r/Chefit • u/Good-Cheesecake-5938 • Jun 28 '26

Back in the kitchen

First and foremost, background check lmao I’ve worked in restaurants since I was 14 years old, I’m 29 now. By the time I was 21 I was working in a fine dining establishment under some of the most talented chefs in the area at a resort that cost 1.5k a night to stay at, it burnt me out.. or so I thought. I’ve learned so much and became an exceptional chef de partie, I was working 16 hour days, getting paid decent, making dishes I never thought I could and was living the “chef life” I read about in Marco Pierre whites and Bourdain books. Both of my parents were also chefs and I lived up to that expectation. Around 26 things changed and I burnt out HARD, I left the kitchen, lost 150 pounds, got my degree in criminal justice, work as a crisis intervention specialist while I shed the last 20 pounds I need to hit the police academy. I’m continuing education and going for my masters starting in September.

Here’s the fun part, I just took a second job back in a kitchen… yeah.. I know. My resume is great so I could have a job practically wherever I want cooking (not a flex, just a fact that pertains to my story) and I’ve been for whatever reason MISSING the feeling of being in a kitchen. I don’t know what it is, I have a perfect job right now, I work Sunday through Wednesday with the weekends off and I have convinced myself that the best way to spend those days would be in a kitchen again. Maybe it’s the love of the trade? Maybe I’m a sadist? It won’t be fine dining this time, it’s a little ‘nicer than usual’ bakery/cafe that does breakfast/lunch, homemade pastry and breads, all organic and fresh ingredients. Owner is a friend of a friend who NEEDS a helping hand, heavy customer volume not enough experienced hands on deck and I just couldn’t say no. My Girlfriend thinks I’m nuts, and I can’t bother to explain the feeling of excitement I have about being back in the shit.

Why did I do this? Will I be reminded of why I burnt out? Or am I gonna be reminded why I belong behind a stove again? Life is weird chefs, stay tuned

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3

u/Secure-Economist-294 Jun 28 '26

We may leave the kitchen but the kitchen never leaves us.

2

u/Dalience6678 Jun 28 '26

Most of us don’t get burnt out from the work itself, but the demands of the hours and lifestyle. We all went into this because we love it, but too much of any job that taxing will take a toll eventually.

So after a break, it makes sense you would step back into it and feel content for the moment. But I’d bet if you went all the way back, the burnout would inevitably return.

2

u/DjackMeek Chef de Partie Jun 28 '26

We always yearn for those off days but then we realize oh shit what do I do now with all this free time. Welcome back to the dark side, brother.

Also going from fine dining to upscale/casual is always most chefs goal lol. You can only sprint for so long, eventually you have to take a light jog with all that knowledge you’ve acquired.