this post was submitted on 04 May 2024
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I recently left a job that most people would consider to be a very "cool" job. I previously would have considered the restaurant industry to be in this category of "you couldn't pay me enough." But I took a job as a cook, and it's honestly been pretty good. I am getting used to the work, I get to exercise some creativity, the results are immediate and feedback from satisfied customers is nice. So I guess that changes over time.
Funny, someone at work yesterday and I were talking about this. I worked restaurants for years. Like, more than a decade. They’re really crazy, fun, interesting places to work.
But Jesus. The people that gravitate to/stay in that life are a…certain type. The work is grueling and the atmosphere is usually pretty high stress. And the drinking culture is not great.
But dammit if it isn’t fun. It’s something everyone should do. It takes a lot of work to put a dish in front of someone in a restaurant, and understanding that process should be necessary to eat in one.
My warning would be to stay conscious of how much you’re getting sucked in. Pay attention to the stress levels. If you’re talking about and stressing over your job even after work, consider if it’s worth it. The pay isn’t exceptional, but the workload is pretty damn high. The skills are valuable, and it’s a good way to change yourself—but that change could very well be for the worse. Just be conscious of that. And when pills and cigarettes and excessive drinking cross your path, be careful. Because it’s easy to pick up a habit that is very hard to break.
But have fun. It’s definitely something I miss sometimes, but I don’t think I’d be able to go back at this point. I’ve done it. Didn’t think I would ever get out of it. But glad I did.
I spend from grade 9 to 12 working in the school kitchen, it was the chef training program. I was sous chef for the last two years then in grade 12, I spent some time in actual restaurants and changed my mind about getting into culinary arts as a career.
The guys were working 10-12 hours then sleeping in the store room beczuse they were too drunk to drive and get back for the morning shift. They were all drinking too much and chain smoking, it wasn't an industry I wanted to work in. Instead I spent 19 years in food logistics which paid way better. The hours still sucked though.
Thank you for the insight!
I quit drinking a few years ago but will be sure to watch for work bleeding into my personal life. So far, I've been able to leave work at work when I go home at night, and I'm thankful for that.
Well I wish you the best of luck. I found some of the people in that world never grew out of that high school “oh come on, you’re not drinking?!” thing. So just be wary! But like I said, it can be super fun. It’s a literal lifestyle. It’s great for a while. But be prepared to hang out with only restaurant people lol it’s a weird insular culture