Step up your KITCHEN PRODUCTIVITY INSTANTLY for the Professional Chef

Summary

In this video, chef Justin Kanna shares valuable tips on creating effective prep lists to improve kitchen productivity. Drawing from a recent event where he and his team fell behind, Justin emphasizes the importance of being specific with tasks, breaking them down into smaller steps, and prioritizing the most intimidating ones first. He also highlights the value of digital tools like Trello for team collaboration and organizing tasks. By constantly evaluating and refining your approach, you can stay ahead of potential challenges, reduce stress during service, and boost your efficiency in the kitchen.

Takeaways

• 😀 Be specific in your prep list. Break down dishes into smaller components for better organization and clarity.
• 😀 Prioritize tasks by asking yourself what can be done while multitasking and what projects you are afraid of.
• 😀 Organize your prep list by breaking it into categories: immediate tasks, less urgent tasks, and those that can wait.
• 😀 Don’t be afraid to admit when something goes wrong. Mistakes can be a great learning opportunity.
• 😀 Use a bird’s-eye view of your prep list to see when things are starting to go south, allowing you to ask for help early.
• 😀 Always evaluate your prep list and performance after each event to improve for the next one.
• 😀 Consider digitizing your prep list for more efficiency and team collaboration using apps like Trello.
• 😀 Take on intimidating or difficult tasks first, when you still have time and mental clarity to tackle them effectively.
• 😀 Cross-reference your digital prep list with physical lists to ensure nothing is overlooked during preparation.
• 😀 Setting clear responsibilities and delegating tasks effectively is key to staying organized during events.
• 😀 Reflect on each prep list after an event to improve and avoid repeating mistakes in the future.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the video?

The video focuses on how to create an effective prep list to increase productivity and efficiency in a kitchen setting, as well as how to address the challenges that arise during an event.

What does Justin mean by 'getting punched in the face' in the context of his prep list?

Justin uses 'getting punched in the face' as a metaphor for facing unexpected challenges or problems that occur despite having a plan. In this case, the challenges during the dinner event showed how his initial prep list was insufficient.

Why does Justin recommend being specific when writing a prep list?

Being specific in a prep list helps break down dishes into smaller, manageable tasks. This makes it easier to track progress and identify potential problems, which ensures better organization and execution.

What is the benefit of breaking down a dish into its individual components on a prep list?

Breaking down a dish into its components provides a clearer view of what needs to be done, making the prep list more detailed and manageable. It also creates a sense of progress as smaller tasks are completed.

What does Justin suggest doing when tasks on the prep list seem overwhelming?

Justin suggests prioritizing the tasks by identifying what can be done while multitasking and which tasks are most intimidating. He emphasizes the importance of tackling difficult tasks first to avoid stress building up later in the process.

How does Justin recommend organizing tasks to stay on top of things?

He advises organizing tasks into categories: '1' for high priority tasks that can be done while multitasking, '2' for tasks that can be done after the high-priority ones, and '3' for tasks that can be left until the very last minute.

What tool does Justin use to digitize and organize his prep lists?

Justin uses an app called Trello to digitize and organize his prep lists. It allows him to create checklists by dish, track progress, and collaborate with his team.

What advantage does Trello offer over traditional paper lists?

Trello offers better organization, the ability to sync across devices, real-time collaboration with team members, and the ability to track progress through percentage completion, which makes it more effective for team-based work.

What was the issue that Justin encountered during his event, and how did it affect the dinner?

The issue was a lack of preparation and organization, leading to Justin and his team falling behind schedule. Despite this, the guests did not notice, and the dinner was still a success, but the stress of disorganization was evident.

How does Justin feel about the process of constantly rewriting and evaluating prep lists?

Justin believes that constantly rewriting and evaluating prep lists is important for improvement. Each time you write a prep list, you compare your performance with previous events, which allows for continuous refinement of the process.