That isn't right...

One of my cooks gave me something to taste...
"Holy crap, how can you screw up something so simple?", is the through that ran through my head...repeatedly...
"That isn't right, it's too sweet.", is the more refined answer that came out of my mouth.  I had the filters on this morning.  I needed to play nice with my crew, as the year was just starting up again and I wanted to get them feeling good about what they were doing.  It's hot, crowded and a big pressure day.  First Day with Students, is always a high stress day.

I guess I should back up.  I'm a chef.  A chef with the not so glamorous job of  chef at a private K-12 school in the suburbs of Chicago.  I have a crew of 5, when fully staffed, and we prepare lunch, from scratch, every day, for 525 students and 120 faculty and staff.  We also provide service for the various special events on campus.  To say we are busy is a misnomer, it is just to what degree on whatever day.  

"..it needs an acid, add some lemon juice.", I continued.  They will get it, it will just take a little while.  The first few days of reopening the kitchen are always sticky.  Reminding to wash hands, wear cutting gloves and taste, taste, taste.  Nothing goes out without being tasted.  I used to use the tried and true, "Would you serve that to your mother?", but that doesn't work so well, anymore.  I have started with, "Would you eat it, if it was served to you and you were paying for it?".  That one seems to hit a little harder, and usually elicits a sheepish look and quick retreating to fix whatever the problem is.

I was given another taste of the product, all the while praying that they got it close to what it was supposed to be...
"Wow, you really turned it around.  Do you see how the lemon brightened up the flavor and brought out the thyme?"  A little education, even covertly, never hurt anyone.