Self Important Chefs
Discussion
I'm getting pretty f
king sick of TV chefs and cookery programs building their part and hugely over dramatizing the process of cooking some food.
I'm sick of hearing about how much "pressure" there is and how "Stressful" the kitchen is and I am extra specially sick of these jumped up cooks shouting, swearing and hurling abuse at people who work for them.
Why don't you just take a step back and have a good, long hard look at yourself and your job.
You are not a front line soldier in Afghanistan/Iraq
You are not a member of the intelligence service working deep cover
You are not a surgeon literally holding the life of a child in your hands.
You are a fking cook. Get over yourself. I'm sick to death of it being portrayed as some hugely significant or important task - because in the scheme of things, it really isn't.
king sick of TV chefs and cookery programs building their part and hugely over dramatizing the process of cooking some food.I'm sick of hearing about how much "pressure" there is and how "Stressful" the kitchen is and I am extra specially sick of these jumped up cooks shouting, swearing and hurling abuse at people who work for them.
Why don't you just take a step back and have a good, long hard look at yourself and your job.
You are not a front line soldier in Afghanistan/Iraq
You are not a member of the intelligence service working deep cover
You are not a surgeon literally holding the life of a child in your hands.
You are a f
king cook. Get over yourself. I'm sick to death of it being portrayed as some hugely significant or important task - because in the scheme of things, it really isn't.
Lefty Guns said:
It's funny that generally the better the chef the nicer he/she is as a person.
Witness Michelle Roux Jr compared to the wenks that are Ramsay/Oliver/Worral-whatsit.
Michelle Roux Jnr comes across as much of a tWitness Michelle Roux Jr compared to the wenks that are Ramsay/Oliver/Worral-whatsit.
t as the others mentioned, his dad on the other hand seems like a very nice man.obob said:
Lefty Guns said:
It's funny that generally the better the chef the nicer he/she is as a person.
Witness Michelle Roux Jr compared to the wenks that are Ramsay/Oliver/Worral-whatsit.
Michelle Roux Jnr comes across as much of a tWitness Michelle Roux Jr compared to the wenks that are Ramsay/Oliver/Worral-whatsit.
t as the others mentioned, his dad on the other hand seems like a very nice man.t at all - he always seems respectful and quick to praise when he's on masterchef. His criticisms always seem constructive. All IMHO of course.
bazking69 said:
I guess the OP has never worked in a busy kitchen...
I haven't either, but I can appreciate the stress, heat and need for clear organisation in a busy working kitchen. Yes some of them act up a bit for the cameras, but who doesn't.
I have actually - after finishing university I worked in the kitchen for a busy town centre pub for 6 months and yes it can be a bit stressful when the tickets are piling up on a friday lunchtime - but I have encountered much much more stressful situations in jobs since - and I don't have what you could describe a stressful job.I haven't either, but I can appreciate the stress, heat and need for clear organisation in a busy working kitchen. Yes some of them act up a bit for the cameras, but who doesn't.
I'm not belittling the jobs that Chef's/Cooks do - I just find myself getting increasingly annoyed by the way it's portrayed in the media
Here's the thing about cooking - it's not that stressful. Worst thing that happends is that someone has to wait for their food, or they complain in some way about it. It can be a difficult and sometimes stressful job but what job isn't?
Nobody dies, nobody gets hurt, nobody even gets their day ruined. I just think that it's become incredibly self important - and shows like masterchef talk it up to ridiculous levels.
Stress - try working child protection for social services in some of Londons s
tholes like my brother has to. Taking sexually and physically abused children into care and away from hopeless heroin addict parentsOr doing foot patrols in Bazra and Hellmand like one of my oldest mates has/does - and having to collect bits of your colleagues in bags for re-patriation.
Forgetting to caramelise the top of a creme brule? Not really in the same ballpark is it?
Lefty Guns said:
It's funny that generally the better the chef the nicer he/she is as a person.
Witness Michelle Roux Jr compared to the wenks that are Ramsay/Oliver/Worral-whatsit.
Ramsay - 3 michelin starsWitness Michelle Roux Jr compared to the wenks that are Ramsay/Oliver/Worral-whatsit.
Roux Jr - 2 michelin stars
I agree with you on the point of Worral-Thompson though - utter plank.
Lefty Guns said:
You're right about his father, I don't think Jr is an tt at all - he always seems respectful and quick to praise when he's on masterchef. His criticisms always seem constructive.
Agreed. He has a career and reputation already, and doesn't need to rant and rave to get TV ratings.t at all - he always seems respectful and quick to praise when he's on masterchef. His criticisms always seem constructive.I can live with Ramsay because much of his rage is exasperation with people who don't meet the standard, but Marco Pierre White really does seem to be a very unpleasant man - and would probably be pleased to read it.
I don't understand why verbal abuse is not only accepted but seems to be lauded as some kind of trait that should be aspired to.
People wouldn't put up with it in other industries - I can't see why it seems to be a 'good thing' in cooking.
It just seems like Ramsey cannot cope with the stress levels of cooking some food and he's reduced to a obscenity screaming red faced walnut
People wouldn't put up with it in other industries - I can't see why it seems to be a 'good thing' in cooking.
It just seems like Ramsey cannot cope with the stress levels of cooking some food and he's reduced to a obscenity screaming red faced walnut
Mr Gearchange said:
I don't understand why verbal abuse is not only accepted but seems to be lauded as some kind of trait that should be aspired to.
People wouldn't put up with it in other industries - I can't see why it seems to be a 'good thing' in cooking.
It just seems like Ramsey cannot cope with the stress levels of cooking some food and he's reduced to a obscenity screaming red faced walnut
That's because someone nuttier than him trained himPeople wouldn't put up with it in other industries - I can't see why it seems to be a 'good thing' in cooking.
It just seems like Ramsey cannot cope with the stress levels of cooking some food and he's reduced to a obscenity screaming red faced walnut
http://news.scotsman.com/gordonramsay/I-made-Ramsa...
A like Mark Hix and Jason Atherton off the tv for chefs who seem to be a bit more relaxed .. are they in real life though?
Regards
Andy
Mr Gearchange said:
I don't understand why verbal abuse is not only accepted but seems to be lauded as some kind of trait that should be aspired to.
People wouldn't put up with it in other industries - I can't see why it seems to be a 'good thing' in cooking.
It just seems like Ramsey cannot cope with the stress levels of cooking some food and he's reduced to a obscenity screaming red faced walnut
Exactly, if someone spoke to you like that in an office you would launch them. Madness.People wouldn't put up with it in other industries - I can't see why it seems to be a 'good thing' in cooking.
It just seems like Ramsey cannot cope with the stress levels of cooking some food and he's reduced to a obscenity screaming red faced walnut
Mr Gearchange said:
I don't understand why verbal abuse is not only accepted but seems to be lauded as some kind of trait that should be aspired to.
People wouldn't put up with it in other industries - I can't see why it seems to be a 'good thing' in cooking.
It just seems like Ramsey cannot cope with the stress levels of cooking some food and he's reduced to a obscenity screaming red faced walnut
read Kitchen Confidential (by a real chef) and you'll get a better idea.People wouldn't put up with it in other industries - I can't see why it seems to be a 'good thing' in cooking.
It just seems like Ramsey cannot cope with the stress levels of cooking some food and he's reduced to a obscenity screaming red faced walnut
I agree with much of what is said here. I personally like Gordon Ramsey. I think he's a great chef, but mostly because he is very passionate about providing great food and service. He is also on a crusade to educate the public about food and get people back in the kitchen. Marco Pierre White is just a bloody imbecile, though.
I understand the stresses of it. Obviously you need to form a synergy in the kitchen to get everything done on-time and to the standard. Of course it has stresses. I do think the obscenity hurling is OTT, though. I wouldn't stand for it, and would tear them a new one if spoken to like that. As ex-military, I can definately say that the better, more respected officers were those who were calm and collected. Of course, that rightfully changes when the turd it's the fan in a storm of lead. I used to fly helos, the back of which were loaded with very hairy, very tough lads, ready to do untold damage and put their lives and limbs on the line. The officer amongst them was always very forceful and assertive, without having to be the screamer. That way, the screaming has the desired affect when the screaming starts when people are trying to light you up.
In short, sometimes urgency is required, but it seldom requires someone turning purple in the kitchen. The crap someone spouted, laughing at the fact that a kitchen is stressful clearly has no perspective. If you're a salesman and you struggle to hit targets, you get stressed. Nobody is going to die, though. As an engineer, you can't figure out a solution - the same. The same goes for any job which doesn't hold lives directly in their arms, surely.
It's just a matter of pride and wanting to do your job well. Perhaps those posters lack that ambition?
I understand the stresses of it. Obviously you need to form a synergy in the kitchen to get everything done on-time and to the standard. Of course it has stresses. I do think the obscenity hurling is OTT, though. I wouldn't stand for it, and would tear them a new one if spoken to like that. As ex-military, I can definately say that the better, more respected officers were those who were calm and collected. Of course, that rightfully changes when the turd it's the fan in a storm of lead. I used to fly helos, the back of which were loaded with very hairy, very tough lads, ready to do untold damage and put their lives and limbs on the line. The officer amongst them was always very forceful and assertive, without having to be the screamer. That way, the screaming has the desired affect when the screaming starts when people are trying to light you up.
In short, sometimes urgency is required, but it seldom requires someone turning purple in the kitchen. The crap someone spouted, laughing at the fact that a kitchen is stressful clearly has no perspective. If you're a salesman and you struggle to hit targets, you get stressed. Nobody is going to die, though. As an engineer, you can't figure out a solution - the same. The same goes for any job which doesn't hold lives directly in their arms, surely.
It's just a matter of pride and wanting to do your job well. Perhaps those posters lack that ambition?
Edited by Papoo on Thursday 24th September 19:24
I've never really understood why people in these top restaurants seem to think it's acceptable to scream, shout and stamp their feet when things get busy. I'd like to think it's playing up to the cameras, but I suspect the same thing happens with or without a film crew.
If you're getting stressed to the point of screaming and swearing at members of your own staff, there are a limited number of reasons as to why that may be:
- You're incompetent
- You've employed incompetent people
- You're understaffed
- You've let too many people into your restaurant at one time and overstretched your staff
Whatever the reason, as head chef, it's your fault. So, rather than screaming about it, STFU and sort it out.
No other industry would allow this sort of behaviour. Put it this way, a surgeon has to deal with hundreds of different procedures, countless variables and has people's lives in his hands. A chef has to follow a procedure, which, if done right, will produce the same result each time. Yet the chef is the one who feels justified in ranting and raving? Ramsey et al need to gain a bit of perspective. I appreciate it can be tough, but that's true of any job. Get over it and stop acting like prima donnas.
If you're getting stressed to the point of screaming and swearing at members of your own staff, there are a limited number of reasons as to why that may be:
- You're incompetent
- You've employed incompetent people
- You're understaffed
- You've let too many people into your restaurant at one time and overstretched your staff
Whatever the reason, as head chef, it's your fault. So, rather than screaming about it, STFU and sort it out.
No other industry would allow this sort of behaviour. Put it this way, a surgeon has to deal with hundreds of different procedures, countless variables and has people's lives in his hands. A chef has to follow a procedure, which, if done right, will produce the same result each time. Yet the chef is the one who feels justified in ranting and raving? Ramsey et al need to gain a bit of perspective. I appreciate it can be tough, but that's true of any job. Get over it and stop acting like prima donnas.
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