Yes, Chef

What time do I finish?

— When the work is done.

Yes, chef.

But actually,

I’ll be back in less than ten hours

and I’d love a little sleep.

Work a bit faster — lots to do.

Yes, chef.

But really,

you should hire more staff

or take less on.

I don’t get paid

to do the work of three.

Why are you doing it that way?

Do it my way.

Yes, chef.

Except —your recipe is wrong.

And we both know

when it doesn’t work,

it’ll be my name in the fire.

Yes chef. Yes chef. Yes chef.

Repetition makes it easy.

A reflex.

Routine as slicing onions.

But repetition

breeds frustration,

boredom

with the same old same old.

And maybe one day

I’ll try something new:

No, chef.

Why, chef?

Give me a break, chef.

Instead,

sharp silence

until

the soft thud of a closed door.

Bye, chef.

Recipe Pairing — The Fiery French Omelette

The ultimate expression of French technique — restrained, precise, and clean. But just beneath that delicate, golden surface, something wilder brews. The intense, fiery ’nduja butter stains the silk with rebellion, tangled wild herbs push through the calm, and hot honey brings a sweet, searing edge. A dish that begins with discipline and ends in defiance.