Some cooks need to learn they are human......

It was Happy Hour, things were going as they usually do, a couple of guys ordered appetizers, which are half off during Happy Hour. One ordered a shrimp cocktail, which isn’t on the menu, but we certainly have the wherewithal to make it. Another ordered the scallop appetizer. When I went to pick up these orders from the kitchen, the cook was plating the scallops. You get three. (Hey, it’s an appetizer, not a meal) However, there were only two on the late. He had cooked three, but took it upon himself to decide that since it was half off, he should only serve two.

Whoa buddy! I told him I needed the third one put on the plate. He told me we would be losing money, since it was half off. Wait a minute! I told him it wasn’t my choice or his to sell these for half off during Happy Hour, and please put the third scallop on the plate. He didn’t want to do it. The manager finally had to intervene, and instructed him to put it on the plate. He did so, but very begrudgingly, and with much attitude. Hey! It wasn’t his decision to make, to control the portion size or rip off the customer!

I thought that was the end of it, until a little later on, the guy who ordered the shrimp cocktail told me that whenever he orders it, he always get 6 shrimp, last night there were only five on the plate. Now we gotta chat again. This cook is NOT the head chef! Besides that, it’s not the head chef’s decision either, it’s strictly up to the owner!

So all this makes me wonder….how early on do cooks start their arrogance training? This same cook also made a mistake on someone else’s order. Instead of manning up, and admitting he made a mistake, he blamed it on the server.

Just a word of advice…..the people you work with will have a lot more respect for you, if you just admit you made a mistake, and move on. We know we’re all human, and we all make mistakes. If you choose to continue to play the part of the arrogant hot shit cook, you’re just gonna make the road harder for yourself. We all work together, and that means you too!