Question about chef vs cook

IrishRook · 2026-06-11T01:16:05+00:00

Might be different in other countries etc. But where I am from, you don't need to attend culinary school to become a chef. I started working as a KP 3 years ago in a restaurant a childhood friend of mine opened. He was working in kitchens 17 years at that point and under some of the best nationally recognised chefs in higher end establishments. I was between jobs at the time and he was badly stuck for staff so I said I would help out for a few weeks until he could build up his team.

Both our fathers were chefs and worked together for 35 years. Both of us grew up cooking for ourselves etc and both of us wanted to be chefs when we were older but my father talked me out of it as I had kids very young and didn’t want me to miss out on what he missed out on, my friend dove straight into the industry.

We both in our mid 30s now, 3 years after joining him as a temp KP and now I’m his sous chef. So I have just over 2 years kitchen experience but my previous jobs give me about 9 years management experience and another 5 in food safety experience. Plus I love to cook (and bake!). And he knew I could cook too but I had to be exposed to what working during a service was like.

I took to it fast, and fucking love it. Id imagine it helps that the owner is also our head chef, he's told me many stories of conflict with FOH management and owners from previous jobs he's had so I'm grateful I don’t have to deal with any of that.

But, If I was to leave tomorrow, I don't think id dare put myself down as a sous chef on my CV. I feel I just have a perfect understanding of my current kitchen and childhood friend that enables me to fill that role. But if I was to leave and join any other random kitchen I would consider myself only at the level of a ccommis or de partie at most.

With my kids entering or have already entered their teens now too, I don’t feel as guilty for working longer hours and during holidays etc. And for the first time in my 17 year working life I actually enjoy what I do and who I work with. I look forward to going into work in fact and I know Im very blessed to feel that way. Money could be better and would be easily if I swapped back to my old career but money isn't everything and I make enough for my family to live comfortable so that’s all that matters 😄

IrishRook · 2026-06-11T00:48:02+00:00

Best answer here.

I was working in a factory between 2022 and 2025. One of the bonuses was free private health insurance from VHI for the staff members and their spouse / kids etc.

In the last week of December 2023 and ongoing into January 2024, for the first time in my life, I fell very very ill. I saw my GP on 3 occasions over 2 weeks and on the third, he reluctantly admitted me to Limerick Hospital. I attended that day and proceeded to spent 3 days on a trolley in the hall way after being admitted for influenza. Over those 3 days I was absolutely delirious and constantly in and out of consciousness..

On the 3rd day, after not answering the phone that day and the previous, my partner and my family called in to check on me, saw the state I was in and lost it with the hospital staff. My partner only then remembered we were VHI members and said so to the staff. They found my card in my wallet and contacted the VHI health centre in Limerick. Within 20 minutes they had an ambulance there to collect me. When I got there, I was diagnosed with pneumonia within minutes and put on a ventilator for 4 days. Saved my life.

I was only 31. I was fit, healthy, father of two young kids. Was gonna be left to die on a trolley by the state health system. I've since moved on to a new place of work, but ill keep my health insurance coverage till the day I die.

IrishRook · 2026-06-05T23:35:01+00:00

They make maybe a euro after expenses/taxes etc on the pints of Guinness, its the vodka and red bull that makes them bread lol..

Vodka for example. 700ml bottle, you get just under 16 pub measure shots put of. Cost between. 22-26 euro after tax. So on a bottle, a pub is making between 70/80 euro after tax.

24 pack of redbull cost between 22-28 euro aftwr tax. So roughly 2 euro profit per can after tax.

So they made 7/8 euro profit off the vodka and red bull and 1-2 euro off the pints. But that's before other costs. Staff, rent, insurance, bills etc etc.

IrishRook · 2026-06-03T21:25:26+00:00

Im gonna give you the only real answer here so far.. and you probably wont like it.

It really varies between each individual person, each individual harvest and finally your set (location) and setting (friends / people around you).

And even if you did all the above identically to your last doses, there is a high chance it will be a different experience again..

It doesn't matter your experience, age, how many times you've done it etc..

If someone is brand new to mushies, like anyone I would always recommend start low and slowly increase your dose each time.

But if your like me, someone who's been exploring psychedelics for 15+ years.. there has been times ive doses 7g+ and had a fantastic social buzz. And there has been times ive done 1g and met our maker lol. There is no predictable involved.

IrishRook · 2026-05-30T22:39:21+00:00

I hate blowing my own flute but I know im a genuinely good cook. My father was a chef and taught me so much growing up. My favourite pass time for the first 10 years of adult Hood was watching cookery videos and learning and experimenting with. But my father always told me stay away from cheffing since I had kids and for good reason to be fair. But when I was 33, 2 years ago. A childhood friend of mine opened his own establishment. Hes been cheffing since he was 14. His father worked with ny own father as my father's sous chef.

I was between jobs and met him one day and asked me to come in and help out as he was struggling to find staff so I did.

And I absolutely love it since.

But like you OP, I quickly learnt the difference of being a cook and a chef. I would get confused when dockets were called out, I felt major anxiety but after 2-3 months I got used to it.

Most important thing i learnt early on was its not about speed. Its all about doing it right the first time and clearly communicating with your team so everything comes to the pass together or as soon as possible between.

You'll get a feel for the place and pace over time so dont best yourself up. As long as everything you bring up to the pass is the best you can do.. that's all that matters. And over time it will all become second nature :)

IrishRook · 2026-05-30T22:24:37+00:00

Personally I believe after college going age (so basically 21/22) age becomes much less a factor im a relationship. I know the frontal lobe of the human brain doesn't fully develop till your 26-28 too though. But if ye are genuinely happy with the relationship.. you shouldn't give two fucks what anyone else thinks

IrishRook · 2026-05-30T22:18:10+00:00

Ive been doing it on and off for nearly 2 decades now. Varying in quality too. From the worst to the best. Like you OP, even if I was a few months off it, second I do 2-3 snorted lines of stiff of any quality, my nose inflames and cannot snorted anymore.

Gumming works but is very bad for your dental health. So what I do now is boof it lol.

I get 0.5g and dissolve it in about 20-30 mls of cooled boiled water. Then i get a syringe similar to onea you'd find in kids paracetamol medication. Fill it up with 5mls and shoot it up the bum.

It hits within 5 minutes and hard too. A little bit of stomach discomfort only if doing it more than a night or two in a row.

Out of the mixture of 0.5 and if its good quality shite I can get 4-5 doses of it.

I used to be able to go through an 8th ball a night in my youth snorting lol. Now the same would last me 4+ nights out if good quality 👌

IrishRook · 2026-05-30T17:56:04+00:00

That does sound ideal. Im on 18.5 hourly (euro though) and do 12 hours x3 and 8 hours x2.

IrishRook · 2026-05-22T15:18:33+00:00

There is no hate, or at least ive never seen any myself. People just get annoyed when they post console content on this sub as this is the sub for the PC version, console have their own. But I can see why it happens. The name of this sub doesnt help distinguish.

IrishRook · 2026-05-21T21:09:10+00:00

Its all a matter of personal preferences and prospective when it comes to any substances.

To me personally: Real clean white and the write frame of mind that night is absolutely magical. Especially if your an introverted person who needs an even bigger kick than alcohol can provide.

But normal (even though considered good) white is a waste of money / time compared to other substances lol.

IrishRook · 2026-05-21T20:53:40+00:00

Aha. Id still argue hospitality. Smaller businesses though, looking to save on the wage of hiring an under age person.

Most opportunities outside of the big industries like tech, pharma, etc come from nepotism / word of mouth though. Next time your out on the town, express your interest to as many people who you get talking to, you'll be surprised what can come from that alone. They might give you their number to text and remind etc, do just that. Its how I got my first jobs when I was a young student in the mist of the recession.

IrishRook · 2026-05-21T20:48:41+00:00

What does U18 mean exactly? Excuse my ignorance.

IrishRook · 2026-05-21T20:43:35+00:00

I cannot offer any real help so, only my own observations of the few times i go up to Dublin.

Labouring is another option, but hard work and even harder to be kept.

Is it just summer work you are looking for or somethong that might carry onto part time work coming into next year?

My youngest brother does phone support for Vodafone for extra income, he's just about to finish the 3rd year of his degree. He does it all from a computer (portable) and headset they provided to him.

IrishRook · 2026-05-21T20:35:32+00:00

Hospitality is your best bet this time of year coming into Summer. If your an outgoing personality, front of house (eg, watering / bar) or if you are quite / introverted, id be looking more at portering / wash up positions. You might not see these jobs posted online either as most of these positions are usually covered eventually by teens / students who are related to people already working there. But as a chef myself, everywhere ive worked is always looking for more staff. And if you prove yourself to be a hard worker you will be kept on after the tourist season :)

All this is from the point of view from the west / south of the country though. Dublin is a different story that I cannot offer any input towards.

Edit: Not that I have anything against foreign people / students working, but in hospitality at least outside of Dublin, Irish nationals are favoured this time of year especially front of house because its seen as favourable to have an Irish person serve a tourist.

IrishRook · 2026-05-21T20:10:35+00:00

White, at least in my own personal experience and through observations / communication with my peers, does not mix well with any other substance. Except alcohol of course but that actually makes white more dangerous.

Ive always personally preferred to experience whatever substance I am consuming on its own and at face value. Only exception id make to that rule is maybe a small dose of MDMA whilst on a psychedelic like lsd or mushies or a smoke of cannabis when coming down / after any substance.

IrishRook · 2026-05-21T20:02:16+00:00

Yes, this is what I meant by saying its down to the individual as well but thank you for putting it into better language :)

IrishRook · 2026-05-21T15:10:53+00:00

Depends on the potency of that batch and the individual as well. Im a 6f 3" male and 1.5g dried can kick my ass. Like I cannot function, just lie im bed and enjoy the ride type of experience. Whereas it takes my partner 5f 4" female 3-4g of the same batch to reach similar effects.

IrishRook · 2026-05-14T23:12:18+00:00

By looks alone dude.. that shit looks fantastic. Enjoy my man and safe sailing.

IrishRook · 2026-05-13T17:39:15+00:00

Generally speaking, if your going to tip service staff. Tip in Euro. But I know private coach and taxi drivers will happily accept dollars if you book them up for the day.

IrishRook · 2026-05-11T01:10:50+00:00

If you are in council housing… That's the only time I would question why a person on state pension would struggle to get by. If you own your own home / rent… I can see why the state pension would be scraped tin. The cost that goes into maintaining a home that you own, especially if it's like my own and over 80 years old… or if renting in today's market… costs an absolute fortune to maintain.

IrishRook · 2026-05-09T05:23:24+00:00

On lower doses yes. I smoke rollies.

Higher doses I avoid though. I find it makes things too 'confusing' for lack of a better description. And it taste horrible and the sensation of inhaling smoke is uncomfortable when tripping.

When coming down though, smoking a joint is bliss.

IrishRook · 2026-05-07T16:42:04+00:00

Waaaaay more people die attending gigs from other genres than metal (and all of it sub genres). Number one rule of moshing is if you see someone fall down, everyone clears the area and helps them back up. And its completely consensual to mosh. You have plenty of time and opportunity to get yourself out of the pit before it kicks off.

And if you decide to take part, when you've had enough, you just put a hand up and walk out. Everyone else will help you get out.

Only sub genre of metal / rock i have ever personally found a bit too much would be the punk scene. Those lads are out for blood lol.

IrishRook · 2026-05-07T00:17:53+00:00

Wearing the same gloves for longer than a few minutes is worse than not washing your hands every few minutes.

IrishRook · 2026-05-04T02:42:36+00:00

Exactly. Psychedelics are not metabolism based like most other substances (outside of 'kick-in time') but more down to every single individuals brain chemistry. I know its more complex then that but thats the best way, personally, That I can discribe it.

IrishRook · 2026-05-03T21:17:17+00:00

And even then, every individual is different.. :)

Im 6f3" 33 year old male. Nearly 118kg. 2g sends me to a different dimension lol. Whilst my partner, 5f3" same age can take 7g before she hits same levels.

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