What to Do When There’s Nothing to Do in the Kitchen

Certain start-up restaurants have this case, or some medium-sized to big restaurants, or kitchens in hotels face this problem – There is nothing left to do in the kitchen: So what should I do? If we’re talking about home kitchen, it’s advisable to move on and just do something else. But when it comes to commercial kitchens, there is a problem. Worse still, some even run into the walk-in chiller to get some cold air.

There are tons of things to do when you’re in the kitchen. Whether or not we realize it, or come to even think of, often there are many things that need attention. Here are a list of things you can do when you’re too free:

1. Get talking and learn your food science
   This is the best time to communicate with your ’seniors’ or superiors. Go talk to them, ask them about their history, how to handle certain special products, what have you read over the internet and not sure of, how types of lobsters are available in the market and what’s most famous in restaurants around, etc. Chat them up – Get more insight on their personal life. Many people like to talk about themselves – And if you can charm their friendly nature into your mind, you’ll be a go-getter!

2. Lurk around those who are busy and learn their skills
   Cracking up a lame joke isn’t always the worst thing to do – It channels creativity and at the same time give a childish-like ambient in the kitchen where you can benefit. Sure, people might think of you as someone who does not know ANYTHING – And that’s the best part of it. That’s when you lower your ego and learn something new. Look at how people cook, how they portion and slice, how they manage foodstuff; you’ll learn many things by just looking.

3. Food experimentation
   You do not need to be a scientist to experiment crazy food mixes or try out that simple thing you learn by looking at someone else doing it. Go on, pick up your pan and flip something – Many bosses love proactive staff and most of the time it’s rewarding to both your employer and you, the employee. If you’re in a situation where you’re worried you might screw up or cannot do that, be advised – Do not make the situation worse. By all means, do something else.

4. Run along and help your mates
   Helping your mates not only boost their morale, but also their perception towards you. But make sure you will draw a line to these ‘help’. Simply helping blindly can let them take advantage of you – Worse still, in events of emergency, do not return you the favor. Doing this can also enhance your knowledge and challenge your skillsets – As you go along, the more you do, the more you learn.

5. Help out your kitchen steward / Dishwasher / Prep Guys
   Helping your kitchen steward may not only give you the chance to communicate better with people, but also gives you the chance to learn something you never thought you’d ever learn. By talking to these people, you gain better insight of what their work is, what is their feeling, give them the sense of friendliness, etc. Best ever, they will share their knowledge with you regarding their culture and stories from abroad, or local (if they are local). Being in the kitchen isn’t just about food – It’s about being more than just food.

6. Be sharp and look around you
   If your kitchen mates do a good job in the kitchen, you may not need to worry much. Still, there are things that can be missed – Arrangement of kitchen items, fridge/chiller problems, hygiene problems, floor problems, mise en place, kitchen invoices, kitchen orders, kitchen checklist, spoilt foods, damaged ingredients, etc. There are many things around the kitchen that need attention – And you need to give these some attention.

Don’t DO THESE when you’re too free:

1. Ask someone “What else is there to do in the kitchen”
   On the negative point of view, asking this could mean many things. It’s either you’re not very sharp in the eye, not clear of the restaurant’s duties, not understanding your nature of work, not being at all diligent enough, etc. Take note that many seniors could take advantage of you when you say this – Simply do whatever you think you need to do, and if you have nothing to do, refer to the above.

2. Play in the kitchen
   Not only you’re endangering yourself, but you’re also endangering others. Throwing food and water at each other could be fun, but wait until the waiter walks in and trip. That could be even funnier – But dangerous. Keep in mind that the kitchen is a very dangerous place. The kitchen comprises of natural elements like water and fire which could be hazardous if not used properly. Worse still, what could happen if someone tripped and land his face onto the hot grill?

3. Walk out to the service area during restaurant hours
   Walking out to the service area not only shows your unprofessionalism, but it also shows that you are taking Restaurant Ethics lightly. Your Head Chef can do that because he’s well dressed for the situation, and do not have as much dirt on his body as you: Or at least he has the honor to do that because it’s his job. Another addition of ‘human’ to the service area increases chances of accidents, least space (mentally) and pest-y.

4. Play with fire
   Playing with fire is fun. No, seriously. It is very fun. On the other hand, think of the dangers. In life, anything can happen. Imagine you’re taunting (or dancing in front of) the fire and suddenly it burns you. Worse still, burns someone else. Worst, the whole kitchen. In many incidents, playing with fire can also mean heating up a metal utensil on naked fire, then listening to the “SSSSStttttt” sound when it’s place under water or worse, in a soup. Or burning a box of matches with one matchstick lit and placed into the box.

5. Loiter too long outside
   Loitering is considered resting, or resting is considered loitering; depending on how your Head Chef perceives them. Leaving the kitchen too long can lead to unwanted mishaps such as spillage of soup due to overboiling, sticking of foods to the pan due to ignorance of time to add water, etc. Such events are wasteful pieces of art and can take a huge toll in your job (if your Chef finds out).

6. Gossip and start the kitchen political war
   In events kitchen management or any other management out there, those who better together and have stronger relationships do a better job at the end of the day. What the Head Chef should always avoid is politics. Yes, it’s virtually impossible to stop these petty little talks, but at least inspire those who are in there and create a kitchen culture where such things are not talked about, MUCH. Too much of these can lead to much misunderstanding, lowered food quality and so forth.

Von Cook is the Chef de Partie and writer of Food Central, a busy kitchen in Malaysia cooking for Royalties. Von Cook has ventured to almost everything of 10 Head Chef’s 20 or more years of food and cooking experience and is sharing his food knowledge now with you.

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Avanti Wine Refrigerators Are One of the Best

When you must add a wine chiller into your house without to spend thousands of bucks, you can always turn to Avanti wine refrigerators. For under 2 hundred bucks you can pick up a smaller sized fridge, with great values also found on larger models.Whether you’re searching for something with a sophisticated to be a focal point in your house or if you want something smaller and simpler to tuck discretely into a corner of the garage, there are Avanti wine refrigerators to fill those empty spaces in your house just perfectly.Buying Avanti wine refrigerators means that you will store your wine bottles in style. The explanation is straightforward – the stand alone coolers look great and can be even considered as a chunk of furniture.(Indeed, Avanti makes most of the compact “dorm room refrigerators” sold in the United Kingdom and US). Thermoelectric Avanti wine refrigerators give temperature indicators on each row, allowing you to relax 6 different types of wine to six different temperatures. It’s built with solid state components, and has unique, state of the art technology for accurate temperature regulation. Avanti wine refrigerators also got an automobile defrost function and nice interior lighting, all the better for reading labels without annoying the bottles.Thermoelectric Avanti Wine Refrigerators Maintain the value of Your Wine Investment
While its brushed chrome exterior will not win any fashion awards, or blend into your stone- and-stucco kitchen, it does have a certain “form over function” charm, and fits right in with the industrial-kitchen-look that was all the style in reworking projects in 2005 and early 2006.The device of avantine wine refrigerators are approximately two feet high, by a foot and a half deep by ten inches wide, and weighs a modest 31 lbs. Both the chrome handle and the glass window can be extracted for security or for easy cleaning, and the chrome shelves also slide out – making it easy to lay in a good stock of wine for a dinner and settle them in. The complete system is backed by a generous guaranty on defects in parts and labor.It does not signify whether you need a giant wine chiller for your restaurant, little bar or simply for home – Avanti got you covered with their great looking wine refrigerators.
The only rule to buying a wine fridge is to ensure that you are buying from a well respected brand famous for prime quality that lasts. Whatever you choose, the price delivered by Avanti wine refrigerators will be worth the little investment.All of the Avanti wine refrigerators let you to control the temperature of your wines. So treasure the size that suits you best and have a good time!

If you’ve enjoyed all the exciting information you read here about these Wine Refrigerators, you’ll love everything else you find at Avanti Wine Refrigerators

A Review of the Cuisinart Power Advantage Hand Mixer

You can do everything by hand if you really want to, however combining ingredients with a spoon or whisk can get tiresome. You don’t have to spend a fortune on a stand mixer to get mechanical assistance. Start by checking out hand mixer reviews to find the best appliance at the right price. There are many cooking devices out there, and some deliver better results than others, such as the Cuisinart Power Advantage hand mixer. Not sure if this is the right appliance for you? Let hand mixer reviews help you decide if the $50 price tag is appropriate.

• 7 speed options for versatile mixing

• An easy to use slider to shift from one speed to the next

• Convenient swivel cord

• Dishwasher safe beaters that come in extra long length

• Ejection lever for quick beater removal

• 220 watt power

• Manufacturer’s warranty

That is quite a few features in a single mixer. If you are still not convinced, take a look at the benefits found in hand mixer reviews when compared to stand mixers:

• Easy storage that requires less space

• Can be placed in a drawer and does not require any standing room

• Fast care, simply wash beaters and wipe down the appliance

• Significantly lower cost

• Economical choice for casual, everyday cooking

The Cuisinart Power Advantage mixer may be your better option rather than forking out hundreds of dollars for a heavy stand mixer. You may consider simply doing it all by yourself with no mechanical assistance. However, hand mixer reviews might provide a little more insight on why doing it yourself is more time consuming and frustrating:

• Food on clothing and hands can be difficult to wash off, however a hand mixer allows you to keep it in the bowl.

• You get an even mix every time.

• You will find dishes finished faster due to less mixing time than would be required when done by hand.

• Every time you use your hand mixer, you know you are getting an even, smooth batter or dough.

• No aching fingers or arms when you use an appliance.

Kitchen mixers are “hands-free” and can be used to mix thick bread dough and cake batter, whisk egg whites, and prepare large batches of food at a time. The electric hand mixers are most popular, allowing the experienced cook to whip up something for cooking and baking within a reasonable time frame. Blenders can be used for many different things but are best at making smoothies, milkshakes, purees, and soup. Learn more about kitchen stand mixers and blender mixers today!