Dear Soapy People

Over the years I have worked with a lot of dish washers. Most of them have been very special characters that did there job well and managed to joke and make it look like it was easy. There have been a few however that have the cockiness of a well trained sous chef; there truly is nothing worse than a cocky dishwasher, because I never met a cocky dishwasher that actually did their job well. In honor of these people who fail at scrubbing pots I have constructed a letter. For those of you who have never ran into a dishwasher, other than the machine in your kitchen, imagine your machine telling you that it won't wash a dish you put in because it's tired and you'll probably know what it's like to work with one of these problem people. We can all learn from these people who stand in the back and make sure the kitchen runs smoothly and clean. The character traits that make a good worker don't change from industry to industry.


Dear Soapy People,

Your job is an important key to a kitchen, but it is not the most important. Without the food there would be no dirty dishes, pots, or pans; so without a doubt a cook is always above you and should be respected.

Sucking up to chefs is really unattractive. Do your job well and you shouldn't have to spend all of that time schmoozing. In case you just haven't figured it out yet the chefs tell you that you are doing a good job and thank you for things because they know you have the worst job in the kitchen and (if you're good) they're praying you don't have high ambitions and want to move up in the world of the kitchen, because it is always hard to replace a good dish washer.

The kitchen is a team. You may be the groundskeepers who cleans up after the game, but you are still a part of the team. If you aren't a team player you are worthless. As shocking as this sounds taking dishes back and helping the team is not done as a favor; it is your job to do what you can to help the team. This is true on the flip side; unfortunately bad dishwashers tend to need a lot of help and tend to not help. This makes you a very weak link.

Helping when someone important is watching and can pat you on the back doesn't count. The quiet efficient workers are the ones that the team would fall apart without. Reminding people how long you have been working at one place doesn't make you a stronger link either. If you've been a dishwasher at one restaurant for 5 years then you should be able to handle a night with one dishwasher down, without needing the cooks to bail you out.

My first job required me to wash all of my own dishes. I know what you do; I've done it. It really is a thankless job, so don't expect a thank you or fish for one. You cleaned the pot; good job that's what you are paid for. In this economy you are lucky to even have a job.

I know this may sound a little harsh and, if you can read, you are probably either fuming or saying that you don't do that and you are the best dishwasher ever. A good dishwasher would never say they are the best; they would be washing dishes right now.

I know I said your job was thankless, but a good dishwasher is worth more than 5 line cooks. Thank you for faithfully and without complaint cleaning off the food that people didn't want. Please don't let the bad dishwashers drag you down and tell you that you aren't appreciated, because you are and the kitchen wouldn't work without you.

***This note is dedicated to a dishwasher who lived in the intern house with me, stole my underwear from my room, got caught, and then proceeded to think the whole kitchen would fall apart if he was not there to scrub pots. On last report this dishwasher is not working there and the kitchen is still functioning. It is also dedicated to a man who called me lazy (underwear can be replaced, but insulting my work ethic is something that will never be forgiven). May both of these dishwashers live long lives as dishwashers, because according to them that is what they are best at. ***

The news is full of stories about how to not get fired, how to get a job, and how to be an indispensable worker. My advice for dishwashers and everyone, work hard even when no one is watching. The economy makes no promises, but it has worked for me so far.

Happy Eating!!!

Emily