SC - Keeping out the idle curious

Tue Apr 13 12:04:52 PDT 1999

Hear, Hear, unca king poppa Gunthar!!!

Two of the three people who had comitted to help me cook in the kitchen at the feast I did last year did not show up.
I did not lack for help, however!!
I learned a while ago that if someone offers to help, you don't turn them away without thinking about it.
Most of the help I had that day just sort of wandered into the kitchen. I turned nobody away who wantedd to help. I tried to find everybody something to do. that way, even if they sprinkle a garnish on a dish, they feel that they were useful. that is a good feeling to leave the kitchen with, and makes it more likely that they will be there to help me again.
Luckily, I had a rather large kitchen, so I was not crowded. 
Still, I can see no reason to be rude to anyone, as long as they are not rude first.
If someone wanders into the kitchen, idly, then I'd say, pointedly but politely, "Can I help you?" looking very busy. 
They then do onew of three things
Leave - This is ok by me.
Stand around on the periphery and watch - Usually they get bored and leave in a few minutes
or offer to pitch in.
As long as the "Watchers" are reminded to stay out of the way, and not otherwise conmmunicated with, I can forget about them.
If I have to ask them to leave. A firm but polite"perhaps you had better wait in the hall" out to be enough for anybody to get the hint.
If that doesn't work, ask the autocrat to deal with them. That is the job of the Autocrat. I'd prefer to concentrate on cooking, rather than crowd control.

You know, I have seen cooks who predispose themselves for a problem. They put up "go away or go on the menu" signs, and growl at every face that enters the kitchen from the moment they get on site. This is IMHO, a "Presumption of Botheration". I cannot do that. I am happiest when I am cooking, and try to show it. I like to show off, I guess. How can I get angry?
Desperate,maybe...  confused, concerned, or frustrated, perhaps... but I try like hell to have FUN. I can't do that if I let myself get mad.
As King Henry II said, in "the Lion in Winter":
"Its going to be a Jungle of a day. If I start growling now, I'll never cease!"

>>> "Michael F. Gunter" <michael.gunter at fnc.fujitsu.com> 04/13 2:13 PM >>>

> I think Frederich has a good point here, within reason. If I get yelled at
> everytime I step through the kitchen door, whether I'm looking to see
> if there might be some ice for a drink or whether I'm checking to see if
> there is anything I can do to help, I'm darn well going to think about
> it before I open that door again in either case. There is already the
> problem of "out of sight, out of mind". Creating the idea of cliques of irate 
> cooks doesn't help create a welcome atmosphere where people want to come in
> and help. And it will certainly scare off those folks who are more timid
> or are unsure of whether they might be of help in the kitchen.
> 
> -- 
> Lord Stefan li Rous  

Please forgive me for listing the entire post but there is a lot I agree
with here. Sorry Ras, but I feel dealing with "drop-ins" with courtesy
makes for happier times for everyone. If someone is just hanging out in 
the kitchen then I'll encourage them to help or if there are too many people
in a small space I'll have the extras leave and explain why. I've never had
anyone cop an attitude. I don't mind getting ice for people or whatever. 

Usually the bystanders are willing to help if they know what to do and if
there's nothing for them to do they will usually stay out of the way.

Yours,

Gunthar

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