To kick off Chef Appreciation Week (a.k.a. our favorite holiday ever), we’re hosting a week of fun content, made just for chefs.
First up: we surveyed the kitchen crew to share their worst dining pet peeves!
Picky Eaters: We’ve all dealt with them – the ones that are “allergic” to cilantro, can’t eat butter, dairy, grains, legumes, or garlic, but would like a dish that features all those ingredients – with substitutions of course. PSA to picky eaters: we’re happy to accommodate your orders, just meet us halfway, please?
Uncomfortable Uniform Attire: Imagine working 16-hour days in an itchy, oversized box with buttons on it. Welcome to the stereotypical chef attire. If you’re still rocking the outdated, unflattering uniform, it’s time to up your game! Innovations in chef apparel technology mean lighter fabrics, slimmed down fits, and fashion-forward designs, so no need to don the drab duds – instead, swap your uniform for something decidedly comfier and face the kitchen in style!
Real Food Allergies Left Unsaid: Okay, if you’re really allergic to something, please let us know! Don’t wait until we bring out a dish we’ve toiled over for the better part of the evening only to say, “Oh does this have [insert allergy ingredient here], I can’t eat that.” We would much rather create or suggest an alternative dish that you’ll actually enjoy before your table orders.
Bad Kitchen Equipment: Chopping onions with a dull blade, shoddy pots and pans, sticky floors – all these things simply make our job harder. Please, invest in the good stuff – high-quality cutlery, odor-absorbing kitchen mats – oh yeah, and keep your station clean!
Salting Without Tasting: It’s literally our job to cook good food. So when a diner starts their meal by sprinkling it with salt – we literally can’t even. Chefs work long and hard to create a menu and develop a flavor palate that lets the dish shine – so give us a chance to make it great before reaching for the salt grinder. Pepper and red pepper flakes also apply.