for Six Sentence Stories where the given word is Centre.
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I’m not normally one for digging up pieces I’ve written in the past, but now and again something comes to mind that I think deserves a second outing. This a drastically reworked version of a piece I wrote when I was a pub chef a few years ago and it seems to fit the bill quite nicely!
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I spend hour upon hour in the kitchen where dressed in my pristine whites I am top dog, master and mentor for this is my empire, my territory, my domain, the centre of my universe.
Suppliers come and go, butchers, greengrocers, fishmongers, poachers even, for this is where I conduct business, where I weal, deal sometimes pass cash under the counter!
I have helpers in my kitchen, some cook, some peel and chop, one washes pots, and it’s also my consulting room, my advice centre; a surgery where I witness teenage angst, advise on relationships, stick blue plasters on cuts and proffer a friendly ear when required.
The kitchen is my studio, my workshop and my laboratory, for this is where I embrace my passion for all things gastronomic, where I experiment and create surrounded by cookery books, hastily written recipes and copies of old menus.
It’s where I receive orders from my hungry customers, where waitresses bring me scraps of paper containing orders, some scribbled, some wordy and many illegible!
At the end of service, I stand back, look around and tell myself how lucky I am to work in this kitchen, then I close the door behind me, and with the sound of the day still ringing in my ears, I thank God it’s all over until tomorrow when I’ll have to bloody well do it all over again!
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Thanks to GirlieOnTheEdge for hosting.
Keith's Ramblings 
It must’ve been some experience
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Exhausting but satisfying! Cheers Sadje.
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🙏👍
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That’s one happy chef! Not a swear word in sight. Great Six, Keith.
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Let’s just say, I left them out! Thanks, Chris.
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😁😂
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That must have been quite an experience, Keith. I’m not a great cook and I don’t enjoy cooking in particular so I’m always in awe of people who can do this over and over again!
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Even though it’s no longer my job, I’m never happier than when I’m in a kitchen! Cheers Shweta
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There was a lot of detail in this 6, Keith, and the humanness really carried through. I’ve been watching a lot of “Chopped” and “Beat Bobby Flay” lately so I know that kitchens can be frantic places. You made it feel like a loving place as well.
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Exactly so Michael, it was exhausting yet satisfying in equal measures. Thanks so much.
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tres bien!
muy bueno!!
and all that stuff.
Good six.
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Merci, gracias and Спасибо UP!
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My son is a chef. I listen to him and get exactly the same vibe. I’ll show this one to him. Well done… or is that, a rare delight? Guess it depends upon who’s cooking? 😉
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It does indeed! I’m sure your sone will know exactly what I’m going on about! Thanks, Susan.
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I like your description of the chef’s work environment that he protects. Indeed work is a center of our lives.
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Indeed it is, more so with some occupations than others. Thanks, Frank.
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He has it all, then gets do go home when his shift is over. It’s a perfect life
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…and grabs a ready meal en route!
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Like so many things, it’s a joy and yet …
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… one of those things you can’t imagine not doing!
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Well, well, well, you were a chef.
Did you serve tripe?
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I saved that for when I started blogging!
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From your description, it was an entire universe in and of itself! And you the grand master 😀
The energy present must have been almost constant. Little do we diners know of the potential dramas, near disasters, certain successes and comradery that evolves in a kitchen.
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Six, Keith!
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Two contrasting worlds divided by a kitchen door. There’s certainly more to cheffing than cooking!
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Brilliant Six Keith. I know it’s hard graft but satisfying when all is working well. Having worked in the care sector all my life there is always a fully staffed kitchen attached – and it’s like entering a world within a world. I got on well with our last head chef and played football with him. On work breaks I hang out with the kitchen team as they’re always up for a laugh (and sometimes give me free goodies 😀)
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Different jobs but a lot in common! comes with perks too it seems!
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I think so too. Got to have a least a few perks here and there I reckon.
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The last paragraph sounds a lot like being a teacher as well! Nice 6!
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I suppose it does, though I guess teachers sometinnes takemore work home with them!
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The world in a kitchen!
The joy in the job…
Balanced by having to bloody do it all again tomorrow!
Oh how I reconise that.
Another great slice of life, Keith.
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It was my life for many years, in my own pub, in my bistro and working for others. Fortunately, I no longer have to do it again tomorrow!
Thanks Jenne.
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