The Grossest Thing I’ve Seen Behind the Kitchen in a US Restaurant

Back in the late 1970s, I was just a teenager with a job at a local restaurant. From washing dishes to cooking, waiting tables, and delivering pizzas, I handled every role. I even did catering on the weekends, which, along with my other duties, gave me a solid grounding in the field and set the stage for my lifelong passion for cooking.

A Hawaiian Enthusiast

The restaurant was owned by P, a large and vibrant Hawaiian woman. She offered a mix of Hawaiian and standard American cuisine, and even lived above the restaurant, along with her two little schnauzers. She kept a couple of storage rooms above, exclusively for catering equipment.

Now, here's the story that defines one of the grossest things I ever saw behind the kitchen. Unlike the main restaurant area, these storage rooms were private and were not inspected or even known to the regular restaurant staff. P kept these rooms for storing her catering equipment, and it remained untouched from day-to-day operations.

A Shocking Discovery

One Saturday, as we prepared for a catering event, P instructed us to go up and collect the chafing dishes and other necessary gear. We had about 20 minutes before the event started. When we entered the storage room, we were met with a horrifying sight. The chafing dishes were scattered all over the floor, alongside various other items. Most shockingly, the room was awash in dog feces. These little schnauzers had quite the habit of defecating all over the place, including right inside the chafing dishes!

Responsibility in the 70s

My friend and I knew that we couldn’t serve guests with that level of contamination. We gathered what we needed, ran downstairs to scrub the dishes with boiling water and soap, and managed to clean the dishes just in time. Despite our efforts, we were still up to 15 minutes late, and we faced a tongue-lashing from the catering staff for our lateness. We explained that our actions were out of a moral responsibility, but it wasn't received well.

On that day, the people at the catering event were served clean dishes because a couple of high school kids felt a moral obligation not to serve from the items contaminated with dog feces. It was a harsh lesson in the importance of hygiene and the potential consequences of ignoring it.

Lessons Learned

The incident taught me the value of maintaining high standards in the kitchen. While the owner may not have known about the situation, it was imperative to ensure that the catering equipment was clean and sanitary for the guests. Food safety is paramount, and ignoring it can have severe repercussions.

Conclusion

Working in the kitchen offers a unique glimpse into the ups and downs of restaurant operations. While most people focus on the dining experience, it is equally important to safeguard the cleanliness behind the scenes. Stories like these highlight the human aspect of the food industry, where individual actions can significantly impact the overall experience.