(photo: @redcharlie)
Let me eliminate all the cooking (of which I, and most chefs, do very little) and all the things concerning direct supervision of cooking.
In the morning I do a stock muster and make sure we have everything we need to make it through the day. I read my team’s notes and the front of the house notes and try to understand what I need to order to have it here in a timeframe that allows me to never run out and nothing to come too early and spoil.
I attempt to make my dishes cheaper without sacrificing quality. I do this once every few weeks, call purveyors and see what I can do, etc.
I then go though my bills, pay them, call around for all other things bureaucratic, make shift plans and read my work emails. If someone called in sick, I send WhatsApp or SMS messages around and see if I can get them replaced.
By now it’s noon, I talk to the prep cooks, do bossy things, like reprimand, acknowledge, praise, and ask for feedback and concerns. Sometimes I have to spend some time in private with one of the prep cooks if something comes up.
I then meet with the Maitre d’ and the Sommelier to make sure we have everything squared, get their feedback on my guys and gals, my food, and through them customer feedback. I give the Sommelier my wine needs list, she goes fill them, and I talk with the Maitre d’ about covers and expected fill on the place. I also relay my guys’ concerns with his people, and pass on praise.
I spend 30 minutes doing Internet research on Yelp, etc. to see what people wrote about us.
By now, my Sous is in, and we grab tools and fix equipment. Things break, we have to get them working before the kitchen goes hot.
My cooks file in, I do the same things I did with the prep shift, ask about needs, etc. I also have someone cook all the new stuff and specials to feed to the waiters when they come in in an hour.
Lots of cooking ensues here.
After the rush phase I go back and do more administrative work. I’m incorporating what I heard that day, schedule maternity leaves, vacations, do all the parole and court stuff I have to do for some of my cooks, write emails to suppliers and manufacturers. I show the Maitre d’ my new idea for a plate, see if there’s a reason the front of the house wouldn’t want to have those dishes on those plates (they’re the boss there, I can only suggest), and I pull cooks off the line to talk to them if I have to.
I start cleaning when the kitchen goes cold, cooks help (usually the FNG and someone who screwed up that day), Sous goes home.
I do my cover reports for the day, have a drink with the other middle managers in the joint, and go home myself.
– Jonas Mikka Luster
Theodore Lee is the editor of Caveman Circus. He strives for self-improvement in all areas of his life, except his candy consumption, where he remains a champion gummy worm enthusiast. When not writing about mindfulness or living in integrity, you can find him hiding giant bags of sour patch kids under the bed.