I’m without a laptop for a few days, so I can’t guarantee I’ll be able to post regularly. However, I thought I would treat you to some funny excerpts from a friend’s post about working at a busy Italian restaurant in Evanston.
“When people joke that cooks literally cook themselves throughout their careers I have found that that really isn’t a joke at all. The grill is blazing, fucking hot. Obviously these guys are used to it and have desensitized themselves to heat, but even reaching towards the back of the grill with tongs, just for a moment, I find myself recoiling in pain, fearful of what must be the scorching remains of my hand. And these crazy bastards are flipping veal chops with their bare hands! I understand why chefs think of themselves as street warriors. And I guess I’m kind of a little girl, but my point is the grill and the line is fucking HOT. With saute pans flipping everywhere, huge pots of pasta water bubbling away, the grill slow-roasting me from a distance, and the convection oven burping holocaustal heat every time its opened … let’s just say it’s a crazy experience.
“I did a lot of prep work; cutting veggies (knife blisters FTW), breading lamb chops, shelling peas … that kind of shit. But I was introduced to the creative side of cooking, which I had not really been expecting to participate in for many years. Apparently there are a lot of vegans these days and they always come unannounced and expect people to prepare shit for their special needs. Yes I am hating on you vegans. That’s no way to live life.” [Note: As a former vegetarian, I often wonder what kinds of meals I missed out on during that period in my life
“I’m still getting used to where everything is and it takes me a little bit to get everything together. I apologize, he responds, ‘Don’t be fucking sorry, be faster.’
“Chef Jeff slams the table with finality as if to say ‘Suck it, bitches’ and walks out to tell those PETA-loving bastards what he just made.”
Chef Jeff, I have eaten your food and it is amazing. Hearing this description makes me want to add you to my Chef Crush List.
