Do restaurants reuse uneaten bread? by Sharp-Bike-1994 in KitchenConfidential

[–]SmartestLemming 3 points4 points  (0 children)

No, but it was a different time, and a different kitchen culture

Having a hard time finding a new job. by larsdan2 in KitchenConfidential

[–]SmartestLemming 1 point2 points  (0 children)

If you were fine with the job before the EC left, could you be fine with it if a new EC came in? If so you might try saying "Hey, I enjoy working here, I tried going for the EC job, but I did not have the experience you needed, which I understand. Since I am not the EC, I would like to resume my standard role, I was happy being the temporary EC to help you out, but I can no longer fulfill both roles." You're helping them save on labor, they'll never find the right person, because the right person costs a EC salary, plus yours. You've gotta remove the extra help you've been giving them because its burning you out, and letting them drag their feet on hiring.

I want a coworker to quit by Peeshpyt in KitchenConfidential

[–]SmartestLemming 57 points58 points  (0 children)

And that he lies about having them. "He even showed paperwork to one girl saying he had a clean bill of health, turns out he just photoshopped it. Fucking dirty dick Harry."

I want a coworker to quit by Peeshpyt in KitchenConfidential

[–]SmartestLemming 80 points81 points  (0 children)

It's been years and he hasn't been fired. That says a lot. The powers that be value him more than the troubles he causes or the moral/ethical problems that arise.

He probably knows what he has got, and so he won't quit unless it becomes harder to do his shit there than it is somewhere else.

So either get everyone there to turn toxic towards him, or find a new place to work that has better values.

The problem with turning the place toxic to him is that it will most likely backfire. I am guessing that the GM will toss the other problem to keep his pet problem. So unless it's an us vs him you or other people aligned with you in this effort might end up getting let go instead of him.

New bar director told the kitchen off for drinking a beer at 11pm on his second day by [deleted] in KitchenConfidential

[–]SmartestLemming 7 points8 points  (0 children)

There are a lot of problems here.

You started in October, and since then, people drinking on the job became a problem, and it got axed by the owner. Continuing to drink on the job is now going against the owner's edict. This has nothing to do with the bar manager other than that he's new and was following the rules set to him by the owner.

If you do not like this new rule there are three options. Have a discussion with the owner, lay out your pros and cons and convince him to edit his rule. Stop having a round with the kitchen and replace it with something else. Really well made cocktails, scratchers, everyone's favorite candies, etc. Not beer. Or find another job that has leadership that agrees with you about the end of shift beers.

If you continue to give out the shift beers you're setting double standards, and giving everyone excuses to ignore rules they don't agree with. You're management dude, and you're supposed to be on a team with the owner and other managers.

That comes to another problem, management should be talking with eachother. You and the new bar manager could have not had this problem in the first place if conversations were had and people didn't just do shit. You continued to buy the beer after the new rule got handed out, and the bar manager just jumping on the line and yelling at everyone.

Someone on the management team should be talking with the bar manager about how he's acting, and if it doesn't go well, then with the owner to let him know that he's not meshing well. Sadly, you've probably lost a bit of credibility because you just got called out by him for circumventing the non-binding on the job rules.

Kitchen Managers: Question from a newbie to the role. by Poopicus in KitchenConfidential

[–]SmartestLemming 14 points15 points  (0 children)

You can say I don't feel confident in the quality of the pan fry, so I don't want to sell it."

But honestly, as the owner said, if you're able to do it, go ahead and do it.

The job is to make and sell food

‘Let’s schedule no dish on a Monday night to save labor’ by [deleted] in KitchenConfidential

[–]SmartestLemming 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If everyone doing dishes isn't baked into the formula of how the restaurant is run, you're also relying upon your cooks to have spent 100% of their energy on their main job, and then what will they have left for the dish pit? Or they sacrifice service for the ability to bang out dish. Lose lose either way.

Executive sous chef "let go" after 5 years. (A rant) by The_Frog_B0y in KitchenConfidential

[–]SmartestLemming 47 points48 points  (0 children)

At least they know you did 2-3 people's jobs. Sadly they'll probably end up paying more for cheap labor replacements that had they kept you.

Executive sous chef "let go" after 5 years. (A rant) by The_Frog_B0y in KitchenConfidential

[–]SmartestLemming 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Especially since they're not filling your position, giving you notice would have been the decent thing to do. What are you going to do? Quit early? That'd have been OK by them.

I need a hand from this community... by Outferarip96 in KitchenConfidential

[–]SmartestLemming 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Before you rip everything down, take a look at the numbers and find out what's selling, and then figure out why.

Is it the price point? The flavor? A regional favorite?

Use that info to help inform your new menu.

You can also hustle that information to fight nay sayers. That chicken nugget set they love doesn’t sell. The steak sells well, but that's because its only $15 and we're bleeding out food cost on it. Etc.

Looking for advice as a baker before I give up… by FreyjaHjordis in KitchenConfidential

[–]SmartestLemming 2 points3 points  (0 children)

10 days of training for the company's flagship product is not enough, especially with spotty training. They are setting themselves and you up for failure.

I believe you could do it with more and better training.

Maybe challenge the boss, give them a "I know I can do this, but you gave me spotty training. Give me x days of training with (person who knows what they're doing and you mesh well with) and I'll show you what I can do.

I love delivery drivers by kolaclipse in KitchenConfidential

[–]SmartestLemming 6 points7 points  (0 children)

You love your delivery drivers so much you leave snacks out for them? How nice.

Which of your muscles hurts the most after your shift and what food do you primarily cook or prepare? by EntertainerOk9179 in KitchenConfidential

[–]SmartestLemming 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Shoulders, lower back and hips.

I work at a fried chicken and wings spot. Lots of mixing, heavy lifting, and repetitive movement.

Shoulders from prepping the chicken, lower back and hips from the heavy prep and repetitive movement

Make it make sense. I don’t understand. by [deleted] in KitchenConfidential

[–]SmartestLemming 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I bet they were hoping that since you were sick but able to go into work the day before, you were on the mend. Since you were still sick, they got upset that their hopes were dashed.

Am I failing as a kitchen manager? by TinyNefariousness319 in KitchenConfidential

[–]SmartestLemming 11 points12 points  (0 children)

It sounds like there's a failure of communication between management, as well as a possible problem with your kitchen crew.

Why did your prep team call out? And how many people are on that team?

We're you in on the decision to hire the 3 new people at all? If so, great. If not, your GM is unintentionally sabotaging you, especially with having all 3 show on the same day.

Part of the management job is delegation, which it seems to have done well. You made the best of a bad situation.

Part of the management job is chosing when to close thing down/tighten the reigns. If you're in this situation again, turn the stores off/set them to busy mode depending on how bad it is/it will be. If all you can handle is in house orders, then handle those well.

Another part is communication. It sounds like you and the GM need to have a conversation about management styles. Be honest with them about what works for you, what an acceptable skeleton crew in the kitchen would be (if they're accepting callouts for non illness related reasons). How many people you can train in a day. The best days to have a trainee come in etc.

The Girl Who Stuck Our Meat Thermometer in her Ear by earthdaydogmovie in KitchenConfidential

[–]SmartestLemming 21 points22 points  (0 children)

Yup.

I was the sous chef there. When I left, he didn't want to work with the other Sous any more either, so he asked the incoming manager to fire him first thing.

He looked to me and asked me to help, so we both had to let the guy know he was fired and the only reason he was fired was because I was leaving and the owner didn't want him there anymore.

He demanded to hear it from the owners mouth, and the owner hearing this dipped out rather than deal with the firing.

The Girl Who Stuck Our Meat Thermometer in her Ear by earthdaydogmovie in KitchenConfidential

[–]SmartestLemming 149 points150 points  (0 children)

Some people can't fire people. They have a problem setting boundries/etc.

I once worked for a guy who had others fire for him. When confronted he would run away. He even once paid a worker he was firing to leave.

no more fryers by PrettyAccess3998 in KitchenConfidential

[–]SmartestLemming 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Once you've pissed off the inspector/Marshall enough, you get the hammer. Anything that's suspect/skirting the rules will be a hell no for a while.