Junior was a decent, but typical angry cook at a middle class restaurant. I liked him and we never had an issue. He had five kids and three jobs just to support them. He loved them but Junior occasionally had meltdowns over usual nonsense restaurants suffer. He once went ape over a Facebook group for…

“You’re not in the bar or restaurant business; you’re in the people business.” -Jon Taffer You’ll rarely be treated better by an employer than during the hiring process. Like a first date, initial impressions matter and restaurants should want you to like them. If you aren’t given respect and they’re cold and disorganized, you won’t…

Xerxes was that manager all guys like. If you were a straight shooter, did your job, and showed respect, you were untouchable. This was at my least favourite restaurant job, I despised much of the staff, but he was always a gem. Unlike other gutless managers he called out people and fired those who deserved…

My roommate came downstairs as I cracked open a beer and downed it in 10 seconds. It was a weekday and there wasn’t a special occasion. He saw me do this a few times lately but said nothing. But he was intrigued enough by now to demand an explanation. He looked at me in a…

There’s an early episode of The Simpsons where Homer reluctantly wears a pink shirt to work. He’s spotted by Mr. Burns, mocked by colleagues, and sent to a mental asylum. Michael Jackson guest starred and I don’t remember the point, but for years afterwards I laughed whenever I saw a bright, pink shirt. That’s what…

“I Sell Bull Semen.” -Sam at the Bartop  It was probably Thursday night. The place wasn’t busy as I had in-depth conversations with customers at the bar. A young man, probably in his mid-20s, sat at the bartop. I didn’t like working there (a pizza place in the suburbs), mostly due to management. But I…