you know you're in the right kitchen {job} when you

miss getting up at 5 am,
feel sad that you will not be working 12 hours {8 of those hours are non-stop service} on a saturday,
are sad to be going on vacation,
have an individual crush on every cook, and are falling in love with the team as a whole,
are learning new things about recipes you have been making for years,
are skipping along the aisles at Staples to buy organizational things for your station,
wish you didn't have so many days off,
eat at your place of work and the food is so good you almost start crying,
tell the owner how amazing the food is and you're not:
    lying, leaving out certain important details, are trying to kiss ass, exaggerating,
get up at o'dark hundred even when you're not going to work,
want everyone you have ever loved or hated to come in and enjoy the food,
miss your co-cooks as soon as you walk out of the kitchen,
go home absolutely physically to' up, but happy,
are beaming with pride,
are excited beyond reason to enter recipes and spreadsheets into Excel,
can't wait to come home from a tropical place to work in a small hot room rolling pie dough,
get that old feeling that you used to get when you were a line cook 15 years ago,
make a difference where you work: the owner appreciates your efforts and your team makes you want to do better every day,
are getting back to basics and you are not getting bored, but rather invigorated,
are not delusional, but have some serenity around being part of a larger picture,
feel respect and admiration for those signing your check,
take your first ever bath in your little house for the first time to see and accept your 40 year old self and hope the hot hot water will relieve you some of your muscle hangover,
make plans to hang out with your co-baker because you are not going to see her, or work with her again until after you get back from the east coast.

/just a reminder, I am not naming the place where I am working. If you do so in the comments, your comment will be edited. Need an explanation? read this. If you live in the area and you must absolutely taste this delicious food I speak of, email me directly. many of you have seen me there already. also: I am not "The Pastry Chef" here, I am a cook/baker and I am making traditional baked goods, with extra love & affection.

Comments

[Tartelette]

Yep, wholeheartdly agreed. I wrote something along these line after one difficult night when I wanted to strangle the Exec. chef and kiss him at the same time :)

[anita]

so happy you've found your home. :)

[oddgirl]

I'm a friend of Brian Sharp's and have been reading your blog of late.

And it's posts like this one that really make me want to quit my tech job and go back to working the line. Glad to hear you found a place that makes you feel this way. I remember (and miss) the feelings you are describing.

[aran]

oh how jealous am I now... I think that applies to any aspects in life and not only to work. to be passionate about something in life is so difficult yet so rewarding. to feel committed to something or someone... it feels one soul. I had that same love and commitment in my last job. I would have done anything for my chef and I feel he would have done anything for me.

[annie]

Check, check, check, and check! As a starter cook, this is the best informal guideline I've seen yet. I currently work at a place that makes me feel this way, but am thinking of moving to a new opportunity. Am I crazy?

Congratulations on finding a happy home that makes you feel crazy with passion again. I'm really happy and excited for you.