Dating a chef can be a wonderful thing. They are creative and considerate people; plus, just think about all the amazing food that you’ll be exposed to! But as is the case a lot of the time in hospitality, with the perks comes a handful of challenges.
So, if you have your eye on a cook and want to make things work romantically, here’s a few points to consider!
1) Weekends? What weekends?
Going out together on the weekends can be quite the challenge when dating a chef. The unfortunate reality being that crunch time for foodservice venues is Saturday/Sunday. If a chef is lucky, they might get one of these days off, but it’s not uncommon for a chef to be working across both days.
If you’re working Monday-Friday each week then it’s bound to be a frustrating clash (at least at first anyway) but it’s not the end of the world. It might just take a more tactical approach to scheduling a date when the roster is released to find windows of romantic opportunity.
2) No plans are safe
Finding time to spend together can become doubly difficult when your chef’s roster is as fickle as the weather in Melbourne. Planning ahead can be a tough ask as so much can change in the matter of a few days.
Keeping plans fluid is key. If you’ve found those pockets of time where you’re both free, it’s best to pencil in time together during those moments and expect that something may fall through.
3) Don’t be afraid to cook for the cook
It’s important to remember that chefs are cooking all day, so they may be less enthusiastic about making dinner if they’ve just returned from a double shift. Look at it this way, if you’re selling insurance then the last thing you want to do is talk home and contents once you get home.
It can be quite intimidating to cook for a chef, but ask any of them and they’ll likely be thrilled to have someone make them a meal for once.
4) Learn from the best
If your culinary abilities are limited to two-minute noodles and peanut butter toast then now is your chance to change that. If you’ve committed to our last point and this is what you’re bringing to the table on a regular basis then you might be in trouble.
Chefs make incredible instructors, whose unique skillset are often hidden behind the doors of the commercial kitchen. If you’re attentive, focused and enthusiastic then we’re sure they’d have no problem taking you on as a kitchen hand at home!
5) “Clean as you go”
If you’ve never heard this phrase before, then this is obviously your first time dating a chef. Keeping a clean kitchen area whether you live together or separately is vital for maintaining peace together. Nothing will irritate a chef more than a cluttered cooking space.
It’s pretty simple, clean as you go and establish standards early!
6) Don’t stay up for me
Most restaurant kitchens close somewhere between 9-10pm. Which would be somewhat reasonable if that meant it’s time to leave, but there’s still cleaning, staff meals and a knock-off to come before the night can be called complete.
Understanding this and factoring that into your expectations is a good idea. It’s a bit of a shame, but at least you can pinch the good side of the bed before they get home!
7) Get to know the crew
Working in hospitality is a great way to make new friends, which is a major reason why many are attracted to working in the industry. The interconnectedness of staff is unparalleled by any other profession.
Many partners outside of foodservice tend to shy away from getting amongst staff gatherings as it can be a little overwhelming at first, meeting all of these new characters. But hospo workers are some of the friendliest people, and it won’t take long at all before you feel at home.
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