Industry Perks

[blwchef]

What are some of the best industry perks you guys have experianced.
Tomorrow I get to go to a Rhone Wine varietals charity auction/tasting for free. over 70 wineries from the west coast. Taking off from work around noon to start drinkink expensive free wine is what I call fitting end to ones work week.
I've had freinds of mine flown to Japan for cooking demos and Salt Lake to cater the Olympics. I'm still waiting for the real nice perks to start rolling in.

[KneeKnocks]

Let's see.....I get to eat for free, and my daughter could eat with a 50% discount (if she'd eat there...which she wouldn't, because she's a teenager and we don't have a drive-thru).

That's about it.....

[blwchef]

I'LL TAKE ONE CHATEAUBRIANDT, ONE POMME ANNA, ONE TRUFFLED PHEASANT WITH A CARAMELIZED ONION TART AND BABY DANDELION GREENS, A SIDE OF LOBSTER MASHED POTATOES, A SOUFFLE TRIO, OH AND A SQUAB PATE DE CAMPAGNE......would you like some thing to drink with that sir?....YAH, I'LL TAKE A '98 CHATEAU BEAUCASTEL AND A SPLIT OF CRYSTAL......that will be $433 please drive through...

[KneeKnocks]

...AND I'LL NEED EXTRA KETCHUP PACKETS.....(this is Missouri, you know).......

[blwchef]

....would you like to gourmondo size that sir? For $40 you can get slab seared foie gras and a half bottle of ice wine....it comes with a free angioplasty...

[RETREVR]

I remember long ago a chef telling me "We don't pay you much but you will learn a lot and the beer is free." True.
I was always the cook that the chef chose for the wine tastings with the salesmen which was a few times a week.
I then ran a wine store. I would taste every day, not to mention the big industry tastings every fall. I still remember tasting ten grappas at 9:00am. I chose to get away from that industry for a while. I hear that some restaurants have super rehab programs.
Most of the perks used to come from neighboring restaurants and bars, and fellow workers.
Does 25% off at the knife shop count?

[bishop]

When my wife worked for a couple artisan bakeries, she was entitled to free food whenever, and a loaf of bread everyday. Plus I got 50% off or free depending on who was working the register, free espresso etc.

edit: please forgive my drunken candor. Neither time nor place, I think!

[merlin1]

I hope your karma can afford what you are calling "perks." I know from sad experience that mine sure can't.

What you see depends on where you are standing.

-merlin

[Sid Post]

[ QUOTE ]
I hope your karma can afford what you are calling "perks." I know from sad experience that mine sure can't.

What you see depends on where you are standing.

-merlin

[/ QUOTE ]

Well said.

[blwchef]

Tomorrow I "have" to go and cater my owners boat party on a 4 hour tour. Basically I'm getting paid extra to make a few platters and hang out on boat and drink wine. I'm still trying to remember why I took this job. With a slave driver of boss like that I can't beleive I've lasted this long. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

[KneeKnocks]

And you want to open your own place so you can lavish the same sort of perks on your employees, right? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

[miles]

My favorite perk is when the wine purveyors stop by and once in a while leave you with a bottle or two to test drive after you've done your tastings. I've picked up some nice bottles that way. Of course, it doesn't hurt your cause when it's almost always their last stop of the day, so it's not too tough for them to leave one of their unopened bottles for you.

Brandon, I just don't understand how you can let your boss take advantage of you like that. It's just bloody criminal. Depending on the vintage, it might just be straight out abuse! You should really complain to BL&I about such horrible treatment! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Mike

[blwchef]

I just got back. I forgot to mention the boat pulled up to B.B. King's 80th birthady party concert on the peer. That was the last straw! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

[Peter]

[ QUOTE ]
B.B. King's 80th birthady party

[/ QUOTE ]

Lucky Brandon.

Peter

[RETREVR]

I picked up three bottles of open white burgundy last month. I remember years ago picking up a whole case of open silver oak. I get to taste a lot at small parties. I recently tasted a 78 haut brion and a bunch of screaming eagle.
I am always telling my commis about all the tail I get when the chicks realize what a nice loaf of bread I can bake. Nothing turns the girls on like a guy that works 14hrs a day and comes home smelling of mirepoix.
Actually it is quite amazing how much play a grungy line cook can get.
I also have to say that having a rack of freshly laundered polyester houndstooth pants at all times is a perk you won't likely find in the lesser professions.

[blwchef]

I dread the day I open my restaurant and the wine reps decend upon it like hungry wolverines.

[mr moto]

[ QUOTE ]
I am always telling my commis about all the tail I get when the chicks realize what a nice loaf of bread I can bake.

[/ QUOTE ]

And to think of all the time I wasted educating myself, amassing a fortune, and honing a rapier-like wit, when all I had to do was pop some Pillsbury in the oven!

[dano1]

funny, i usually come home smelling like fish......

[blwchef]

I seemed to have missed out on this perk aswell. OH well, I guess I made up for it with my Mrs. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif