Choose Life. I Chose the Kitchen !

“Whilst everyone has scars, and those still alive carry the stories, the other thing we have are memories.

Lifelong friendships created by hard work, blood, sweat, and tears.

This camaraderie never leaves – your work family is for life. It’s an industry that, while it still has its negatives, these days it can also offer so much.”

The kitchen isn’t for everyone

But for those of us who choose it, it’s everything.

Not for the glamour.
Not for comfort.
And definitely not for the faint-hearted.

I chose the heat, the chaos, the pressure.
I chose back-to-back doubles, missed birthdays, watching my children grow from afar, and holidays spent on the pass.
I chose the grind most people never see.

So why do we choose life in a kitchen?

Because behind all the sacrifice, there’s something more:

• The rush of a smooth, high-pressure service.
•  The strength you find in the hardest moments.
•  Bonds forged through blood, sweat, and shared purpose.
•  A deep love for the craft – the food, the people, the mission.
•  A feeling of community that runs deeper than blood.

Everyone carries scars.
Those of us still standing wear them with pride.

But we carry something else, too:

• Memories that never fade.
• Friendships built through trust and toil.
• A work family that never truly leaves you.

Yes, hospitality still has its hard edges.
But it’s evolving. So are the people in it.

Today, this industry can offer growth, creativity, leadership, and meaning.

This is kitchen life – it’s real. It’s raw.
It’s not for everyone – but it’s everything to us.

 

Choose life. I chose the kitchen.
And I wouldn’t have it any other way.