 | | 
01.06.2011, 22:38
|  | Senior Member | | Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Richterswil
Posts: 326
Groaned at 10 Times in 10 Posts
Thanked 354 Times in 154 Posts
| | Restaurant backstage experience
A few days ago I had the chance to work in the restaurant from my workplace which gives food to more than 1.000 people. It was a backstage experience where any employee could spend 1 day working full day in the restaurant kitchen.
I must say it was one of the most rewarding and exhausting things I have done in my life:
From starting the day a many hours earlier than usual, to be standing all day long, cutting vegetables like crazy, preparing the buffet, hundred of salads, serving food to people, that donīt even look at you when getting the food: some of them where my own friends and/or colleagues which I had to call by their name in order to get their faces up to the human being behind the dish of food  .
Then cleaning everything in order to start all over again the very next day. I worked as hard and as happy, as I have never done in my life... as if there was not another day  .
When I went back home, I was sweating, my muscles were in pain, and I only could dream of lying down; but I knew I wouldnīt forget this day, the team spirit and the joy I felt spending a day with such a lovely group of people. Having had a life where I mostly spent it between books and now office, meetings and trips, that was an entire new perspective.
Any similar experiences, thoughts, comments?
Good night!
Last edited by Cris1973; 01.06.2011 at 23:03.
| The following 10 users would like to thank Cris1973 for this useful post: | | 
02.06.2011, 07:17
|  | Modulo 2 | | Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Baselland
Posts: 15,044
Groaned at 307 Times in 263 Posts
Thanked 23,225 Times in 9,432 Posts
| | Re: Restaurant backstage experience
Are you going to switch career now?
I always make eye contact with whomever is serving me food. It's very handy when you're at the back of the scrum at, for example, the Migros food counter, or you'd like a larger than usual portion. As well as being common courtesy.
| The following 4 users would like to thank NotAllThere for this useful post: | | 
02.06.2011, 08:20
|  | Member | | Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Bern
Posts: 140
Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts
Thanked 76 Times in 43 Posts
| | Re: Restaurant backstage experience
Working in restaurants or bars is great when the team really comes together, and you feel a strong sense of camaraderie.....but as you experienced it's incredibly tiring...early starts, late finishes and perhaps not earning much for it (in the UK at least).
I've worked in restaurants and bars, so from personal experience - it's fun but gets repetitive. Sometimes customers can be really rude...!
Doing something different to your everyday job is always exciting. I definitely think having variety in your job is one of the things that helps people to get up in the morning.
| The following 2 users would like to thank Boogaloo for this useful post: | | 
02.06.2011, 15:44
|  | Forum Legend | | Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: ZH
Posts: 8,103
Groaned at 57 Times in 53 Posts
Thanked 12,980 Times in 4,732 Posts
| | Re: Restaurant backstage experience | Quote: | |  | | | A few days ago I had the chance to work in the restaurant from my workplace which gives food to more than 1.000 people. It was a backstage experience where any employee could spend 1 day working full day in the restaurant kitchen. | | | | | Sightly off topic - there was a British TV series which started in 1997 - 'Back to the Floor' where top people in firms or organisations worked for a week 'down among the lads'. I remember seeing one top executive from the Water Board who went round delivering large containers of fresh water to people in an area where the water in the taps was polluted. He had to explain to them all why the pipes were in such bad condition and why the Board had not replaced the pipes long before. And to make the poor guy's life worse, the brand new 'containers' of water he was giving out all leaked once they had been opened. Every single one of the taps dripped.
Another episode was the headmistress of Benenden working at a comprehensive school. She literally didn't know what had hit her. An eye-opener to her and to me. Great series.
Great in real life as you describe it too. Brownie points to you for taking up the challenge.
__________________ Longbyt
Last edited by Longbyt; 02.06.2011 at 15:58.
| This user would like to thank Longbyt for this useful post: | | 
02.06.2011, 16:12
|  | Senior Member | | Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Richterswil
Posts: 326
Groaned at 10 Times in 10 Posts
Thanked 354 Times in 154 Posts
| | Re: Restaurant backstage experience | Quote: | |  | | | Are you going to switch career now? 
I always make eye contact with whomever is serving me food. It's very handy when you're at the back of the scrum at, for example, the Migros food counter, or you'd like a larger than usual portion. As well as being common courtesy. | | | | | No, not really (specially after the hard hard work  ).
Clever you. I noticed recently how fun is to pay real attention to people you come accross on your daily life - as opposite to be absorbed on your own problems. And if you smile or laugh, it gets even better.
Watch out the scale | 
02.06.2011, 17:18
| Forum Legend | | Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Zurich
Posts: 3,848
Groaned at 78 Times in 57 Posts
Thanked 4,117 Times in 2,220 Posts
| | Re: Restaurant backstage experience | Quote: | |  | | | Are you going to switch career now?  | | | | | More importantly: do you still go to the canteen, now that you know how all the food is prepared? | This user would like to thank rainer_d for this useful post: | | 
02.06.2011, 17:56
|  | Forum Legend | | Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Geneva
Posts: 3,907
Groaned at 67 Times in 48 Posts
Thanked 3,652 Times in 1,710 Posts
| | Re: Restaurant backstage experience | Quote: | |  | | | Are you going to switch career now? 
I always make eye contact with whomever is serving me food. It's very handy when you're at the back of the scrum at, for example, the Migros food counter, or you'd like a larger than usual portion. As well as being common courtesy. | | | | | And a smile. A genuine smile can do wonders. Especially when you dont speak the language
| This user would like to thank gata for this useful post: | | 
02.06.2011, 21:41
|  | Senior Member | | Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Richterswil
Posts: 326
Groaned at 10 Times in 10 Posts
Thanked 354 Times in 154 Posts
| | Re: Restaurant backstage experience | Quote: | |  | | | More importantly: do you still go to the canteen, now that you know how all the food is prepared?  | | | | | Yup. They left nothing for the complains corner | 
02.06.2011, 21:43
|  | Senior Member | | Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Richterswil
Posts: 326
Groaned at 10 Times in 10 Posts
Thanked 354 Times in 154 Posts
| | Re: Restaurant backstage experience | Quote: | |  | | | And a smile. A genuine smile can do wonders | | | | | Amen to that Gata
| This user would like to thank Cris1973 for this useful post: | | 
02.06.2011, 22:18
| | Re: Restaurant backstage experience
I'm glad you enjoyed your experience. I think that to experience the day in someone elses shoes is worth alot, to yourself and those who you'll come across in the future.
| The following 2 users would like to thank for this useful post: | | 
02.06.2011, 22:41
|  | Forum Legend | | Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Geneva
Posts: 3,907
Groaned at 67 Times in 48 Posts
Thanked 3,652 Times in 1,710 Posts
| | Re: Restaurant backstage experience | Quote: | |  | | | I'm glad you enjoyed your experience. I think that to experience the day in someone elses shoes is worth alot, to yourself and those who you'll come across in the future. | | | | | True. I would love to be in the shoes of some rich woman who does nothing but sits on her butt the whole day...
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests) | | Thread Tools | | Display Modes | Linear Mode |
Posting Rules
| You may not post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts HTML code is Off | | | All times are GMT +2. The time now is 15:48. | |