Life behind kitchen d00rs

Who I work for often involve doing things in the kitchen as well as being behind bars, topping up champagne, cash handling and serving three course meals at top charity events. What I would like to talk about is what I have experienced and seen for the past month - countless secrets and hidden surprises which take place behind kitchen doors - all the names are made up for identity reasons (lol joke, I do not actually wish to get in trouble) and I'm not going to reveal which company represented whom and so.

What really happens behind kitchen doors - who are they?

Around the end of last month I have been working at Kitchens during events in Bond Street;my duty was arranging when the food go into the hall and among the guests, which had any dietary requirements. This job involved me being in the kitchen long enough to hear everyone's life story. Bare in mind, before I was due to start work I was told not to let any of the chefs touch me; of course I thought this was just a poxy joke. I was wrong.

Much to my amazement, I found that the head chef of the kitchen was an ex inmate - he served 8 years inside for Heroin use but this is all I know. I feared that there was more to this as 8 years seems like such a long ass time. The sad part was that he looked so young to have been through all that but the good thing is he is finally doing something well for himself I guess? Some of the other chefs were from a low economical background all recruited from an agency who assist in that area of need; unemployment. However, they have been thoroughly trained and taught to make the finest food that people would be paying thousands for. Two guys were bigger than average who liked to swear a lot and talk about porn which was truly disturbing to listen to. The youngest was 22 who was a victim of a crime 4 years ago; he had 8 scars across his face from stab wounds and a limp. Now I'm not the one too judge but to even get yourself in that position, he either must have been at the wrong place at the wrong time or just with the wrong people. There's always any good in every bad when you think about it though so I can't say much. I never knew I was going to be learning all this information but when I did, I took more interest in the background of other workers; not just where I worked but any where else.

 But to add on one last worker, the food prep leader in the kitchen was also an ex inmate; he was inside for raping a child 28 years ago - now what do you really think? As much as I despise pedophiles, no judgement was allowed at work of course and I weren't to know this (which I wish I didn't) but gossip is very ill these days and the news couldn't wait to spread. I spoke to this man once for the whole night! He would often drag his feet around the kitchen which drove me mental because of the sounds made doing it but strangely not mental enough to tell him to stop, I couldn't.

However, they do intend to say that the best workers are the ex cons; an example of another case is David Nunes who is an ex criminal charged for bank robbery in California; he had spent 30 of his 50 years in prison (junvenile detention first). The company Kahala Caterers hired him first as a dishwasher, then through hard work and seen motivation he was moved up to food prepping then to cooking shortly after. He is the leading truck driver for the company. For ex inmates - it would be like some sort of rehab for them straight after being released from the stone cold four walls for several years; given jobs such as washing plates, clearing rubbish etc.

All the staffs were very chatty, they would share dirty jokes among each other and laugh heartily. Once a course has been served, they would grub in what's left and drink lots of staff refreshments. Some would even sing or annoy a waiter on purpose.

It would be a lie to say no risks were involved (still no biggie) but they were jolly men who were doing as they were told and cooked amazing dishes that were of great taste. According to the rehabilitation offenders Act 1974 - these worker's convictions would have been spent and with certain exceptions, they no longer need to be disclosed by the ex-offender in any context when applying for a job or getting insurance. Do correct me if I'm wrong because most convictions (without a re conviction) need not to be serious?

I'm sure we all know about Gordon Ramsey and his attempt to train inmates how to cook! At Brixton prison, he had a goal to teach a number of inmates how to cook and planned to run a business selling food from inside the prison to us, the general public in Cafe Nero. It was such an interesting tv show on channel 4 a few years back, have you seen it? The 12 inmates were convicted of either actual bodily harm, robbery or burglary - none of them have over a 5 year sentence. Two landed a tryout at Ramsay's savoy restaurant after release but one got fired due to a relapse into drugs - such a dear shame.

I'm going to stop here now but I wanted to share this because crime and judgement is a massive interest of mine and having experienced what I've just shared about the Kitchen staffs - I didn't know what else to think. They are given a second chance you could say; they are trusted to do well; this is their last option?