Quote:
Originally Posted by
Master-Classter 
In Anthony Bourdain's book near the end, he makes a disclaimer that not all kitchens are like that. He talks about another very well run kitchen he went into that was smooth and quiet but still very efficient.
That being said, I was watching Ramsey's Kitchen Nightmares (The UK version, the American one is so so terrible) and
in a single moment I understood what he's all about... the chef sent him a chicken with a small piece of bone in it and he told the guy "never let your mistakes leave the kitchen".
In that instance, I can almost let Ramsey justify everything he does to his staff.
The fact is, the chef's the one who takes the shit when things don't turn out and, you can't do enough to compensate for a bad meal. Once it's been sent, that's it! So when it's his reputation on the line and a bad experience will undoubtedly be retold, the head chef can say or do whatever the hell he wants to his staff. They'll be whipped into line so they have the discipline of an army. They won't even think about disobeying and they'll be so afraid that they do everything perfectly to avoid being yelled at. They learn to work hard, appreciate rewards/compliments. Nothing but the highest standards is allowed. Once you start to let mistakes leave the kitchen, who knows where the quality will eventually go?
I understand the outcome that yelling is intending to generate but can chefs not express their discontent another way that will generate the same outcome without the agressiveness of shouting? How is a chef different from any other manager or CEO who is ultimately responsible for the performance of his group or organization? Do you think all bosses should yell at employees to get their message across?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
ChicagoRon It goes back to Escoffier. The commercial kitchen is based on a military model where the chef (french for chief) has absolute power. The "yelling" approach has a very specific outcome. It makes people act w/out thinking or being creative... because a line cook is not supposed to question the chef's vision, he's supposed to execute it... exactly as the chef would have done himself.
Besides, like the military, a lot of the people who work in commercial kitchens are lacking discipline in the rest of their lives, and kind of enjoy it. How else would you get them there on time after they drank until 6 am the night before, screwed all their co-workers, etc.
Interesting analogy but I think that we tolerate some extreme behaviors in the military because there is a recognition that people's lives are on the line. If soldiers f@ck up, others die, so perhaps shouting is appropriate despite the negative side effects. In civilian life however, the stakes are not as high (bad meal, lost money...) so we should be less tolerant of abusive behavior.
Your second point is interesting. I admit that every individual is different and that some people need stricter discipline. That said, I don't believe anyone really enjoys being yelled at and humiliated (and I'm into kinky sex as much - or more so... - than the next guy but that's different
).
