 The way my dad holds me. The smile on his face. *** My family would have been different. If my grandfather Harry had been present. He was a good provider. And absent. In the extreme. My father followed his lead. Those were the times. That's how it was. Work. Before home. His loss. Mine too. *** I see cooks being good fathers. Jamie Harling and Kyumin Hahn each had babies in 2021. Months apart. I knew them both long ago. Solid gold students. Juli born in July. June in December. There's been a lot of their adorableness in my Stories. Seeing them is a balm. Like beeswax. The scent of a meadow. The yellow ruffle on a blanket flower. Good for my heart. *** I know a man. Sparkling talent. Executive chef. He left the business. Not too long ago. Because having a family was a constant source of conflict. For his employer. The owners of celebrated Canadian restaurants. You've read about them in newspapers and magazines. Local cuisine. Grass-fed beef. Just harvested vegetables. From the garden out back. Attention to detail. Real care. Except for the man. In the white jacket. Who must show up: On demand. No outside obligations. For all the overtime. Answering day off work calls. "Family" loyalty. *** Most women leave restaurant kitchens just before the top. To have babies. Peak fertility. Sous chef is a double-door exit. We hold it open. Think nothing of the loss. Then we prevent them from returning to kitchen positions they left for maternity leave. They have a right. It's the law. Sparkling crystal glasses. Natural wine. Flickering candles. Expensive art. Attention to detail. Real care. Except for the woman. In the white jacket. Who must show up: Working a junior station. With years of experience. Because one year away. To have a baby. Erased all her skills. "Family" loyalty. *** We create ideal working conditions. For mostly single men. Look around your kitchens. I see it. In women-owned restaurants too. Our culture would benefit. If we dropped the idea. That colleagues and employees are "family." They. Are. Not. They're cooks. Wanting sustainable work. Real careers. Including time for children. And partners. A life. Outside the kitchen. Beyond the restaurant. It's time to trade in the pirate ship. Go for the minivan. *** Witchita Lineman. If you don't like it. We can't be friends. I can't get enough of the new Florence + The Machine. Also Bill Nighy. 20152022Comments are closed.
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