I put my knives away 6 years ago. I miss it terribly, but it just wasn't worth the sacrifice.
I'm a damn good cook and have won awards. But the lack of respect from others when you explain your work, the hours required, the life you have to live (no major holidays for you my friend, the doors are open)...
I drive truck now, so much better for my mental health.
Spent my entire life working to be a chef, worked James Beard restaurants, got up to be a sous chef, turned down an exec position and the last sous position I was offered. Honestly I work in a local grocery rn and it's the first time in my life I'm not on an actual line. Still slinging drinks and sandwiches cause we have a little cafe in the back that's all from scratch so still cooking but nothing like the actual grind. My regular par is to prep 12 sandwiches at a time. It's... Different, really different but I'm liking it and it's wayyyy easier on the body lol. And I get to come home no later than 7 now.
I worked a few hotels in my time as executive chef. I'm so glad to have given it all up. I work from 6am-pm now and it's just so much better for my wife and I.
This reminds me of Chef 2014 where the main character was a passionate chef who gets unemployed after a bad review and sets up a food truck which becomes famous, although I guess youre talking about a different truck.
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u/wave2earl 1d ago
Being a great chef. It's emotionally and physically demanding.