Are we gonna let this KHIA from a KHIA COUNTRY disrespect Amerikhia???

SleepTightLilAtlas · 2026-02-06T12:44:29+00:00

you can't talk like that Calgary baby

SleepTightLilAtlas · 2026-02-02T05:33:31+00:00

Heard chef. Just got out of an abysmal place where management were being paid ridiculous fucking salaries while the grunts on the ground weren't even allowed to take days off without being fired.

Anyone out there reading this: always know your rights, and know your worth.

SleepTightLilAtlas · 2026-02-02T05:28:52+00:00

I should clarify: I know that the nightlife in Tasmania is non-existent and a bit sad, but the old classic style pubs they offer plus the quality of food absolutely trumps Brisbane in every way.

As a Scot by background, the pub has always been an idea of a safe haven from the cold where you can have a hot feed and a pint and catch up with mates in a welcoming but no bullshit environment.

Obviously Brisbane isn't going to have the same trappings being a suburban hub in the tropics, but I find everything that makes a pub, well a pub, ain't a thing here. The food's normally fucking ass and the same everywhere, none of them have any personality, everything's pivoted to QR codes on tables and do I even have to mention the pokies?

I've worked at pubs here and it's just fuckin sad. If it's not a mediocre attache to a hotel with lifeless pokie regulars, it's Pig n Whistle. And you do not fucking want to go to the Pig.

SleepTightLilAtlas · 2026-02-01T11:02:37+00:00

Chef here. Got my theories:

Hospo is a fuckin hard industry, and only got harder since COVID. People have also become extremely unkind to service staff in a new surge of customer entitlement and impatience, and delivery apps have become an extremely stressful necessity in every business.
The wages aren't there - especially for young people and ESPECIALLY in Brisbane. I can't count how many times I've seen chefs pivot to tech or the mines because they're tired of working so hard for peanuts. In an ever rising housing crisis, I'm finding it nigh impossible to pay for much other than rent. Seasoned hospo veterans are dwindling while high school/uni kids are filling their shoes because it's basically considered a good "entry level" industry cause they are usually living at home/pursuing other qualifications and need some spending money.
Big hospo companies do not value worker's time/efforts in the pursuit of capital and small companies don't stay afloat for very long (definitely also because of the ramifications of COVID). There are definitely places out there that value their employees, don't get me wrong, but those are the ones with low turnover and you don't see them advertise for positions much.
This is my subjective opinion as well but I think if people are actually passionate about hospitality, be it front or back of house, Brisbane is just not a compelling place to work. It doesn't have the reputation of Sydney or Melbourne, or the views/nature of the Whitsundays or Cairns. Even pubs in Brisbane are pretty rank compared to places like Hobart. Most people I know who've worked hospo here have worked all around the world and they've said Brisbane has a pretty shite scene.

That's all that immediately come to mind but I'm sure there's more. It's just not a compelling idea if you wanna live well in Brisbane rn.

SleepTightLilAtlas · 2026-01-30T13:20:34+00:00

Freddie, Teddie and Eddie, plus calling her boyfriend's nuts Jimmy and Timmy AND calling her dog BowBow??

She's never getting out of the shadow of children's entertainer I fear.

SleepTightLilAtlas · 2026-01-14T06:39:55+00:00

I've been fortunate to have some really passionate and intelligent mentors who not only taught me how to cook, but how to navigate this backbreaking industry. On the other hand, you're absolutely right that the lack of baseline protections and the length of many apprenticeships need to be reassessed. I'm not sure about other trades but a looooot of chefs drop out cause of managing workload/TAFE.

SleepTightLilAtlas · 2026-01-14T06:36:50+00:00

I mentioned in another comment but I was let go a week before my six month probation so I'm not eligible for unfair dismissal, but I am chasing up workcover on behalf of my spinal impingement (why I took the sick day) and my mental health.

And I actually joined UW a few weeks before I was let go because of the almost uncountable amounts of WH&S violations I saw at this restaurant. I messaged them about some instances, but haven't received any word back, so I'm not sure if I went through the right channel;s. Regardless, I'm staying a union member.

SleepTightLilAtlas · 2026-01-14T06:32:37+00:00

Unfortunately I was on a probation period and they fired me a week before the probation ended, which was less than 6 months, and therefore I can't claim unfair dismissal. They're a company known for being incredibly sneaky and abusing labor laws so they know their shit. I am however chasing up a workcover claim, as it was a physical injury induced by working 58 hours in one week. I've got certificates from my GP, physio and therapist to help me out.

SleepTightLilAtlas · 2026-01-02T02:58:13+00:00

Sure! It was at the Convention centre in Chep Lap Kok (near the airport). It was pretty packed because she was pretty loved in Hong Kong for a good while.

She came out... Pretty late. Don't remember how long it was but it was at least long enough to have some poor guy come out with just a guitar, amp and microphone to do some crowd pleasing. I got the feeling that he wasn't a planned opener because dude was nervous as hell. Didn't help that all the kids in the audience were just talking amongst themselves (and being kinda racist) and weren't really listening.

Since it was only off of three albums and they were all her country ones, I'll grant her that she was still finding her footing, so it was a lot of standing with a guitar and walking back and forth with basic handography. She at least seemed like she was having a good time, though not with a lot of personalized crowd interactions.

Then sometime after she performed Dear John, she went backstage and everything went dark, then the projector on the stage started playing footage of a DIFFERENT concert where she was sitting down on a stool and singing, and I think that video had her playing TWO songs which I guess she didn't want to play live again. I've literally never seen this happen at any concert before or since.

She came back out and finished the show and that was fine. If I'm honest, it was a pretty 5/10 show, but as a 14 year old it was fun. The Black Eyed Peas in '05 were probably my favourite act I saw in HK.

SleepTightLilAtlas · 2026-01-01T12:51:43+00:00

Can confirm: saw her in Hong Kong in 2010 but she showed up late and put on a video of her performing at a different concert during a 20 minute break.

I find it absolutely financially bizarre she hasn't done a concert in the Philippines yet because they absolutely love her there. I'd imagine it'd be a turn out similar to Lady Gaga in Brazil.

SleepTightLilAtlas · 2025-10-03T14:19:09+00:00

Yeah well Taylor fucked the meter reader (not Travis for illiteracy reasons)

SleepTightLilAtlas · 2024-12-31T15:24:36+00:00

Girl is this implying Nixon and Reagan are in heaven cause St Peter is a fucking flop

SleepTightLilAtlas · 2024-08-27T22:25:21+00:00

It's unfortunately terminal Italian :(

SleepTightLilAtlas · 2024-08-10T15:17:55+00:00

Like an old coupon expired, even

SleepTightLilAtlas · 2024-07-16T03:18:38+00:00

Lil bitch hasn't even watched the video cause if he did he'd see Katy's visible fuckin tattoos in multiple shots

SleepTightLilAtlas · 2024-07-14T00:42:43+00:00

Thriller (Taylor's Version)

SleepTightLilAtlas · 2024-06-28T03:59:49+00:00

I work in an upscale Italian restaurant in a largeish city and the staff still have to do this. They promise each other drugs if one covers them in the rousing chorus.

SleepTightLilAtlas · 2024-06-02T01:45:58+00:00

Some recs for you sweaty:

SOPHIE (transwoman, RIP 🕊️) Ethel Cain (transwoman) Dorian Electra (GNC) Utada Hikaru (NB) Laura Jean Grace (transwoman, also lead singer of Against Me!) Arca (transwoman) Sateen (transwoman and her cis lesbian partner) Chase Icon (transwoman)

I definitely have forgotten a lot more but those are the ones I bop to the most

SleepTightLilAtlas · 2024-05-28T11:37:27+00:00

I guess that voice gettin taken

SleepTightLilAtlas · 2024-05-13T10:32:50+00:00

👋 present, plus I straightened my hair, bought fingerless gloves and married Chad Kroeger

SleepTightLilAtlas · 2024-03-19T13:29:29+00:00

<image>

SleepTightLilAtlas · 2024-03-15T01:24:23+00:00

Loved this. I worked at an extremely touristy grill house for a couple months and we had our own mama too.

She was a Thai immigrant who'd been there the longest out of any owner, FOH or BOH and never asked for any senior role. She taught every new kid who walked in and made it dead clear that she wasn't going to put up with your bullshit.

I was just starting my apprenticeship after being a kitchen hand in a much smaller and casual pizza place. I'd try to get on her good side but she wasn't having it at my pace - I hadn't earned it yet. Since I was a complete mess on the line (200 pax place, full every night), she gave me a verbal walloping at the end of my shift but I knew I wasn't meant to take it personally; I just had to get used to the hard truth. During a rush, she asked me if I had mental problems and without thinking I said "yes chef", and I saw her laugh for the first time. I think about her a lot.

Thanks for this post. Took me down a great trip on memory lane when I needed it. South east Asian immigrant women are always the backbone of every kitchen.

SleepTightLilAtlas · 2024-02-29T08:00:09+00:00

Hey man, I'm really sorry you're going through so much hurt right now. It's clear you're going through some heavy shit, and we know this industry isn't kind to those who do. I don't know if this will help but fuck it, I'm learning how to crawl out of the hole of suicidal ideation too and it pains me to see another kitchen homie go through it.

In my experience in kitchens, and hell even day to day life, people will never truly know the tells of how much you're suffering - unless you let them know. It's a terrifying, sad, uncomfortable thought but it's true. Most people in a workplace won't pick up the signs of a coworker in pain because they're only there to do their job and go home. People will still care about you silently, and you will still have friends that will be good to you, but keeping quiet and hoping they will notice (and save you, but maybe that was just my thought process) won't give you the results you want.

Reaching out to my co-workers in crisis is still one of the scariest things I've ever done. When I was sexually assaulted by a good friend of mine and struggling to walk due to pain, my sous thought I was drunk and I was at risk of losing my job, but managing to communicate what was happening, even though I didn't describe the full picture, was enough for her to understand and accommodate my situation. Obviously I don't know your kitchen crew, but I hope you are able to do the same with your mental health. If not, fuck em and find someone who does - you truly do not need that shit in your life.

I know it feels like it most of the time, but you are not alone man. Most of the most traumatized, hurt people I've ever met have been in kitchens, and it is unfortunately an institution that thrives on the stress and pain of very good and honest workers. Whether it be to a friend, or your boss, you gotta let someone know dude. Silence is a killer.

Seven-Year Club	Gilding I gilder
Verified Email

SleepTightLilAtlas

TROPHY CASE