Ben, I trained for 3 years in New Orleans as a chef, and worked another couple in and for various restaurants, both private and corporate so I can tell you with all due respect that he should run, not walk from this line of work. He should bite the bullet and do it now before he gets too into it. There is hardly any money in the field, it is horrible hours and no career potential unless he is in the top 1% of his field. I know alot of people in this field and most are unhappy with where they are.
I am not trying to scare you or anything, but just telling you straight up what happened with me and my family. When I figuired this out, I had a mortgage and two children. It was pretty tough changing careers mid-stride like that, but I look back now and am so glad that I did. -----Original Message----- From: Ben Braver [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Friday, February 21, 2003 12:06 PM To: CF-Community Subject: Seeking a little sympathy hi gang, Another real bummer with the 22-year-old son. He's been working as a banquet cook and fills in at the pantry station in the line restaurant sometimes. It's a "boutique hotel" with a huge, deluxe fitness club attached. The restaurant serves the hotel, the club, and hopefully the general public. But the sales and marketing person (who just got fired) did a lousy job of publicizing it to the community. Between that and the economy, business has been lousy. Most of the restaurant staff have had their hours cut. Yesterday, my son found out he's being laid off (via a voice mail message). So, it's gone from bad (no roommate and not enough hours to make ends meet), to worse (no job). This is the third horse he's had shot out from under him since getting out of the cooking school. He's pretty bummed out. So am I - his moving home would create a virtual (or real) war zone. And subsidizing him until he gets up to speed on a new job (or jobs) and a roommate would be hard financially, especially when we're finally getting a handle on the budjet. <heavy sigh> My wife went over to "just be there" last night. (He only wanted "Mom" there.) She suggested he get real and go for a job at Starbucks or something just to make rent. Yes, I know the economy is rough right now. But I cringe at the idea of financing an education at the California Culinary Academy for him to end up at Starbucks. I think the problem may be that he doesn't have fast enough knife and "production" skills to keep up with the chefs' expectations - he loves food and cooking, but isn't the most coordinated person. (You should see his handwriting!) And he doesn't have the "fire" (drive) and confidence to charge into the typical line kitchen and take it by storm. (Pardon the mixed metaphors.) Yeah, I'm sure it will work out for him and us. Just feeling a little bummed and looking for some kind words from a bunch of great people. Have a nice weekend, everyone. -Ben ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/index.cfm?forumid=5 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/index.cfm?method=subscribe&forumid=5 Your ad could be here. Monies from ads go to support these lists and provide more resources for the community. http://www.fusionauthority.com/ads.cfm Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=89.70.5
