I am a chef, and I am fucking sick and tired of people telling me that they can "make it better" or "make it cheaper" at home.

I'm a sous at a high end Italian restaurant. We have over 50 awards, including three stars. I have worked my ass off to get where I am. This is my dream. <br><br>I am so fucking sick and tired of people telling me that they can easily make this dish at home, or that it's not that good, or that they can make it cheaper. Like, I get it, we're not a cheap place to eat. But godamn, at least have some fucking respect. This is my career. This is my passion. This is my dream. <br><br>I don't go to some cashier at Walmart and tell them that I can stock products better and cheaper than they can. I don't go to some nurse and tell them that, y'know, I could probably clean that wound better and more cheaply than you. I don't go to some police officer and tell them that I could probably gone after that suspect more effectively than they did. I don't go to some fucking military training exercise and tell them that I could probably clear that room better than they did, or that I could probably train better than they do. I don't go to some firefighter and tell them that, y'know, I could probably fight that fire better and more cheaply than they did. <br><br>But somehow, it's perfectly okay to tell a chef that you can cook their food better than they can, and that you can do it cheaper than they can. Like, what the fuck people. Get the fuck out. Go back to McDonald's or some other shithole, because I sure as shit don't want to feed you.<br><br>Edit: Wow, this blew up faster than I thought it would. I should have added this earlier, but if you think that this applies to you, then it probably does. I don't have a problem with giving critiques, like to a good friend. Critiques are essential in any career. But when I have some joe blow come in and tell me that he can "make it better" or "make it cheaper", that makes me angry. That is like me walking into a different restaurant and telling them how to run their business model. Like, get the fuck out. <br><br>Also, to all of the people who are like "this is a loooong post". If you can't spend a little time reading a post, then you have no business reading it, and you have no business commenting on it. <br><br>Also, to all you line cooks and chefs and sous and maîtreds and waiters and hosts and GMs and whomever, who have liked this post. Thank you. I am honored. <br><br>Now, to all of you who are defending your right to criticize the food: I get it. I don't have a problem with negative criticism. I have a problem with people who tell me that they can cook "better" than me, or that they can do it "cheaper" than me. If you have an issue with the food, that's fine. Talk to your server, talk to a manager, talk to the chef if you must. We get it; food is expensive, and you're willing to criticize it. I have no problem with that. But do not, *do not*, tell me that you can cook better than me but you decided to come here instead. Like, what the fuck? Why would I ever hire someone who's "better" than me? Why would I ever want to give control of my kitchen to someone who's "better" than me? Like, that makes no goddamn sense. If you can cook "better" than me, then go there. Go to that restaurant, get a job in the kitchen, and show them up. If you can't do that, then you have no business telling me that you can cook better than me. <br><br>And to all of those who are like "But I have been cooking longer than you, and I am better than you." Like, cool. That's your prerogative. But if you're better than me, then go out there and do it. Prove yourself. Then you can talk. I'm not trying to be arrogant, but like, if you think you can do it better than me, then go and do it. If not, then you have no business telling me what to do. Like, don't go to some random guy's business and tell them how to run it. Like, don't go to some random guy's house and tell them how to decorate. I'm just sick of people telling me how to run my business. It makes me angry.