One line from a line cook changed how I season everything

Working the pass last Saturday, this kid about 19 years old, he's been there maybe 3 months, tastes my sauce and just goes 'it's salty but it's not seasoned'. I was ready to snap back, but I let it sit... he was right. I was dumping salt without building layers. Now I'm doing acid first, then salt, then checking for heat. Took me 12 years in kitchens to get that one sentence. Anyone else had a moment like that where some random rookie said something that wrecked your whole system?

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1 Comment

michaelcoleman5d ago

Man, that kid gave you a gift. Most cooks would've just nodded and moved on, but he actually made you think. I've been there where you get so used to how you cook that you stop questioning it. It takes a fresh set of eyes or taste buds to show you the hole in your game. Good on you for not snapping back, that's the hard part. Keep that kid close, he's gonna be running a kitchen someday.