Kitchen Chronicles: Behind-The-Scenes Humor in the Culinary World
If you’ve ever worked in a kitchen, you know that it can be a stressful, high-pressure environment. But it can also be a place full of laughter and humor. In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the behind-the-scenes humor in the culinary world.
The Language of the Kitchen
One of the first things you’ll notice when you start working in a kitchen is the unique language that is used. There are countless terms that are specific to the culinary world, and many of them are a source of humor for those in the know.
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| All day | Refers to all of the orders that a particular station has to prepare. For example, if a line cook has three orders of steak and two orders of fish, they might say “I have five all day.” |
| 86 | To remove an item from the menu. For example, if a restaurant runs out of a particular dish, the chef might say “86 the salmon.” |
| Behind | A warning that someone is walking behind you with hot or sharp objects. For example, if a cook is carrying a tray of hot food behind another cook, they might say “Behind you.” |
| In the weeds | To be overwhelmed or behind on orders. For example, if a line cook is struggling to keep up with the orders coming in, they might say “I’m in the weeds.” |
Pranks and Jokes
Another source of humor in the kitchen is the pranks and jokes that are played on one another. These can range from harmless jokes to more elaborate pranks.
- One common joke is to send a new cook to the pantry to look for items that don’t exist. For example, they might be told to find a jar of “bacon grease powder” or a can of “steam from the oven.”
- Another classic prank is to put salt in the sugar container or vice versa. This can lead to some interesting reactions from customers who are expecting their coffee to be sweet.
- More elaborate pranks might involve hiding someone’s tools or equipment, or even rearranging the kitchen so that everything is in a different place.
Credit: www.newyorker.com
Food Puns
Finally, no discussion of the humor in the culinary world would be complete without mentioning food puns. Chefs and cooks love to play with language, and there are countless puns and jokes that involve food.
- What do you call a fake noodle? An impasta.
- Why did the tomato turn red? Because it saw the salad dressing.
- What do you get when you cross a snowman and a shark? Frostbite.
These are just a few examples of the many food puns out there.
Credit: www.imdb.com
Conclusion
Working in a kitchen can be tough, but it can also be a place full of humor and laughter. From the unique language to the pranks and jokes, to the endless food puns, there is always something to smile about in the culinary world.
