As a 24 year old who's worked in kitchens since I was 15, I can't fathom anyone wanting to remain the foodservice industry.
I started as a dishwasher, worked up to prep, then line cook. Worked a few different jobs, and I just hate it. I've worked corporate jobs, privately owned jobs and fast-food (KFC for 3 months). Maybe it's the restaurants I've worked, but every cook that I worked with that had been doing it for 10, 20, or 30 years was just a bitter shell of a person. Alcohol and drug problems, terrible attitudes, horrible interpersonal relationships... they really were on a dead-end road.
I used to like the idea of cooking before I was pulling 10-13 hour shifts for 3 weeks in a row while my long-time boss opened a new restaurant that he couldn't be at all the time. I realize just how lopsided the business is. Hot, intensely stressful, and your boss is the customer; a complete stranger who can tell you exactly what to do, ruin your entire day, week, month or career, and they're only there for a couple hours, maximum.
Now, I get stressed out cooking at home. It's like I have some sort of cooking PTSD.
You guys should watch "I Like Killing Flies." This guy has the right idea; the customer is not always right.
Foodservice did two things for me; paid the bills during the busy season (sucked in between) and made me go back to college. It also makes me appreciate the waitstaff more when I go out to eat and know not to make too many special requests.
That said, I'd take work if it paid the right money in something like a cafeteria or bulk cooking setting. Since my wife will be making the big money soon, I'm looking forward to trying something completely different out.
