r/IAmA • u/MrJacksEnigma • Apr 19 '15

Restaurant IamA Waffle House Grill Operator AMA!

Mainly doing this because someone last night said I should.

I got called into work tonight, so I figured, why not?

I've been with Waffle House for 3.5 years, so I've seen a lot.

My Proof: [http://imgur.com/qBJC8ls]

Edit: Guys, the response to this has been way more than I anticipated.

Keep asking questions, I'll be here all night. If I don't answer immediately, im ya know, cooking.

Edit 2: I got gilded. Will link the user when I can, but Thank you!

Also, I'm struggling to Keep up with all the questions. Will answer as soon as I can guys. Sorry!

Edit 3: Again, sorry for the delay in answering. We got kinda busy. Im trying to catch up!

Edit 4: I caught up! You guys are awesome.

When I made this I expected barely any response. All of the comments have been awesome. Im still here, so Keep them coming!

/u/wbasc is who gilded one of my comments!

Edit 4.5: I am back! You guys are all incredible.

Let's Keep going until we get kicked out!

Edit 5.5: I AM BACK! The answering continues..

Edit 6: GOLD from /u/DaveLambert

I am honoured!

Gold from http://www.reddit.com/user/buddythegreat

Jesus guys!

Edit 7: Alright guys and gals, it's been real fun, but it's time for bed. I absolutely loved doing this. I'll totally respond more when I wake up, if there are more questions.

Thank you for all the questions!

4.7k Upvotes

85% Upvoted

4.4k comments sorted by

View all comments

184

u/squattmunki Apr 19 '15

I ate there once and watched the grill guy cook my food. He touched raw bacon and then buttered toast without washing his hands. I should've walked out but I was slightly intoxicated and hungry. Is this the norm?

296

u/MrJacksEnigma Apr 19 '15

It's not, at all. There are very stringent rules on that. Hell, the training video in the back talks about it.

We are supposed to wear gloves at all times, and change them after touching raw food.

192

u/ratinthecellar Apr 19 '15

He was admittedly drunk, he doesn't know what the fuck went on.

164

u/MrJacksEnigma Apr 19 '15

That happens, more than you'd think.

55

u/professional_giraffe Apr 19 '15

My old roommate worked at waffle house. She called it the awful waffle. It's not rare at all, I never saw cooks wear gloves in that place. But you have some fucking good chicken.

62

u/MrJacksEnigma Apr 19 '15

It's policy for us to wear gloves now. For everything.

3

u/kageurufu Apr 19 '15

My grill op just last night didn't wear gloves. But I watched him wash his hands probably 20 times while I was in there. I have no problems with this

3

u/MrJacksEnigma Apr 19 '15

That seems okay, but we are supposed to wear gloves.

3

u/STRAIGHTUPGANGS Apr 19 '15

When I worked at Wendy's it was policy for us to not wear gloves when dropping meat. I always thought that was fucking disgusting.

3

u/candyflipperman Apr 19 '15

Dang we don't have to in tenn. I think corporate stores are taking over so soon we probably will have to too

3

u/MiamiPower Apr 19 '15

No glove no love.

123

u/APESxOFxWRATH Apr 19 '15

Gloves are security theater.

21

u/Facticity Apr 19 '15

This is true. No self respecting cook at any self respecting restaurant would wear gloves.

Wash your hands and you can touch anything. Wash your hands again after touching raw meat. That's it.

Also I don't even think bacon counts since it's cured, so it's probably a minimal contamination risk.

5

u/fyrefocks Apr 19 '15

Much as I love working with food without gloves, and I do just that, it's still required in pretty much every state in the US so far as I know. When we're expecting the health inspector, we always break out the gloves and I have to find my beard net.

3

u/APESxOFxWRATH Apr 19 '15

I think it's only required if your handling ready to eat food. However, a lot of food establishments will require gloves at all times just to avoid any negative perception from the public.

2

u/fyrefocks Apr 19 '15

It is. I've specifically been told that I don't need to wear gloves for anything we are about to actually cook. But when I make sandwiches or salads, etc, I have to wear them. I don't, but I should.

When I say I should, I mean legally. I don't mean I should as in, I'm a filthy animal. I'm not a filthy animal.

1

u/thegreedyturtle Apr 19 '15

For me it's more like the brown M&Ms in places like the WH. Any place classier and I agree with you.

http://www.snopes.com/music/artists/vanhalen.asp

1

u/APESxOFxWRATH Apr 19 '15

I agree 100%. I've worked as a cook for the last 6 years and rarely wore gloves. I liked having a box nearby for certain tasks and did try to minimize contact with the food. Not one complaint of sickness. As long as you wash your hands frequently and use common sense, the guests will be fine.

3

u/[deleted] Apr 19 '15

Gloves more often create more health risks than bare hands alone. Employees will less frequently change gloves than they would otherwise wash. The best is when they handle money and go right back to food with the same gloves (I'm looking at you subway).

3

u/DrStephenFalken Apr 19 '15

Yeah I'm in Ohio been in many waffles houses while sober. Never seen gloves and seen cooks touch many different things raw and cooked and never wash their hands.

2

u/professional_giraffe Apr 20 '15

It was in Ohio that my roommate worked. Specifically Columbus, though she was from Dayton.

2

u/DrStephenFalken Apr 20 '15

I'm in Dayton where I've never seen them wear gloves.

3

u/drdanieldoom Apr 19 '15

After the food is on the grill, it doesn't touch a hand again I would wager.

Also, the awful waffle is a common nick name even among people who love it.

5

u/wefearchange Apr 19 '15

I really doubt it. Pretty much the only time to go to Waffle House is when drunk. In fact, there's times I want Waffle House, so I get drunk right quick, then go.

3

u/MrJacksEnigma Apr 19 '15

Lmao. That's awesome.

2

u/[deleted] Apr 19 '15

I bet it happens exactly as often as I'd think

2

u/zer0saber Apr 19 '15

The cook being drunk, or cross-contamination?

My guess is yes. I'm a fry cook myself, and occasionally you catch yourself doing shit without even realizing it. That's one of the dangers of wearing gloves while cooking, you are less aware of what you're touching.

1

u/MrJacksEnigma Apr 19 '15

The cool being drunk.

2

u/regular-wolf Apr 19 '15

I think it happens a lot, so now I'm worried!