Rookie Line Cook Advice ...?

There will be times when you feel lost, confused, tired, and angry all at once. Most of that due to being busy and lack of communication. When it happens, there's only one thing to do. Stop every thing you're doing and start with the first plate on the first ticket and do one plate at a time. 

 

I tell every beginner who walks in my kitchen this because when they see me, they think they have to do the same which is all about speed and they start messing up orders trying to go fast. That and their plates look sloppy in which I get on them about. When you panic, that's when things go downhill. Ask questions if you're not sure about something, and you'll either sink or swim! 

Damn, Cookers nailed it.  Respect. :)

Learn the menu. Get a copy and write notes on it and take it home and study! There should be no reason for the chef or sous to have to tell you the same thing a million times. Once you are shown, and take notes, you should be able to walk yourself through each dish with your notes. Do this at home, repeatedly and you will have a very easy time on your next shift. this will allow you to memorize the menu faster. 

Keep your area clean! The worst habit you can get into is being a slob. Focus on precision, and technique will follow. Work fast, but always know what your next movement is. If you work faster than you think then you end up wasting time making too many movements, and forgetting things. Also, stand up straight, lift with your knees, back problems are very common.

Yep....keep it clean!...No one will want to work with you. I had a guy that worked for me, he was known all over town as "Messy Henry", great cook but the biggest slob around. Everyone bitched about him.

Sometimes just say YES CHEF. It seems now everyone including newbies know everything. The hardest part of learning on the line is accepting that you don't know everything. Asking for help isn't a sign of weakness it's having the end result in mind and trying to give the guest a great experience. Listen and execute. Most of the time I tell one of my cooks something its because I've been in that same situation and am trying to guide them in the right direction. Be willing to learn someone else's way without argument because you don't know everything.

Work clean, work smart, let the chef(s) take care of everything else but cooking the food, focus on your cooking with your team and let everything else fall into place.

 

Work on a system that works for you as well i.e. how you set your station, your protein prep, etc,  just because other cooks do certain things, that doesn't necessarily mean the same will work for you, too.