This Place.
I hate this place. I truly do not wish to live here any longer. My job sucks. I'm not learning anything I couldn't be learning at home, with my family and friends close by. I'm constantly reminded that this is not Vancouver. It's about as different as two places can get without leaving the continent.
This is not the place for me. The only plus I can see to staying down here, is that I'll be able to make and save some money. And that is not something I want to be on my list of priorities.
When I started this career path. I made a personal choice that it would not be about the money. I would do this job because I loved it. That was the only way I felt I could be successful and happy doing it. When I started doing this for money, then it became a job. And I didn't want to have a job for the next 40 or 50 years of my life. I was constantly reminded that it takes a lot of passion to be successful as a chef or a cook. I thought "awesome, my priorities are on track. I'm gonna be just fine if I keep this up." I placed all my energy into becoming better at my craft. Often working for free, just for the chance to hone my skills.
And all my dedication was paying off. I had an excellent job, I was learning tons, and on the wayside I was even making a decent amount of money.
Then I came here. To Cambridge Maryland.....Culinary shithole of the east coast. The food I prepare....it's not GOOD. I do my best. But nothing I do can change the Chef's specifications. And while I like my Restaurant Chef, he's a great guy, with a lot of passion for food. Often I find his food lacking in something. A poor presentation, he doesn't use quality ingrediants, the flavors don't mesh well, or I'm even just confused by the plate. (Cajun swordfish (creole style) Saffron Rice (East Indian style) Jicama slaw (Mexican style) and a Thai coleslaw. I haven't even tasted the dish yet, I'm actually afraid to.)
They won't even ALLOW me to work overtime here. Not even for free. Because if I get injured then I'm not covered by insurance. Even though I paid 600$ for health insurance before I was even allowed to cross the border. So I'm stuck working 8 hours, making food I don't enjoy making. 90% of my co-workers I only tolerate because I must, or I'll go crazy. They have as much passion for food as a rock does for sitting there. It doesn't really do it because it likes it, it does it because it doesn't have a choice. It's only a rock. People only come to work because they need a paycheque. They don't come because the enjoy cooking. Most of them actually hate their job, but Hyatt pays better than most of the places around here. So they keep coming to work, making crappy food. Not one of them would have been able to hold down their job in the places where I've worked. And I know that makes me sound like an arrogant asshole but it's just plain true. I work harder, better, more efficiently, and turn out a better product than they do.
The only bit of satisfaction I get is looking at my savings account. And it's saying stuff like that that drives me insane. I have NEVER wanted to be the kind of person that values money. Just the opposite. If you ever spend any time with me I'm always buying people things, lending them money. Trying to get rid of it as best I can. I. Do. Not. Want. A. Lot. Of. Money. If I can have enough to keep my debt off. I'm happy.
I've noticed when I work. I'm a much more sullen, angry, impatient person than I am anywhere else. I doubt any of you would recognize me if you came to the hotel and saw me working the line. I don't sing in the kitchen, I only speak when spoken to, I'm snappy and terse around servers, or anybody asking me for anything. I constantly do as little as I can get away with. Avoiding cooking orders.
This place is turning me into something I don't want to be. Someone who does this because they need the money. Not because they enjoy their job.
I want to go home.
This is not the place for me. The only plus I can see to staying down here, is that I'll be able to make and save some money. And that is not something I want to be on my list of priorities.
When I started this career path. I made a personal choice that it would not be about the money. I would do this job because I loved it. That was the only way I felt I could be successful and happy doing it. When I started doing this for money, then it became a job. And I didn't want to have a job for the next 40 or 50 years of my life. I was constantly reminded that it takes a lot of passion to be successful as a chef or a cook. I thought "awesome, my priorities are on track. I'm gonna be just fine if I keep this up." I placed all my energy into becoming better at my craft. Often working for free, just for the chance to hone my skills.
And all my dedication was paying off. I had an excellent job, I was learning tons, and on the wayside I was even making a decent amount of money.
Then I came here. To Cambridge Maryland.....Culinary shithole of the east coast. The food I prepare....it's not GOOD. I do my best. But nothing I do can change the Chef's specifications. And while I like my Restaurant Chef, he's a great guy, with a lot of passion for food. Often I find his food lacking in something. A poor presentation, he doesn't use quality ingrediants, the flavors don't mesh well, or I'm even just confused by the plate. (Cajun swordfish (creole style) Saffron Rice (East Indian style) Jicama slaw (Mexican style) and a Thai coleslaw. I haven't even tasted the dish yet, I'm actually afraid to.)
They won't even ALLOW me to work overtime here. Not even for free. Because if I get injured then I'm not covered by insurance. Even though I paid 600$ for health insurance before I was even allowed to cross the border. So I'm stuck working 8 hours, making food I don't enjoy making. 90% of my co-workers I only tolerate because I must, or I'll go crazy. They have as much passion for food as a rock does for sitting there. It doesn't really do it because it likes it, it does it because it doesn't have a choice. It's only a rock. People only come to work because they need a paycheque. They don't come because the enjoy cooking. Most of them actually hate their job, but Hyatt pays better than most of the places around here. So they keep coming to work, making crappy food. Not one of them would have been able to hold down their job in the places where I've worked. And I know that makes me sound like an arrogant asshole but it's just plain true. I work harder, better, more efficiently, and turn out a better product than they do.
The only bit of satisfaction I get is looking at my savings account. And it's saying stuff like that that drives me insane. I have NEVER wanted to be the kind of person that values money. Just the opposite. If you ever spend any time with me I'm always buying people things, lending them money. Trying to get rid of it as best I can. I. Do. Not. Want. A. Lot. Of. Money. If I can have enough to keep my debt off. I'm happy.
I've noticed when I work. I'm a much more sullen, angry, impatient person than I am anywhere else. I doubt any of you would recognize me if you came to the hotel and saw me working the line. I don't sing in the kitchen, I only speak when spoken to, I'm snappy and terse around servers, or anybody asking me for anything. I constantly do as little as I can get away with. Avoiding cooking orders.
This place is turning me into something I don't want to be. Someone who does this because they need the money. Not because they enjoy their job.
I want to go home.
posted by ThePassionateChef at 1:35 AM
3 comments
