Why Some Reddit Chefs Refuse To Take This One Kind Of Gig

Getting a high-paying gig cooking in swanky kitchens, using the highest-quality ingredients, and getting to jet set to beautiful and exotic places might seem like a dream job for a talented chef. Rich, wealthy, and powerful people are known to have their own private chefs, who cater to their individual tastes and lifestyle. Their personal cooks usually serve daily meals for the wealthy family, as well as prepare dishes for guests, create menus for events, and sometimes even follow employers on vacation to cook for them while they relax in luxurious locales. While getting selected for one of these top spots might seem like a professional honor, some chefs say their experience was far from high quality.

One frustrated professional chef recently took to Reddit to reveal the truth behind working for the "Ultra-rich." It "is not an 'Honor' it is degradation," the person wrote. Redditor U/SoapboxHouse described working as a cook at an ultra-fancy private golf club near an old Civil War era mansion as a "sickening" experience, with low pay and incredibly restrictive, demeaning rules. "If security catches you walking on the greens, you are fired. Cellphone out? Fired. ... step outside the line..fired. Do not approach any member of the club, unless spoken to first," they elaborated. "Also saw countless cooks breakdown in the middle of service because of the pressure..only to be told to suck it up or be fired."

Other Reddit chefs were quick to commiserate, saying the original poster was far from alone in their experience. User U/thisisnotawar described working a private catering event for a university president. "We were instructed by his personal assistant not to make eye contact with any of the guests at any time, not to speak unless spoken to and then to respond only with 'yes ma'am/sir, no ma'am/sir,' and to do our best to be invisible," they wrote. Another agreed: "I've cheffed for billionaires with no budget, and they'll treat you like a friend... right up until you want some actual respect and pay. Getting to cook with those ingredients is amazing. Being a human appliance with no days off isn't."

While the majority of the replies were sharing similar horror stories about working with upscale clientele, there were a few users who said they knew of wealthy employers who treated employees well. One user replied his nephew, a personal chef, "is working for a fashion designer right now, and it's totally opposite. They are gregarious and very nice and extremely generous." Another country club server agreed that "about 80%" of their customers were "incredibly nice and personable." While working for the ultra-wealthy seems to be overwhelmingly negative, the experience can really vary widely depending on the employers. One insightful Redditor put it best. "Money does not change people; it reveals who they truly are," wrote u/JimmyfromDelaware.