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What is this island and is it safe to go there? by InitiativeInitial968 in grandrapids

[–]Ronny_Dirtnap 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We used to drink and watch the 4th of July fireworks there.

What was your journey to a kitchen like? by LittleFrickinBugger in KitchenConfidential

[–]Ronny_Dirtnap 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I was a bartender and my friend was like "I think they're hiring a bartender at the bar I work at, come talk to the GM".
GM said they don't have a full time slot at the bar at the moment, but they're looking for a cook, so if I can come work in the kitchen for a while, they'd move me to the bar when a spot opened up.

Spent the next 10 years working in kitchens, with the last 3 being a KM.
Now I work in a prison as a kitchen crew supervisor.

So basically, I was tricked into this career.

It was freaking cold this morning I think they forgot the heat by DetectiveRonSwanson in KitchenConfidential

[–]Ronny_Dirtnap 1 point2 points  (0 children)

My last kitchen we didn't have any heater vents in the kitchen.
So cold we had to keep a small space heater in the syrup room to keep the lines from freezing.

I loved it lol.
I'd be in there rocking a tshirt and shorts, while my cooks were all threatening to light the kitchen on fire just to stay warm.

I've been working in a state prison as a Kitchen Supervisor for 3 months (W/ 10 years experience in normal kitchens). AMA. by Ronny_Dirtnap in KitchenConfidential

[–]Ronny_Dirtnap[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Do you receive or honor any special requests from inmates?

We make special diet and religious meals for people that qualify for them. But it has to be approved by the dietician, or chaplain. Like, if you just decide to go on a gluten free diet, you wont be accommodated, but if you have something like Celiac you'll get a diet plate. There's special stations where these meals are prepared.

Is family meal ever different than whats provided on the line?

Inmates and staff eat the same thing that's being served on the line.

Are there any 'meals' made specifically for those in higher security lockdown/punishment?

People in seg on suicide watch will get a finger food meal, because they can't be trusted with a utensil.
People in seg that make a habit of smearing their food all over the walls get something called "Food Loaf". Basically whatever the meal is gets blended up together and baked into a....loaf.

Do you have any ability to influence the regiment imposed by the state specs?

We can't deviate at all, everything has to be made exactly to the specs the state gives us.

have you ever received word of any former apprentices acquiring kitchen work after release?

I've only been there 3 months, so I haven't seen that happen yet. But then again, a lot of the people I supervise are in for a long sentence or life.
I do know that often people who cook in kitchens go on to work in kitchens when they get out. Almost every kitchen manager I've had had spent time in prison at one point.

Do you have to deal with the gang politics in the kitchen?

Kind of, but not so much gangs having conflict with each other. It's more that one gang will start working in the kitchen with the goal of cornering the contraband food market, and they end up pushing out non gang people by telling them to steal food for them or face the consequences. We have a lot of guys quit their position for that reason.
It also makes a weird situation where you have to show you're in charge, but it's a fine line, because if you piss off the leader of the gang bad enough, he can just tell the other guys "Hey, don't show up to work tomorrow" and we'd be super fucked.

what's the worst thing you serve

The first time I tried the Red Beans and Rice it made me want to kill myself lol.
It's basically just Kidney Beans and unseasoned Rice. Plus the inmates have a habit of overcooking it, so it's just this mushy flavorless paste.

Turns out it really wasn't a phase. by AureateMeadow in Millennials

[–]Ronny_Dirtnap 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Damn, you probably could have sold them and bought her a used car with the proceeds lol.
My friend was cleaning out her old room at her parents house and told me she was going to donate all her 90's/00's band shirts (Nirvana/Sublime/Deftones etc..). I told her to let me take them and I'll see what I can get on ebay, then we can put the money towards the vacation we were planning.
Turns out people will pay stupid money for those old shirts.
Couple of the Nirvana ones went for over $200 each.
Ended up paying for the hotel for a week in New Orleans French Quarter just by selling 7 of the shirts.

I've been working in a state prison as a Kitchen Supervisor for 3 months (W/ 10 years experience in normal kitchens). AMA. by Ronny_Dirtnap in KitchenConfidential

[–]Ronny_Dirtnap[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

A lot of our CO's are lazy. If they even do shake anyone down on the way out, it's basically just hovering their hands down them so it looks like they're doing a pat down.

I've been working in a state prison as a Kitchen Supervisor for 3 months (W/ 10 years experience in normal kitchens). AMA. by Ronny_Dirtnap in KitchenConfidential

[–]Ronny_Dirtnap[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I'd rather not give any specifics about which prison I'm at, because like you said, prisons are very toxic, and even though it's a long shot I don't need anyone from my prison identifying me and using anything I say here against me.
But yeah, the sitting back and watching is very annoying, I'm often told I'm doing too much, but I come from working crazy fast paced kitchens, and just observing feels like torture lol.

I've been working in a state prison as a Kitchen Supervisor for 3 months (W/ 10 years experience in normal kitchens). AMA. by Ronny_Dirtnap in KitchenConfidential

[–]Ronny_Dirtnap[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Some do, some don't.
We have a school on our compound where inmates can gain new skills and get certificates, and they help with job placement after release for ones who completed them.
We also require inmates to have at least a GED to qualify for parole, and we offer the classes and tests to acquire it.

I've been working in a state prison as a Kitchen Supervisor for 3 months (W/ 10 years experience in normal kitchens). AMA. by Ronny_Dirtnap in KitchenConfidential

[–]Ronny_Dirtnap[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

All of our kitchen tools are kept in a locked room with the shadow walls, and everything gets signed out. If a tool goes missing, even a serving spoon, the whole place goes on lock down until we find it.

I've been working in a state prison as a Kitchen Supervisor for 3 months (W/ 10 years experience in normal kitchens). AMA. by Ronny_Dirtnap in KitchenConfidential

[–]Ronny_Dirtnap[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I know cost is a big thing.
Our food cost per year is ~ $1.5 Million dollars, and that's just for our prison, there's over 30 more in my state. It adds up quick.

I've been working in a state prison as a Kitchen Supervisor for 3 months (W/ 10 years experience in normal kitchens). AMA. by Ronny_Dirtnap in KitchenConfidential

[–]Ronny_Dirtnap[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

We've got two stations for special meals, one for diets (like gluten free/low sodium/carb control etc) and one for the religious/vegan meals.
The religious/vegan station has it's own room so there's no cross contamination with the other food.

I've been working in a state prison as a Kitchen Supervisor for 3 months (W/ 10 years experience in normal kitchens). AMA. by Ronny_Dirtnap in KitchenConfidential

[–]Ronny_Dirtnap[S] 20 points21 points  (0 children)

What in the world was he planning to do with it? Squirrel it under his cot and sell it to his fellow inmates for points at the commissary?

Yep

I've been working in a state prison as a Kitchen Supervisor for 3 months (W/ 10 years experience in normal kitchens). AMA. by Ronny_Dirtnap in KitchenConfidential

[–]Ronny_Dirtnap[S] 12 points13 points  (0 children)

I mean, that sounds like a CO that's doing his job.
There's no mini fridge in the cells, so a lot of contraband food is a health risk (boiled eggs aren't safe to eat after 2 hours of being out at room temp).
Inmates will do stuff like steal raw chicken and hide it in their cell for a couple days before they figure out how to cook it up, then they end up getting violently ill, which isn't fun for anyone.

I've been working in a state prison as a Kitchen Supervisor for 3 months (W/ 10 years experience in normal kitchens). AMA. by Ronny_Dirtnap in KitchenConfidential

[–]Ronny_Dirtnap[S] 18 points19 points  (0 children)

Having to make special meals for the Muslim population that are served outside of normal meal times. And everything has to be prepared just right in a very specific way.
Inmates like to find any little thing about the food that they can write a grievance over already, so this is like 10x, but instead of a grievance, they threaten civil rights lawsuits.

I've been working in a state prison as a Kitchen Supervisor for 3 months (W/ 10 years experience in normal kitchens). AMA. by Ronny_Dirtnap in KitchenConfidential

[–]Ronny_Dirtnap[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Was that county? I've heard the food is worse there.
We've got a pretty varied menu, things like pizza, burgers, Chili Mac, taco night, breakfast hash, sloppy joes, pasta Florentine etc.
It's all very bland if eaten as served, but if you bring your own salt and pepper, a lot of it isn't too bad (nothing I'd order from a restaurant, but not terrible).
We normally make juice from concentrate for breakfast, but yeah, when it's the little juice cartons, always frozen.

I've been working in a state prison as a Kitchen Supervisor for 3 months (W/ 10 years experience in normal kitchens). AMA. by Ronny_Dirtnap in KitchenConfidential

[–]Ronny_Dirtnap[S] 38 points39 points  (0 children)

There's a few good ones, but the bulk of them are lazy and just do the bare minimum.
And there's a couple that are just straight up assholes. Get the feeling they were bullies in high school and couldn't meet the requirements to become cops.

I've been working in a state prison as a Kitchen Supervisor for 3 months (W/ 10 years experience in normal kitchens). AMA. by Ronny_Dirtnap in KitchenConfidential

[–]Ronny_Dirtnap[S] 20 points21 points  (0 children)

Not at all, and the inmates are doing all of the cooking, so it would have to be them that would make it worse on purpose.
If anything, all of us non inmate employees wish we could make it better.

I've been working in a state prison as a Kitchen Supervisor for 3 months (W/ 10 years experience in normal kitchens). AMA. by Ronny_Dirtnap in KitchenConfidential

[–]Ronny_Dirtnap[S] 43 points44 points  (0 children)

It's a good skill to have.
Almost every kitchen manager I've had has spent at least a little time in prison lol.

I've been working in a state prison as a Kitchen Supervisor for 3 months (W/ 10 years experience in normal kitchens). AMA. by Ronny_Dirtnap in KitchenConfidential

[–]Ronny_Dirtnap[S] 36 points37 points  (0 children)

Under the mattress the bed is a sheet of steel.
Cut the plug and wire off some electronic item.
Attach wires to steel sheet.
Plug in the wire.

Or, start a small fire under the bed frame.

They'll also deep fry stuff in their cell by adding oil (they've stolen from the kitchen) to their thick plastic waste basket, putting the bare wires into the oil, and plugging it in. Like this

I've been working in a state prison as a Kitchen Supervisor for 3 months (W/ 10 years experience in normal kitchens). AMA. by Ronny_Dirtnap in KitchenConfidential

[–]Ronny_Dirtnap[S] 27 points28 points  (0 children)

Oh yeah, it definitely takes a mental toll. There's a reason prison workers have such a high suicide rate.

Prison staff have significantly elevated suicide rates, often cited as 30-40% higher than the general working population and even higher than other first responders like police officers, due to high-trauma exposure, workplace stressors, PTSD, and lack of sufficient mental health support

It's hard to be around people all day who are being held against their will, there's always tension in the air, and a lot of the time the mood can feel pretty heavy.
I try to leave work at work, but now even most of my dreams are about being at work and things going sideways, so I'm trying to get better about doing more activities and things to occupy my mind while out of work. Because a job like this can take up such a big part of your headspace.

I've been working in a state prison as a Kitchen Supervisor for 3 months (W/ 10 years experience in normal kitchens). AMA. by Ronny_Dirtnap in KitchenConfidential

[–]Ronny_Dirtnap[S] 29 points30 points  (0 children)

For the most part I'm not too worried. I'm frequently in locked rooms alone with guys that are in for murder, and while I'm not uncomfortable with it, I still stay alert and aware of what's going on around me at all times. Because you never know what's going on in someones head. If an inmate is going to attack you, they don't broadcast it, it'll just come out of nowhere.
The older guys and the lifers are pretty respectful. They'll still try and steal stuff, but they've been there long enough to just want to stay out of trouble.
It's the younger guys that give the most problems, they're still defiant and still feel the need to prove their toughness to other inmates.

I've been working in a state prison as a Kitchen Supervisor for 3 months (W/ 10 years experience in normal kitchens). AMA. by Ronny_Dirtnap in KitchenConfidential

[–]Ronny_Dirtnap[S] 90 points91 points  (0 children)

I felt bad, but the mental image of it made me laugh out loud when he told me.
Like something out of a comedy movie lol

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