i work at starbucks, so not really a kitchen, but it's a similar environment. our 'kitchen' is a long narrow corridor with drink stations on both sides, so people are always going back and forth. we use the standard 'behind'/'corner'/etc. callouts most of the time, but for whatever reason we've all adopted the habit of making siren noises when we're walking from one end to the other. i have no idea why, but it does work — it's a quick way to let everyone know 'hey, i'm going behind all of you, don't move across the walkway until i stop screaming' and it differentiates 'going behind one person and stopping' from 'going behind everyone very fast'.
i'm curious what the normal way to do this would be — would you just say 'behind' 3x? once, but really loudly? something else? i feel like there's an easy answer that's not as unhinged as our solution (although screaming is more fun i think)
by creature–comfort
40 Comments
Down the line or behind
We used to shout “crossing” if you had to cross the whole line. But if siren noises are working for your kitchen, do what works for your kitchen. Changing things for no reason is why we have GMs.
Coming down the line is usually what I’ve said. Or continually calling behind. And also weird variations like your WEE-WOO lol
I work in a bakery now and when we have to move cakes around the kitchen I call out CAKE COMIN’ THRU! but in a really bad new york accent idk why I started but it get a sea of people working to part real quick
“Behind nerds” is what I say in my line
Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrright behind.
“On the line! Behind, behind, behind!”
Behind Hot! Or Behind Sharp! Yelled really loudly works generally.
I would say behind, at a faster frequency depending on how hot the food is or how crowded it was, but honestly if WEE WOO works for you, do it
BACKS
Behind/coming through
I just do insane man screeches
“Coming Down! Behind, behind you! Here I am.” All while whistling.
Coming hot behind the line!
Every kitchen will be a little different, for the diagram, I would generally opt to say coming down the line followed by hot or sharp if the scenario required that extra bit of info. At some places when you get a good flow between your coworkers wee woo could work, I have used beep boop at one place and it was generally fine unless you had a new hire, after a week or two they get it.
I do a “scuse me pardon me coming through right behind you scuse me pardon me” while im passing. When i stop my bullshit they know im not there anymore
“Behind!” is what we used when I was a cook. And when needed “hot behind!”, which of course was the butt of many jokes.
I always go beep beep like road runner, where I can I touch people on the shoulder.
I just yell “beep beep beep” 😂
I still say, “Behind you!” (“Bakom dig!” In our kitchen.) I might also add, “Behind you! Moving in between you losers!””
No you’re right. Siren noises is normal
“beep beep motherfuckers” is my go-to
I liked this old diner’s method where all of the waiters would holler “hot soup! Hot soup! HOT SOUP!” whenever they were passing behind anyone.
I used to work in a restaurant as a expo, part of my job was to bake rolls, and take those hot pans to dish. I’d lift them above my head and yell “hot pans! I’ll burn a bitch” and it worked every time.
Beep beep
I have one guy that goes beep beep
I say “coming through I do not have a licence and will have no remorse”
“Watch your backs cuties!”
I like to yell “corner hot sharp” as I come down the line. Keeps everyone on their toes
I make a BEEP BEEP BEEP sound like a car horn lol
behind! peeing!
I give em the whoop whoop.
Typically, it’s just hot and or behind. Now if there is an urgent reason you need to cross 3 people then its hey i am about to come through with a huge pot step away for a minute please. Kitchen should never be so busy that can’t happen amd if it is don’t move it.
I always do some rendition of “beHIIIIIIIND behindbehindbehindbehindbehind”
“Coming down line”
“Behind behind”
“No Diddy”
Behindbehindbehindbehindbehindbehindbehindbehindbehind until I reach my destination.
chaud derrière
WATCH OUT FUCKERS
“Wee woo wee woo” is so much better than us saying “behind”
I’m from the Midwest, so it’s usually a quick “ope” followed by whispering “lemme just scoot right behind you, scuse me, thank you”. We get burned and stabbed often, but tradition is tradition.
DON’T BURN ME!!! Was acceptable in one kitchen I worked in
“Behind, behind, behind”