That line cook who said 'just cook it faster' almost got me walked out

I overheard this kid telling a new guy to just cook steaks faster to get through the rush last Saturday night. I stopped mid-plate and told him that's how you get a ticket back for a raw inside with a burnt crust. Took me 3 years of working grills in a busy spot in Austin to learn that speed comes from timing and prep, not rushing the cook. If you push the heat too high you lose control of the doneness and then you're comping a $45 ribeye. I wanted to pull him aside but the expo was screaming and I just had to shake my head. New guys listen to that kind of advice and it screws them up for months until they mess up bad enough to get yelled at. Anyone else have a junior cook who thinks shortcuts are the same as working smart?

3 comments

3 Comments

king.robin1d ago

Nail that kid's hand to the lowboy next time.

the_william1d ago

Oh man, I feel that frustration... I had to tape a kid's shoelaces to the floor once when he kept tripping over them in the shop. Just a little lesson in staying aware, you know? They learn real quick when it's their own fault.

ivanross1d ago

Hang on, isn't that kind of overkill for a kid just not tying his shoes? I mean, you're basically using your authority to humiliate them instead of just showing them how to double-knot or grab some velcro straps. A kid who's already frustrated about tripping isn't going to learn "awareness" from being taped down, they're just going to feel singled out and stupid. Seems like that creates way more resentment than it solves problems. Don't you think a quick five-minute lesson on shoelace tying would have done the same thing without making the kid hate coming to your shop?