Had a line cook lecture me on knife skills. He was right.

Kid's been here maybe 6 months. Told me my rock chop was sloppy. I got defensive at first. Then I watched him break down a case of onions in 8 minutes flat. Clean cuts, no waste, not even a tear. I've been doing this 12 years. He showed me a simple grip change and a different wrist angle. Took me 2 shifts to unlearn my old habit. Now I'm faster and my cuts are way more consistent. Anyone else had to eat humble pie from a junior cook?

2 comments

2 Comments

harper_singh1825d ago

Watched him break down a case of onions in 8 minutes flat" yeah that would shut me up too lol. I had a similar thing years ago where this 19 year old prep cook showed me I was holding my chef's knife wrong the whole time. I was gripping it like a hammer and he showed me the pinch grip. Felt weird for a week but now I can't go back. When a new kid has skills like that you just gotta swallow your pride and learn.

hannah38525d ago

Oh man, that's the best kind of reality check right there! I had something similar happen when I was about 8 years deep at this Italian spot. This 20 year old prep kid showed me my brunoise technique was way too heavy handed and I was basically crushing all the shallots instead of cutting them. He drew it out on a napkin for me with this little doodle showing the knife angle difference. Felt like a total knob for a day but that little wrist tilt he showed me made my cuts so much cleaner. Gotta love when a young gun drops knowledge like that, no ego attached.