbit out of my hat
Broken ovens, powerful flames
The clink and chink of china and glassware going through all-thumbs dishwashers
Eating dinner standing up
Doing more than the normal 8 glasses of water each day because of the heat
Burns and cuts, scars and battle wounds
Gleaming steel and stained aprons
Hot handles and sharp knives
Being away from negativity
Working for real, and not just part time
Working because you love it
Being in the now, and not worrying what could be
Get things done because you loved to, not because you have to
Creating something instead of searching in vain
Taking a piss on culinary students who bite the professional dust after only two months
Speaking with you face-to-face
Herbs and spices, caramelized food and burnt bones
The yelling, cajoling, threats and vendettas
The occasional beer
New order, fire, pick-up
The only thing missing is the one who unconditionally loves me is not with me
Ahh…the restaurant life
