If You Can Stand the Heat
One thing is for certain kitchens are hot. It is not for the weak or feeble. You must not only be physically strong but mentally and emotionally as well.
The Rugby Grille is by far the hottest kitchen I have ever worked in. We have a digital clock on the wall that tells the inside temp and all it reads during the summertime is ERR. That means it’s hot. When you have to go outside in 85 degree heat to cool off it’s hot, do you get the picture yet?
I’m not complaining just illustrating a point. Saturday night at the end of the rush we were all outside taking a break, I asked one of my cooks if she was ok because she looked off. She just responded “hot”, but based on tones and facial features I could tell she wasn’t happy. Then I thought back to other kitchens that I have worked in over the years. The worst was the Golden Mushroom. It was getting run down by the time I started my culinary journey but it still had a glorious reputation. Every day started by trudging through 2 inches of water until I mopped it up. I went through 6 pairs of Doc Martins over the course of two years because the soles got destroyed. Then I realized that these are battle stories that we can tell our future disciples. “You think this kitchen is bad you should have seen…” every new adventure brings us new experience good or bad. But in the end we all learn unless we keep our eyes closed.
“The process of becoming an empathetic, autonomous adult…is not unlike learning to walk; each step makes you stronger for the next one”. – Victoria Secunda
