Working at a restaurant is kind of bad for your health. I've seen both front of house and back of house people succumb to alcoholism, drug addiction, burnout and dark depression. I've experienced some of these ails as well. Unfortunately, working a high-paced and high-stress job kind of goes along with those pitfalls. But for all the glaring problems with restaurant work , the industry can help people develop much-needed empathy and compassion. Servers, bartenders, and even broke line cooks are…

If you're an Anthony Bourdain fan, or have worked service, you may have seen this quote pop up during your internet travels: ‘You can always tell when a person has worked in a restaurant. There’s an empathy that can only be cultivated by those who’ve stood between a hungry mouth and a $28 pork chop, a special understanding of the way a bunch of motley misfits can be a family. Service industry work develops the “soft skills” recruiters talk about on LinkedIn — discipline, promptness, the ability…

I've met a lot of people in my life who have scoffed at restaurant workers and bartenders . “Get a real job," they say, with contempt. The reality is, however, that restaurant and bartending work are often more stressful and physical than what any average desk jockey is up against during their nine-to-five gigs. Sure, in both cases, people can enjoy some free coffee and banter but the act of dealing with e ntitled customers , complicated orders, and an unorthodox work schedule are not for the f…

Ever since celebrity chefs became a thing, and probably even before that, chefs have been both negatively stereotyped and glamorized. And while it's true that many chefs have quick tempers, foul mouths, and arrogant demeanors, we have to point out that there are chefs out there who are different. Chefs that nurture a team and highlight the people who help their ship run smoothly. Yes, we're talking about prep cooks and dishwashers. As for the glamorization, most chefs aren't living the high lif…

The underbelly of working in the restaurant industry has gained a lot of attention since FX dropped their latest smash hit The Bear. The single-camera dramedy has both critics and viewers raving. Let's just say that awards season will be featuring a lot of “chef speak”. But the kitchen slang that has become so popular is only one facet of chaotic restaurant life and the jobs that make the whole operation happen. The reality is a lot less sexy than Jeremy Allen White The reality of working both…

Line cooks seem to be the talk of the town lately. Memes about the surly yet sweet restaurant workers seem to be on the rise, and all of them are super favorable. The gritty and comedic glimpse into kitchen life we've been seeing on The Bear seems to be bolstering the trend. At least that's what it seems like based on the response to a viral tweet about the 8 episode series.