The summer heat is raging strong. This last week has seen the temperatures soar into the 90's. You are not going to use your stove. Grilling outside feels like a hellish punishment. There's always sandwiches, but you're not in the mood for one. (I don't see how but that's just me.)
So, why not head to a restaurant? Sit inside in the refreshing air conditioning and let someone else prepare and serve up some tasty food. Only, once there, you see a sign on the door that states "Due to excessive heat, we are closed for the day. Please come visit us soon. Thank you."
Some people are rational enough to realize that, just like anything mechanical, air conditioning units break down and that is likely the issue. Others are not. They scoff at the unreliability of the dining establishment and make sure to leave a negative review online. That's unfair.
Have you ever sat in a restaurant where the dining room is uncomfortably warm? Well, whatever the temperature was, add at least seven to ten degrees and that's what the cooks in the kitchen are working in. Not to mention the servers who are running back and forth between the two.
Most commercial HVAC units are on the roof of a building, with the vents in the ceiling. Since cold air sinks, this works pretty well, when they are fully operational. Except, the kitchens in most restaurants have these powerful hoods situate over the 350°F fryers and the 375°F grill to pull the grease and contaminates out of the air. So, not only is heat added to the area from the cooking units, the hoods are sucking a percentage of that precious cool air as well.
While some establishments have a make up air unit, something to replace that which is lost from the hoods, many do not. Add in a malfunctioning HVAC unit and you have a threat to the health of the people frying your mozzarella sticks or flipping your burgers.
It's the responsibility of the restaurant managers to oversee the welfare of their guests and employees. They need to assure that everyone keeps hydrated, let them escape the firey heat of the kitchen as often as possible (many like to take their breaks in the sweet bliss of the cooler) and, if necessary, close down when the temperatures reach dangerous levels. Unfortunately, OSHA and state regulations don't have a specific temperature for when a restaurant should shut it's doors for the day. The only guideline for workers is that they shouldn't be forced to work in "unreasonable temperatures."
The restaurant my partner manages has a broken air conditioning unit. The parts have been ordered but haven't arrived yet. He has had to contact his District Manager for the last four days to request permission to close. The company has a policy that if the dining room, which is the coolest place in a restaurant minus the cooler, reaches 85°F they will close. They've received many calls and complaints regarding the closures. I'll give the company credit, it has stood firm against these and have chosen the welfare of it's employees over the seven thousand or so dollars that could have been made had they stayed open.
So, if you are dining in a warm restaurant today, please have a thought to the cooks in the kitchen. They are working hard, they are tired, and they are probably dying to take a break in the cooler.
art and flair courtesy of @PegasusPhysics
A guy in Las Vegas came up with the unit used to cool our houses. I doubt he would get much credit now, but at the time, I'll bet he was a hero.
I'm serving as the prompter today and here's Thursday's prompt: Day 259: 5 Minute Freewrite: Thursday - Prompt: sell-out.
I've a friend who was born and raised in Las Vegas and she's told me some of the things her and her friends used to go through in order to cool off. It's a shame the guy wouldn't get much for credit, being able to give people some relief from that heat is pretty incredible.
Thanks for stopping by and for the prompt Wordymouth!
I bought a play pool for the dogs yesterday. And I have a tree that has all of its leaves dead. I hope I can save it.
My friend worked in a restaurant in the south of France for a while with no air con in the kitchen. He did have a pool outside though, so would dive in every now and then to cool off!
Glad he had some way to cool off! Though, now I'm giggling picturing an order coming into a kitchen and someone having to fetch him from the pool! 😁
Thank you so much for stopping by Felt.buzz!
Hey, how do I get in on the #Freewrite thing? Who do we follow to get the topics? Where do we find the rules? I am just after the writing nothing else.
go to this profile @mariannewest
Hey! You're back! As @freewritehouse says go visit (and follow) @mariannewest's profile. Each day she posts a freewrite prompt. Write for five mins (whatever comes into your head) based on that prompt. Post the story, or whatever it is, and leave a link in the comments section of Marianne's post :)
There was a prompt a few days ago #chalk. I had fun doing this.
https://steemit.com/chalk/@voice23/chalk
You may come for the writing but, you're going to find an amazing and hilarious group of people as well! Have fun and welcome to the freewrite!
that is an excellent way to cool off!!
Indeed!
I have worked in restaurant kitchens before and it gets very hot for sure!! good for the company to think about their employees!!
And realistically, they might get even more complaints if they opened the door and the customers would be hot and sweaty in a warm dining area...
Did you end up taking breaks in the cooler when you could? You're right, I'm sure they considered the complaints as well when letting them close.
Thank you!! 🤗
Yes!!! Breaks in the cooler are the best!! 🤪
Greetings, brave storyteller!
Finish the Story Contest - Weeek #21 is out, crispy and warm, for the first time on the Bananafish blog!
Hey @brisby! Are you okay? Haven't heard from you in a while... :)
Hi felt.buzz! Thanks for being so sweet and saying "hello" and checking up on me. Hugs to you for caring!! I'm okay just dealing with a few changes to where I'm working from along with family things. How are you? I hope that you're having a grand summer and I'll have to check in on what delights you've been writing! ;)
Yeah, it is lovely and warm here. Just need a few more guests at the B&B! :) Glad you are okay! :)
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