My chef/husband and I have had many conversations over the years about his salary. Usually the conversation starts because he’s been working so many hours and he’s on salary. (Sound familiar?)
He jokingly tells me how much he makes an hour, which comes out to be ridiculously low with the hours he works. He’s even said a few times that a server went home with more money than him after working 6 hours than he did after working 16 hours, running the entire restaurant and/or kitchen.
When he was a line cook, he occasionally got paid overtime. But as I have come to learn over the years, that overtime kills your labor budget and often the Sous Chef and Executive Chef work extra hours to pick up the slack to save their numbers (especially if those numbers are linked to a bonus.) (more…)
When was the last time you looked at the hands of your chef?
My chef/husband is at work as I’m writing this, but I can picture his hands in my head . . .
The few scars on them from working in the kitchen for so many years. (One large one that I remember vividly from a catering event he did for my work 15 years ago.)
His left hand without a wedding ring when he’s working, as he gets a big callous when he uses a knife a lot while he’s wearing it. (This doesn’t bother me, in case you were wondering.)
The shiny appearance from being near the oven or stove on the line for an extended period of time.
Bandaged up with a bandaid or krazy glue, whatever worked better at the time.
Gentle enough to not crush delicate herbs.
Steady enough to plate small items intricately.
Holding a chef knife and cutting an onion so fast that my eyes don’t even have a chance to tear up.
Stained from working with beets when he was rushing and didn’t put gloves on.
Occasionally having a strange smell on them after work.
Seasoned to pick up a hot pan without a hot pad or towel.
Like every month, I’ve collected a few of my favorite things I’ve found online that have to do with either being married to a chef, chef life or having a family with a chef. I hope you’ll enjoy them as much as I did!
Apparently there is a secret list of banned words that you should NEVER use when writing about food. I wonder if they apply when I am just talking about food with my chef/husband? (Just kidding.) (more…)
A video posted by Palisade Restaurant (@palisadesea) on
(Look at this video the restaurant posted on Instagram of my chef/husband playing the piano HIGH UP IN THE AIR on Thanksgiving!! That is crazy!!) (more…)
It’s a big meal, full or recipes that we only make one time of year.
There’s pressure to have it all taste good (obviously) and to have it all warm and on the table at the same time.
Somehow, we all manage to pull it off and live to tell about it year after year.
But have you ever stopped to think about what it’s like at the restaurant your chef/husband or significant other is working at?
Sure they tell us how insane it is and we see them physically exhausted before and after. But have you ever seen what the back of the restaurant looks like the days leading up to Thanksgiving?
It’s like nothing I could have ever imagined!
My husband’s restaurant will be serving 1,000 guests on Thanksgiving.
1,000!
I can’t even being to fathom how you would do that.
Let’s look for a minute at what prepping Thanksgiving looks like in a restaurant . .. no fancy photography, just snapshots with my chef/husband’s phone. I’ll only share a few since you probably don’t care about seeing all 15 of them. (more…)
