The Kitchen - A Hell Away From Hell
Presented by WeldWerks Brewing Co.
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By Abbey Miller
Growing up, I struggled with self love more than anyone could have ever imagined. I was a lions roar that wasn’t heard, I was a person based upon her mistakes and the baggage she carried behind her, nothing else and nothing more.
I dealt with an abusive father, moved more than forty times in my life, dealt with sexual assault and was constantly told by those closest to me “it happens to the best of us.” I’ve dealt with a multitude of people who love you one day and act like you don’t exist the next. And yet, i’ve managed to crawl my way up every single mountain, every single crater, and I’ve always done it myself.
So, in a life that felt so unfair to me, what did I do? I joined the restaurant industry. A hell away from hell. I pushed my way through The Culinary Institute of America, earning my Bachelors Degree in Business Management, and a minor in Asian Cuisine. I placed fourth in my first every food competition, I won over twenty-thousand in scholarship essays, and I even travelled to Singapore. I pushed my way through school, because I knew my lions roar was meant to be heard. I knew there was someone more than average looking back at me in the mirror day in and day out, and yet each day there is always something more to improve on.
Mental health is not brought up enough, especially those that serve people daily and yet can barely manage to uphold their own, with minimal pay and no recognition, it’s hell, but in the best way possible. As a chef, I cook not to get recognition, I cook because at the end of the day, there’s nothing that makes me feel more alive. Walking into the employee locker room, and knowing you kicked butt during dinner service, knowing you’re the only female on the dinner line, and you rode it out with ease. It’s an exhilarating rush that makes up for the late nights, long hours, and missed opportunities because you “had to work”. To love this industry is to live within this industry, but it’s the thrill of the job that constantly keeps me alive, and prevents me from not thinking about real life problems. I feel most alive where I’m most uncomfortable, meaning when a kitchen scares me, or when the head chef is too intimidating, I know not to run because I’m in the right place.
The only way towards success is to push through the times where giving up feels like the easiest thing to do. I’ve been through my fair share these past few years. I surrounded myself with people who only wanted to tear me down, and yet I thought they had my heart in their best interests, when in reality, the second I started chasing my dreams, and stopped fixing theirs, I noticed my true worth. Sometimes at the end of the day, I think the perfect work life balance can be as simple as waking up, looking in the mirror with gratitude, and getting your butt to the kitchen, to prove to yourself that yes, you can do it.
Established in 2015, WeldWerks Brewing Co. is an award-winning craft brewery located in Greeley, Colorado recognized for brewing an array of beer styles including Juicy Bits, one of the most highly regarded IPAs in the country. WeldWerks has garnered numerous medals and acclaim on the way, including being named the best new brewery in the country by USA Today in 2016 and multiple medals at both the Great American Beer Festival and World Beer Cup. The brewery’s charitable arm, the WeldWerks Community Foundation, is a 501c3 nonprofit that supports local nonprofits through events like The WeldWerks Invitational.
Hi everyone! My name is Abbey Miller! Abb for short. I’m a CIA graduate, with a bachelor degree in Business Management and a minor in Asian Studies. I’m currently living in Park City, Utah, working as a line cook at Stein Eriksen Lodge and Resort, a five-star Forbes hotel!
Opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Best Served. To achieve our mission of bringing more voices to the table, we are committed to sharing a variety of viewpoints across the industry.
