Monday, June 23, 2008

The Good (file under one on one)

So as you have now become aware last weekend was quite an adventure for me. It was filled with triumph and tragedy, agony and glory. As I got home to cook dinner for C’s parents and brother on Sunday I must have missed my phone go off with the text message sound. It read; “S, I would like to have a chat with you around 1:30 tomorrow.”

When I read it I started freaking out thinking I had done something wrong. Though as much as I considered it I couldn’t imagine what it was. I had resolved the conflict with Chef J amicably and thought that it was over.

In short, at 10:36 pm on Saturday night I had not had a break all day. Chef J and M came out and when they got there I literally ran off the line to go to the bathroom. Chef J started tearing a strip out of me very visibly and loudly. I came back to the line and explained that I really had to go to the washroom. Though displeased with me (and I knew why but REALLY had to go to the bathroom). I came back after the washroom and he told me to go for a quick break which I was only too happy to do.

After I was shutdown Executive Chef saw that I was both spent and frustrated. I explained to him what had happened from my point of view and that I recognized that I should not have just walked off the line but that there was no excuse for the way that I was spoken to. That I am not a child and that I have the utmost respect for everyone and felt that I was not deserving of that after the day I had had.

Shortly after I had shut down Chef J and I both sat down by the restaurant. I told him that I would be respectful and listen to what he had to say and then respond. It was as I had expected that I walked off the line without getting him up to speed as to what was going on. I apologized and said that it would not happen again. Again we resolved the issue amicably and without issue.

So needless to say when I got this text message I was confused, scared and filled with wonder. As I got up and went to work I was really worried. When Executive Chef came in I was outside having a cigarette and told him I was nervous about our little “chat.” I then asked if it was something that I should worry about and whether it was good or bad. He told me good and then walked inside.

As so often happens in our industry 1:30 came and went. I was anxious to get the conversation over with as we had a fairly large function that night. So the time came and I grabbed a coffee and my cigarettes and we proceeded to one of the patios.

We sat down and discussed at length the issues surrounding Saturday night and then issues related to my future and what we could expect. I spoke to him about what I had observed and where I thought things could be going. He let me know that I had come very far and that my advancement was pronounced. All in all it was a great conversation which included my professional development, the way that Canadian chefs are perceived overseas and what my next steps were. I asked him about a raise at which point he said he felt that it was fair of me to ask and that at the end of the month we would revisit the issue. I immediately thought to myself how prudent an answer that was from a business standpoint as I have been averaging 70 paid hours a week.

There are numerous things about our conversation that out of respect and admiration for the process upon which I am embarking it would not be fair or appropriate for me to write at this moment. When the time comes many years from now I will be happy to impart that knowledge on a young cook that I am molding.

At any rate at the end of the conversation he asked me to follow him so he could show me something. Showing it to me I immediately understood the severity and assured him that it would not an issue again. As well, my spidey sense went off letting me know that this would not be the last part of the conversation to be had. I knew that Head Chef and I would be having a “chat” soon but could not have prepared myself for it in any way.

That is the subject of the next post my loyal readers.

Oliver Wendell Holmes once said; “The great thing in the world is not so much where we stand, as in what direction we are moving.”

I know what direction I’m moving in. DO YOU?

Dream big and inspired.

A la prochaine

SDM

No comments: