Those Who Cook Despite the Heat Wave

It’s hot. Very hot. Records are being broken, heat warnings are multiplying, and the topic is dominating television talk shows. People are rightly concerned about our ability to cope with these temperatures. But who’s talking about the cooks?

50 degrees and above

Of those who spend ten or twelve hours behind stoves, over hot coals, or at deep fryers. Of those kitchens where the temperature sometimes exceeds 50 degrees. Where every service becomes a true test of endurance. Where the heat is no longer just a nuisance, but a daily reality.

While we seek out the shade on a terrace, they stay by the fire to ensure our plates arrive in perfect condition. While we enjoy a nice cold drink, they carry out their tasks with the same precision, the same focus, and the same high standards, despite a heat that many of us would find hard to bear for even a few minutes.

Next time…

This is neither to pity them nor to elevate them to the status of heroes. It is simply to remind us of a reality that is easily forgotten: Behind every beautifully plated dish are women and men who do a job that is already demanding—and becomes even more grueling when the temperature soars.

So, the next time you sit down to eat at a restaurant, just remember that beyond the plate itself, there are also the people who make it all possible, despite the sometimes stifling heat