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Problem with Sous chef

3K views 15 replies 9 participants last post by  jimyra 
#1 ·
I've been working at a new place for the last month or so and I'm having problems with my Sous. He drops stuff on the floor and uses it and I'm pretty sure he lied on his resume because he said he worked at a well known French restaurant but doesn't know any French techniques or anything like that. I don't know if I should talk to the chef/owner or not?
 
#4 ·
Uhhhh... What makes you think that the Chef/owner can't observe and think for himself?
Are you the exec or a line cook?

It seems like the owner (who probably isn't a chef from what you say) cannot observe properly it if he employed a guy that uses product after it was on the floor, as well as not knowing the techniques. I absolutely would question my sous if I saw that. Not everyone who has the title has earned it.

If these practices continue I would look elsewhere to work without saying anything if you were on the line.
 
#7 ·
Let me step in before it gets too heated.

I've had employees who thought they could do their job better than me.  In fact, I'm pretty sure at some point the whole kitchen knew better.  But the place ran, the owners made enough, and we were all paid on time.

There are a lot of aspects that people behave the way they do, and if you see things and don't ask (I don't like calling out) then you can only make it up as you go along.
 
#8 · (Edited)
Hey young karl...

Thats one heckuva statement you made there, based on what?

Some kid who's "pretty sure" about lying on a resume because no one shows him anything?
All I said was if I had a sous chef who used product after it was on the floor and didn't know basic French technique, I would run. Especially if he said he worked in a high end French place. I'm not sure what was wrong with what I said. Of course I don't know if it's true I'm giving the OP the benefit of the doubt. Not every single individual with the title of sous actually has the knowledge that a sous should have. Not sure why I'm getting heat for that...

I wouldn't question him in person per say, I would just leave.
 
#9 ·
My point is that this is the O.P.'s first post, he (o.p.) seems jaded that the Sous won't show him techniques (even though he's only been there for a month didn't say f/t or p/t), and that the o.p. won't elaborate on what kind of "stuff" is dropped on the floor , nor will he elaborate if he asked the Sous what he is doing.

In other words, I wouldn't believe everything described in the first post 100% without being there myself.  I also wouldn't tell the o.p. to cut and run without asking a few more questions.

Whaddya think, mmhm? 
 
#12 · (Edited)
Some of you have odd views...

you said its his first post.... Why would he come onto the internet , make a new account on a chefs forum and then make a new thread with a bunch of lies? What does he have to gain from that?
Didn't elaborate enough? He said the sous chef drops stuff on the floor and doesn't know basic French techniques but he was sure to announce and profess his time he spent in the kitchen of a French restaurant.

For those unaware, basic French techniques may include chiffonade, sauté, braising, bouquet garni, mirepoix, duxelles, mise en place, hollandaise. All are French, all are VERY basic but I've seen "chefs" not have a clue how to execute each one of those techniques. It's pitiful, but it's true. They're usually the ones who walk in with their chef coat on and their tweezers(ya know in case they need to touch-up their eyebrows).

Dropping stuff on the floor and using it? Pretty self explanatory; whether it's a hamburger, fish, carrot, slice bread.. if it's on the floor, don't serve it. If he dropped a box of potatoes and still used them; I think that's ok. But I don't think, even in the time of Trump, we have people stupid enough to make new threads and new accounts based on lies about people dropping inconsequential items in a kitchen....
 
#13 · (Edited)
And how did you come to the A$sumpition that it's a kid? Could be an old geazer. .
Also, where is there any indication the OP is lacking knowledge or has any desire to gain more knowledge??
All he said is the sous doesn't know basic French techniques. Perhaps the OP has seen his sous try to make different French sauces, and the sous has no idea what the ingredients even are.

Recently, I personally saw the sous chef say to our FOH that the mornay sauce the head chef made is a hollandaise based sauce. ....
 
#15 · (Edited)
Some of you have odd views...

you said its his first post.... Why would he come onto the internet , make a new account on a chefs forum and then make a new thread with a bunch of lies? What does he have to gain from that?

Dropping stuff on the floor and using it? Pretty self explanatory; whether it's a hamburger, fish, carrot, slice bread.. if it's on the floor, don't serve it. If he dropped a box of potatoes and still used them; I think that's ok.
 
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