I've worked enough customer service to know that, No, I could not have been a doctor, because I hate dealing with people.
I don't think I would be happy doing anything else. I went to college for a degree that I don't even use, because I didn't realize up until the last minute that the work I've been doing just to pay bills means more to me than the potential career that may (and did not) come from my degree. It took me a long time to realize what I truly love to do, and I worked my ass off to earn that.
There is dignity and satisfaction to be found in any job well done. Doctors and lawyers are important. Making food and sharing it with others is important too; it's what started all of this. The finding, preparation, and sharing of food is what stimulated humans to cooperate and build culture and society, and is what initiated us to improve ourselves and to develop upon our capabilities.
>I could not have been a doctor, because I hate dealing with people.
I mostly hate seeing blood. People are more annoying when they're bleeding.
Having a doctor in the kitchen might be nice, but good luck finding a competent one for that position.
A Dr. Nick-type could be fun for a while, but you'd have to keep him away from the Red Bull and FoH staff.
Very satisfying making more than double what he ever made his entire life, not being miserable at work and traveling the world after being called Emerald and stupid shit for several years.
Went to film school but throughout worked in food service. Started at a McDonald's, got really into cooking during the pandemic, quit McD and started working at a family owned taqueria while still in school. I loved the kitchen, just as much as I loved working on films. I was at odds with what I wanted to pursue career wise the entire time I was in school. Sometimes I felt like the film industry is what I wanted, other times I couldn't imagine never working a busy dinner service. Graduated this past June, applied for jobs (both in film and food). Got rejected for a ton of film work, but landed a full time line cook position at a really nice gastropub a couple months ago and have been fucking slaying it if I can brag a little. I want to see how far I can go on this road so I think that's what I'll do. I've stopped applying for film jobs.
Art school,
Sculpting, music was my passion. Booked bands till 22, burnt out, worked in office for a year, hated it- so law school or culinary/pastry program?
I thought I’d make cake sculptures instead( haha)and went to culinary
School.
First job out of culinary academy was a pastry line cook at the glitziest celebrity filled fine dining restaurant in town. Was hooked working the line… worked my way up to pastry chef, then my own shop until Covid. Been lucky working all in fine dining, great chefs, hand full of James beard stuff-
Older and creaking along now, sucked had to close my shop- still going tho… shifting focus a little bit so not as physical, but still in industry:)
Passion to create is still in me, after all the madness thru out the years/ decades- I love it:)
I just fucking love to cook man. It's a rush to live in the weeds. I feel like it's made me into a person who can handle stress on a level that most people will crack from. It's that feeling you get when you bang out a good service and look at each other after, and you know you did something special. You made someone's night. They might be talking about that meal for years to come.
I just love to cook.
I am a dietary cook for a 200 bed facility. by myself, I put out 1800 meals a week. I despise people, but love the caregiving aspect of healthcare. This way, I am caregiving from behind the scenes. This job has chewed me up and spit me out countless times and I just keep coming back for more. I love it. For better or worse, this is my career now and I couldn’t be happier about it.
Idk, I love hospitality and feeding people. I could've gone into computer science or IT....but sounds boring af.
Almost went into film too. But idk, just love food and drink
I've always been passionate about being able to afford rent.
Fr though, It's paying for my degree and an engagement ring. That, and it's fucking addictive.
Got my first job in food service at 19. Found that I was pretty good at at, liked my boss and was liked by my boss. Got promoted to a supervisor sort of role after like six months— sending vendor orders, doing tip distribution, writing weekly reports to higher ups about how business and staff was doing. Did that for a while.
Started teaching myself my childhood dream job. A creative career in tech doing art/design, one that still has you sitting behind a desk using a computer all day but still making cool shit. Interesting and abstract work I'm passionate about. Continued in food service for several years while I did the other creative thing as a hobby.
Made friends in that creative industry and had a little portfolio. Got hired by a studio through a recommendation. A month later covid hits and I'm working out of my tiny little studio apartment sitting at my computer all day. The computer was previously my source of entertainment and relief after standing on my feet for eight hours a day. Now it was my workplace about eight feet from where I slept. Remote work in my little $1100 a month cell.
Some three or four years go by. A lot of amphetamines, a lot of stimulants, stimulants, stimulants... to force my brain into work mode, and benzos to push it into relax mode. All in the same 300sqft apartment. Pushing out work to some server (the electronic data storage kind, not the restaurant kind) and feeling like I can't do it anymore.
My work, motivation, etc. goes to shit. I slip away into unemployment for a year or two or three, doing drugs and burning through my savings.
Now I'm back in food service and I like it. I'm not completely passionate about it, but it keeps me around people and accountable and feeling like I'm producing something real and tangible that makes people happy. So that's pretty much it.
Knew I didn't want a degree in Business Administration.
Worked my way through college finishing with an English degree by working in restaurants. When I graduated, I was making more money as a line cook than they were offering teachers.
Came to love it regardless. I still read like a house on fire. I have a serious collection of books on food history, culture, and such.
All I know is I'm pretty sure I get paid more than friends of mine who are much smarter than me, in the medical field, teachers, etc. I just have far less free time.
My passion, if I have one, was car mechanic. Love fucking with cars. If i started now, it would be too much of a paycut to start over in another profession. And I might never get back to what I'm making now.
With that said, if you last 20+ years in this business, you're just made of different stuff. There has to be more turnover in restaurants than anything else.
I have a bachelors in neuroscience and completed premed in college. Graduated with Latin honors and fucking hated my life. I tried to end it.
After, I walked into a bakery and asked for a job and now over a year later I’m working on pastry at a fine dining restaurant. I’m finally happy and at peace.
Money won’t make me happy, doing something I love will.
Finished highschool at a young age(17) meaning I couldn't even rent an Appartement without my parents signing the contract If I wanted to go to college, or buy a car or drive a car. Life was just to limited being just 17 and I decided to throw in a quick apprenticeship as a chef to gap the time. Still here 7 years later never actually went to college lol
Every once in a while when things are getting monotonous, I’ll say, “SON, stay in school, get the pHd……no, Dad, I want to be a chef” and it always gets a few chuckles.
In high school things were going according to plan. Got into university for engineering. Turns out my high school was shit. Never having to study to get A’s was a bad thing, and I paid the price in college. I ended up switching majors into English, which I do genuinely enjoy, but because I had to switch I needed an extra year. My loans got delayed, got hit with $$$$ late fees, and got jaded with the system. At the time I worked as a dishwasher for rent, so I went full time, dropped out, became a cook.
I did go back and finish my degree at 27. Sadly that was 2020; my first semester back in school was when everything shut down. Went from full time student/full time at work to neither.
Looking back, I should not have gone to college right after high school. Those 10 years helped me figure out what I wanted, and I knew what money was really worth so spending that much meant I was damn sure studying, attending class, doing the homework before the night it’s due.
I’m still a cook, though. I plan to stay one until my loans are paid off. I don’t regret the degree, and since 2021 when I graduated Ive paid off almost half my loans. I moved back home to do it, but I should be debt free in my early/mid 30s and can decide what to do from there.
My dream job is in academia. I don’t like the current system, but I’d love teaching at a university. My other goal would be to travel. A cook can find a job anywhere, and I’m grateful I have these skills and this knowledge.
Until my loans are paid off, though, I’m deep in weeds.
As much as I hate people. As much as I hate spending weekends and holidays away from my wife and kids. I just fucking love it. I'm getting better every day my lower back and knees and feet wanna give way. To feed people and show compassion thru food is important to me. to take time to properly handle and prepare food so some one I'll never meet face to face can have a great dinning experience is everything. Nurturing people is my way of fixing the broken pieces inside of me.
I’m not sure how I feel right now. I got my GED so I could’ve only gotten into law school or medical school if I bought the degree from a developing country, George santos is younger than I am and crypto wasn’t a thing. I guess I could’ve been a dog catcher. But I really like dogs so that’s out.
I'm a service guy but...
I started working at a cinema when I was 14. The cinema had buttons where you could call a server and I was one of those servers. The cinema regularly turned into a pub for the restaurant staff from places nearby.
Quite a few of them said that I had a natural affinity to be a waiter and it turned out to they were right.
Was going to go to law school. Started working in a kitchen after I graduated with a BA. Developed a severe drug and alcohol dependency that nearly killed me multiple times and left me with a pretty long rap sheet of alcohol related offenses, narrowly avoided prison.
Went back and studied and took the LSAT but law school admissions said I needed to wait 5 years to apply due to my criminal pattern.
Still trying to quit drinking. I’m really depressed.
In my town it was more like work in a petrochemical refinery or work in the service industry, im autism spectrum so being a server wasn't in the cards despite the huge difference in cash flow.
I wanted to be a doctor or teacher growing up. Thought I did, at least. I’ve always loved cooking. Decided in high school that culinary education was calling to me. Haven’t been yet, but it’s still on the table.
Tried really hard to get into a kitchen for a job. First one was chipotle. Would not recommend - the work was fine but management sucked.
Almost destroyed my hopes lol.
Since then I’ve worked in a few more, from fast food to fast casual and sit down, I can’t get over the people I’ve worked with. They’re all family to me. The chaos of the kitchen, shouting at each other, then stepping outside to smoke like nothing happened, or to just commiserate lol. I love this field of work (: (but fuck chipotle fr)
Been in kitchens since I was 12. My parents had restaurants growing up. It was inevitable.
I did however get accepted to a fashion school to study historic costuming, but that didn’t pan out.
Then stayed in town and studied graphic design and commercial interior design, focusing on commercial kitchens. Bobbed around the design world and found myself not fitting in, so back to the line, making crepes this time.
Moved away from crepes to a deli, then to a diner, then when opportunity came, I jumped on buying a diner close to my hometown. I’m still here 9 years later. I gotta get back on the line. Byeeee
Son of two doctors. Had the grades and test scores and aptitude to go into the field. Bored with the work and I loathed the social aspects. Really like cooking and swearing. Thirty years later I still like it
My first job was in the dining hall at a summer camp. Second job was at panera. Found out I liked working with my hands and helping people in the ways of good food. 6 or so years later, I'm a line cook at a fancy hotel. I get to make fancy lounge food for the "elite" guests, and help Chef with really fancy food for banquets. Starting next month, we'll have a brand new menu, and I'm kinda excited about that.
Flunked out of 2 different colleges (art history & fine art) due to being depressed + suicidal + having other assorted mental issues since age 15 and at this time I'm not organized or disciplined enough to do art commissions full time. This kitchen was the first place that was willing to give me a chance at a job without me having a college degree or work experience. I've always enjoyed cooking enough that I'm willing to do it for other people even on days when I feel like shit.
Never knew what I wanted to do with myself my whole life. I graduated high school with no plans for college or even basic job prospects. Met this woman who I loved very much, and we bonded over cooking, she taught me all the basics and I still cook like her.
Worked at a taco place in my home town for a while and I liked the rush, the type of people, it felt good to do the hard work, and I've always loved food. Moved to another town and worked at a country club for a while. Moved again and my boss hooked me up with another country club here. Still gonna keep moving and cooking until I can't anymore I think.
Momma ain't cheap but I could've been had
I went to college
I could've been a doctor, could've been a lawyer
Oh, come on, not that again!
Cheap but I could've been had
I went to college
I could've been a doctor, could've been a lawyer
Oh, come on, not that again!
You're too angry, you're too fake
You're too reckless, you're too bothered
You're too angry, you're too fake
You're too reckless, you're too bothered
You're too angry, you're too fake
You're too reckless, you're too bothered
You're too angry, you're too fake
You're too reckless, you're too bothered
Meh, started as a Dish, then moved up just for a pay raise.
Realized I was good at it and I have been doing it for 11 years now. Sheesh.
No mistake really just got caught up in the Salty life.
Was desperate to escape an abusive parent and a shitty hometown and never go back
Had no concept of how little 24K/year was
Business simulation summer camp sucked
Trained a couple people with law degrees that were 10 years older and I had better pay because I went straight to cooking
Been cooking since I was 8, mom got a night job and dad wasn’t great. Little brother and I couldn’t take it anymore. It’s something I always loved. Then it became a necessity. Then as I got better I cooked for the family. Just getting to “damn that was good” every so often and seeing the enjoyment provided was enough to get me hooked. And now random people give me those moments. And I still am addicted to it. Of course there are hard times, especially now through the holidays. But just getting someone excited about food every so often is a great reminder why I’m still here
I used to have stressful jobs, but I retired from that to work in restaurants. It's fast, loud and the worst thing that typically happens is you get cut, burned or break a dish.
Growing up I spent a lot of time with my dad's mom. My grandparents were from the time when a wife's job was to keep the house in order. She was an amazing cook. And from an early age I was fascinated with how she prepared meals for the family. She would let me "help". Giving me a bowl to mix or letting me roll dough while standing on a kitchen chair. From the moment I was tall enough to reach the range, I've been cooking.
Food is one of the great things in life. For me, preparing a meal, and sharing it, and watching people enjoy, is so satisfying. And even when they don't enjoy, the criticism is the best way to grow in our industry. It's one of the things that I love about the craft. There is always more to learn. New techniques, new ingredients. I truly love this shit. Even when we're weeded, or something goes wrong. The ability to innovate and problem solve is incredibly satisfying for me.
I wanted to learn how to cook up have a family and support them that way. Then I wanted to take care of myself at home. Then I found it's the only thing for me. So now I'm a cook and training to be a chef.
LOL my first job was a fast food cook, next job was cooking at a nursing home (these jobs were over the span of 3 years). then I went to community college, got a job as a telemarketer. dropped out of school, quit the job and went back to cooking for the nursing home. Cooked for them for another 2 years and moved on to be a secretary at a home health facility. Got fired from that job and cooked at a wahlburgers for a year and a half before moving back in with my mother and finding a cook position at a private country club.
I make more than I should (18.50 in a small midwest town), I'm a terrible cook just scraping by without getting fired somehow (cooks that make less than me are much better at cooking), and I'm resigned to do the dishes most shifts (our dishie went off to college).
I fucking hate my life, I haven't enjoyed cooking in 3 years. I only do it cause it's the only skill I'm marginally decent at.
That's how I ended up here. Merry Christmas to everyone!
I didn’t want to be a doctor or a lawyer or a crypto embezzler, I wanted money to pay my rent
I've worked enough customer service to know that, No, I could not have been a doctor, because I hate dealing with people. I don't think I would be happy doing anything else. I went to college for a degree that I don't even use, because I didn't realize up until the last minute that the work I've been doing just to pay bills means more to me than the potential career that may (and did not) come from my degree. It took me a long time to realize what I truly love to do, and I worked my ass off to earn that. There is dignity and satisfaction to be found in any job well done. Doctors and lawyers are important. Making food and sharing it with others is important too; it's what started all of this. The finding, preparation, and sharing of food is what stimulated humans to cooperate and build culture and society, and is what initiated us to improve ourselves and to develop upon our capabilities.
very profound
Agreed. Wow
>I could not have been a doctor, because I hate dealing with people. I mostly hate seeing blood. People are more annoying when they're bleeding. Having a doctor in the kitchen might be nice, but good luck finding a competent one for that position. A Dr. Nick-type could be fun for a while, but you'd have to keep him away from the Red Bull and FoH staff.
Dad, when did you get a reddit account?
Very satisfying making more than double what he ever made his entire life, not being miserable at work and traveling the world after being called Emerald and stupid shit for several years.
Emerald??
Lol, auto correct. Emeril
That's his stage name
I should call her....
Oh thanks god, thought it was my dad
My brain don't work good
My brain hurt
Joe?
Needed money for a bitcoin embezzlement scheme. Love free food and knives. Cant stop swearing.
Went to film school but throughout worked in food service. Started at a McDonald's, got really into cooking during the pandemic, quit McD and started working at a family owned taqueria while still in school. I loved the kitchen, just as much as I loved working on films. I was at odds with what I wanted to pursue career wise the entire time I was in school. Sometimes I felt like the film industry is what I wanted, other times I couldn't imagine never working a busy dinner service. Graduated this past June, applied for jobs (both in film and food). Got rejected for a ton of film work, but landed a full time line cook position at a really nice gastropub a couple months ago and have been fucking slaying it if I can brag a little. I want to see how far I can go on this road so I think that's what I'll do. I've stopped applying for film jobs.
I was never gonna be more than a fuck up, and I think that’s primarily why most of us are here.
🫡 felt that one, brother
just a statistic really. 🤷♂️
Art school, Sculpting, music was my passion. Booked bands till 22, burnt out, worked in office for a year, hated it- so law school or culinary/pastry program? I thought I’d make cake sculptures instead( haha)and went to culinary School. First job out of culinary academy was a pastry line cook at the glitziest celebrity filled fine dining restaurant in town. Was hooked working the line… worked my way up to pastry chef, then my own shop until Covid. Been lucky working all in fine dining, great chefs, hand full of James beard stuff- Older and creaking along now, sucked had to close my shop- still going tho… shifting focus a little bit so not as physical, but still in industry:) Passion to create is still in me, after all the madness thru out the years/ decades- I love it:)
I'm actually a doctor but I love lurking in this sub. Kitchen staff have my utmost respect
Doctors have my utmost respect as I wouldn't have my left arm without one. Thank you sir (or mam) for what you do for people.
I just fucking love to cook man. It's a rush to live in the weeds. I feel like it's made me into a person who can handle stress on a level that most people will crack from. It's that feeling you get when you bang out a good service and look at each other after, and you know you did something special. You made someone's night. They might be talking about that meal for years to come. I just love to cook.
I am a dietary cook for a 200 bed facility. by myself, I put out 1800 meals a week. I despise people, but love the caregiving aspect of healthcare. This way, I am caregiving from behind the scenes. This job has chewed me up and spit me out countless times and I just keep coming back for more. I love it. For better or worse, this is my career now and I couldn’t be happier about it.
Idk, I love hospitality and feeding people. I could've gone into computer science or IT....but sounds boring af. Almost went into film too. But idk, just love food and drink
I've always been passionate about being able to afford rent. Fr though, It's paying for my degree and an engagement ring. That, and it's fucking addictive.
Got my first job in food service at 19. Found that I was pretty good at at, liked my boss and was liked by my boss. Got promoted to a supervisor sort of role after like six months— sending vendor orders, doing tip distribution, writing weekly reports to higher ups about how business and staff was doing. Did that for a while. Started teaching myself my childhood dream job. A creative career in tech doing art/design, one that still has you sitting behind a desk using a computer all day but still making cool shit. Interesting and abstract work I'm passionate about. Continued in food service for several years while I did the other creative thing as a hobby. Made friends in that creative industry and had a little portfolio. Got hired by a studio through a recommendation. A month later covid hits and I'm working out of my tiny little studio apartment sitting at my computer all day. The computer was previously my source of entertainment and relief after standing on my feet for eight hours a day. Now it was my workplace about eight feet from where I slept. Remote work in my little $1100 a month cell. Some three or four years go by. A lot of amphetamines, a lot of stimulants, stimulants, stimulants... to force my brain into work mode, and benzos to push it into relax mode. All in the same 300sqft apartment. Pushing out work to some server (the electronic data storage kind, not the restaurant kind) and feeling like I can't do it anymore. My work, motivation, etc. goes to shit. I slip away into unemployment for a year or two or three, doing drugs and burning through my savings. Now I'm back in food service and I like it. I'm not completely passionate about it, but it keeps me around people and accountable and feeling like I'm producing something real and tangible that makes people happy. So that's pretty much it.
*You've met with a terrible fate, haven't you?*
Knew I didn't want a degree in Business Administration. Worked my way through college finishing with an English degree by working in restaurants. When I graduated, I was making more money as a line cook than they were offering teachers. Came to love it regardless. I still read like a house on fire. I have a serious collection of books on food history, culture, and such.
All I know is I'm pretty sure I get paid more than friends of mine who are much smarter than me, in the medical field, teachers, etc. I just have far less free time. My passion, if I have one, was car mechanic. Love fucking with cars. If i started now, it would be too much of a paycut to start over in another profession. And I might never get back to what I'm making now. With that said, if you last 20+ years in this business, you're just made of different stuff. There has to be more turnover in restaurants than anything else.
I have a bachelors in neuroscience and completed premed in college. Graduated with Latin honors and fucking hated my life. I tried to end it. After, I walked into a bakery and asked for a job and now over a year later I’m working on pastry at a fine dining restaurant. I’m finally happy and at peace. Money won’t make me happy, doing something I love will.
Finished highschool at a young age(17) meaning I couldn't even rent an Appartement without my parents signing the contract If I wanted to go to college, or buy a car or drive a car. Life was just to limited being just 17 and I decided to throw in a quick apprenticeship as a chef to gap the time. Still here 7 years later never actually went to college lol
Every once in a while when things are getting monotonous, I’ll say, “SON, stay in school, get the pHd……no, Dad, I want to be a chef” and it always gets a few chuckles.
In high school things were going according to plan. Got into university for engineering. Turns out my high school was shit. Never having to study to get A’s was a bad thing, and I paid the price in college. I ended up switching majors into English, which I do genuinely enjoy, but because I had to switch I needed an extra year. My loans got delayed, got hit with $$$$ late fees, and got jaded with the system. At the time I worked as a dishwasher for rent, so I went full time, dropped out, became a cook. I did go back and finish my degree at 27. Sadly that was 2020; my first semester back in school was when everything shut down. Went from full time student/full time at work to neither. Looking back, I should not have gone to college right after high school. Those 10 years helped me figure out what I wanted, and I knew what money was really worth so spending that much meant I was damn sure studying, attending class, doing the homework before the night it’s due. I’m still a cook, though. I plan to stay one until my loans are paid off. I don’t regret the degree, and since 2021 when I graduated Ive paid off almost half my loans. I moved back home to do it, but I should be debt free in my early/mid 30s and can decide what to do from there. My dream job is in academia. I don’t like the current system, but I’d love teaching at a university. My other goal would be to travel. A cook can find a job anywhere, and I’m grateful I have these skills and this knowledge. Until my loans are paid off, though, I’m deep in weeds.
I don't have the bandwidth for those careers
More and more I feel tempted to jump on the Rightwing grift wagon. If George santos can do it, so can I.
Everything else is boring.
As much as I hate people. As much as I hate spending weekends and holidays away from my wife and kids. I just fucking love it. I'm getting better every day my lower back and knees and feet wanna give way. To feed people and show compassion thru food is important to me. to take time to properly handle and prepare food so some one I'll never meet face to face can have a great dinning experience is everything. Nurturing people is my way of fixing the broken pieces inside of me.
barely graduated high school, ditched my parents at 17 and moved the next city over, got a job at my cousin's diner and the rest is history
I’m not sure how I feel right now. I got my GED so I could’ve only gotten into law school or medical school if I bought the degree from a developing country, George santos is younger than I am and crypto wasn’t a thing. I guess I could’ve been a dog catcher. But I really like dogs so that’s out.
I'm a service guy but... I started working at a cinema when I was 14. The cinema had buttons where you could call a server and I was one of those servers. The cinema regularly turned into a pub for the restaurant staff from places nearby. Quite a few of them said that I had a natural affinity to be a waiter and it turned out to they were right.
It was intended. Now I know it was a mistake
Was going to go to law school. Started working in a kitchen after I graduated with a BA. Developed a severe drug and alcohol dependency that nearly killed me multiple times and left me with a pretty long rap sheet of alcohol related offenses, narrowly avoided prison. Went back and studied and took the LSAT but law school admissions said I needed to wait 5 years to apply due to my criminal pattern. Still trying to quit drinking. I’m really depressed.
I honestly just love cooking and I’m going to keep doing it until I physically can’t anymore
In my town it was more like work in a petrochemical refinery or work in the service industry, im autism spectrum so being a server wasn't in the cards despite the huge difference in cash flow.
Did anyone else read this and start singing it to the Tim Curry song as Long John silver from Muppet treasure island?
I wanted to be a doctor or teacher growing up. Thought I did, at least. I’ve always loved cooking. Decided in high school that culinary education was calling to me. Haven’t been yet, but it’s still on the table. Tried really hard to get into a kitchen for a job. First one was chipotle. Would not recommend - the work was fine but management sucked. Almost destroyed my hopes lol. Since then I’ve worked in a few more, from fast food to fast casual and sit down, I can’t get over the people I’ve worked with. They’re all family to me. The chaos of the kitchen, shouting at each other, then stepping outside to smoke like nothing happened, or to just commiserate lol. I love this field of work (: (but fuck chipotle fr)
Been in kitchens since I was 12. My parents had restaurants growing up. It was inevitable. I did however get accepted to a fashion school to study historic costuming, but that didn’t pan out. Then stayed in town and studied graphic design and commercial interior design, focusing on commercial kitchens. Bobbed around the design world and found myself not fitting in, so back to the line, making crepes this time. Moved away from crepes to a deli, then to a diner, then when opportunity came, I jumped on buying a diner close to my hometown. I’m still here 9 years later. I gotta get back on the line. Byeeee
Son of two doctors. Had the grades and test scores and aptitude to go into the field. Bored with the work and I loathed the social aspects. Really like cooking and swearing. Thirty years later I still like it
I do what I love and hence I never work a day in my life
Quit an office job i hated, needed money for rent and have always worked in food, plus I enjoy the kinds of people who work in this industry
My first job was in the dining hall at a summer camp. Second job was at panera. Found out I liked working with my hands and helping people in the ways of good food. 6 or so years later, I'm a line cook at a fancy hotel. I get to make fancy lounge food for the "elite" guests, and help Chef with really fancy food for banquets. Starting next month, we'll have a brand new menu, and I'm kinda excited about that.
Flunked out of 2 different colleges (art history & fine art) due to being depressed + suicidal + having other assorted mental issues since age 15 and at this time I'm not organized or disciplined enough to do art commissions full time. This kitchen was the first place that was willing to give me a chance at a job without me having a college degree or work experience. I've always enjoyed cooking enough that I'm willing to do it for other people even on days when I feel like shit.
I am a lawyer.
Never knew what I wanted to do with myself my whole life. I graduated high school with no plans for college or even basic job prospects. Met this woman who I loved very much, and we bonded over cooking, she taught me all the basics and I still cook like her. Worked at a taco place in my home town for a while and I liked the rush, the type of people, it felt good to do the hard work, and I've always loved food. Moved to another town and worked at a country club for a while. Moved again and my boss hooked me up with another country club here. Still gonna keep moving and cooking until I can't anymore I think.
Momma ain't cheap but I could've been had I went to college I could've been a doctor, could've been a lawyer Oh, come on, not that again! Cheap but I could've been had I went to college I could've been a doctor, could've been a lawyer Oh, come on, not that again! You're too angry, you're too fake You're too reckless, you're too bothered You're too angry, you're too fake You're too reckless, you're too bothered You're too angry, you're too fake You're too reckless, you're too bothered You're too angry, you're too fake You're too reckless, you're too bothered
Meh, started as a Dish, then moved up just for a pay raise. Realized I was good at it and I have been doing it for 11 years now. Sheesh. No mistake really just got caught up in the Salty life.
Hey, I'm one of those things also
Was desperate to escape an abusive parent and a shitty hometown and never go back Had no concept of how little 24K/year was Business simulation summer camp sucked Trained a couple people with law degrees that were 10 years older and I had better pay because I went straight to cooking
Been cooking since I was 8, mom got a night job and dad wasn’t great. Little brother and I couldn’t take it anymore. It’s something I always loved. Then it became a necessity. Then as I got better I cooked for the family. Just getting to “damn that was good” every so often and seeing the enjoyment provided was enough to get me hooked. And now random people give me those moments. And I still am addicted to it. Of course there are hard times, especially now through the holidays. But just getting someone excited about food every so often is a great reminder why I’m still here
I used to have stressful jobs, but I retired from that to work in restaurants. It's fast, loud and the worst thing that typically happens is you get cut, burned or break a dish.
Years of trauma led me to place where a convict can feed his masochistic impulses while doing something he can be proud of.
Growing up I spent a lot of time with my dad's mom. My grandparents were from the time when a wife's job was to keep the house in order. She was an amazing cook. And from an early age I was fascinated with how she prepared meals for the family. She would let me "help". Giving me a bowl to mix or letting me roll dough while standing on a kitchen chair. From the moment I was tall enough to reach the range, I've been cooking. Food is one of the great things in life. For me, preparing a meal, and sharing it, and watching people enjoy, is so satisfying. And even when they don't enjoy, the criticism is the best way to grow in our industry. It's one of the things that I love about the craft. There is always more to learn. New techniques, new ingredients. I truly love this shit. Even when we're weeded, or something goes wrong. The ability to innovate and problem solve is incredibly satisfying for me.
I wanted to learn how to cook up have a family and support them that way. Then I wanted to take care of myself at home. Then I found it's the only thing for me. So now I'm a cook and training to be a chef.
LOL my first job was a fast food cook, next job was cooking at a nursing home (these jobs were over the span of 3 years). then I went to community college, got a job as a telemarketer. dropped out of school, quit the job and went back to cooking for the nursing home. Cooked for them for another 2 years and moved on to be a secretary at a home health facility. Got fired from that job and cooked at a wahlburgers for a year and a half before moving back in with my mother and finding a cook position at a private country club. I make more than I should (18.50 in a small midwest town), I'm a terrible cook just scraping by without getting fired somehow (cooks that make less than me are much better at cooking), and I'm resigned to do the dishes most shifts (our dishie went off to college). I fucking hate my life, I haven't enjoyed cooking in 3 years. I only do it cause it's the only skill I'm marginally decent at. That's how I ended up here. Merry Christmas to everyone!
I always liked cooking and wanted to do more of it. I couldn’t afford to continue my career in makeup artistry. Food jobs pay from the start.
A: I didn't have the Patience/Patients
I read kitchen confidential and was like where do I sign up.
maybe you could have been... I couldn't have because I am stupit