Cooking in an open kitchen comes with its own challenges and rewards but if there is one thing each person working in an open kitchen can agree on it’s that it is a special experience. In an open kitchen the diners are watching your every move as you prepare their meal and so there are many things happening that you just don’t see in the usual restaurant environment. When the customer is watching you prep your meal and there is no wall separating you from them, the kitchen is a much calmer and quieter place. You can’t curse, or shout or really make much noise at all. Also, people eating at an open kitchen restaurant tend to be on the lookout for something to go wrong, so cooks have to be much more careful with how often they wash their hands, monitoring their caps or hair nets and aprons, and keeping an eye out for safety. If the cook looks dirty, the diner will be much less inclined to eat the food being prepared.
There are some benefits. If you are a chef in an open kitchen, you are going to receive a lot more praise for your dishes. As you are cooking people will often tell you that what you are making looks delicious and beautiful and many cooks that were interviewed said that it was a great feeling. Diners in this setting are also more inclined to talk to the chef, and you can often have conversations with the customers that would other wise be missed. This is great if you are a social chef who hates being behind closed doors.
There is so much to learn when it comes to Open Kitchen Concept and Bon Appetit has all you need to know. More…
