My First Week in the Kitchen: Hairnets, Gloves, and a Lot of “Entschuldigung”

Okay, so here I am. Berlin. It’s amazing, chaotic, and a little overwhelming, especially when you’re trying to find a job. I finally landed a position washing dishes in a small, family-run Wirtshaus (that’s a traditional German pub/restaurant) called “Zum Goldenen Hirsch.” It’s a fantastic opportunity, but honestly, the first few days have been a whirlwind of unfamiliar procedures and, let’s be honest, a healthy dose of feeling utterly clueless. The biggest thing I’ve learned so far? German hygiene regulations in the food industry are serious. And it’s not just about following rules; it’s about understanding the reasoning behind them.

The First Shift – And the Look I Got

My first shift started at 6 am. It was…loud. A lot of shouting in German, clattering dishes, and the smell of beer – a lot of beer. My supervisor, Herr Schmidt, is a huge, friendly guy with a booming voice. He quickly showed me the ropes, mostly through a lot of pointing and a few key phrases. The first thing he made me do was put on a hairnet.

“Schon mal Haarnetz angelegt?” he asked, raising an eyebrow. (“Have you ever worn a hairnet?”)

I panicked. I’d seen them, of course, but I’d never actually worn one in a professional setting. I mumbled, “Nein, Herr Schmidt. Noch nie.” (No, Mr. Schmidt. Never.)

He patiently showed me how to adjust it, pulling it tighter around my head. “Wichtig! Keine Haare in den Speisen!” (Important! No hair in the food!) He stressed this point repeatedly. I realised immediately that even a tiny stray hair was a big no-no. It felt incredibly silly, but I understood why.

Gloves – A Surprisingly Serious Matter

Then came the gloves. And this is where things got really intense. I was tasked with cleaning the pots and pans, and Herr Schmidt insisted I put on a disposable blue glove.

“Hands waschen! Dann Handschuhe!” (Wash your hands! Then gloves!) he shouted, gesturing emphatically.

I did as I was told, putting on a bright blue glove. It felt…weird. I kept looking down at my hands, trying to remember everything he’d said. A coworker, a young man named Luke, noticed my hesitation.

“Ist alles in Ordnung?” he asked, concerned. (“Is everything alright?”)

“Ich…ich weiß nicht,” I admitted. “Es fühlt sich komisch an.” (I…I don’t know. It feels strange.)

Luke laughed gently. “Es ist gewöhnlich! Man muss die Hygiene ernst nehmen. Sonst gibt es Probleme!” (It’s normal! You have to take hygiene seriously. Otherwise, there are problems!)

He explained that the gloves were designed to prevent contamination from raw food and bacteria. It wasn’t about being fussy; it was about protecting the customers.

Common Phrases and Misunderstandings

I’ve already picked up a few useful phrases. Besides “Schon mal Haarnetz angelegt?” and “Hands waschen! Dann Handschuhe!”, I’ve learned:

• “Bitte nicht berühren!” (Please don’t touch!) – Used constantly when handling dishes.
• “Die Fläche ist sauber!” (The area is clean!) – I said this nervously after cleaning the floor. Herr Schmidt just nodded and said, “Gut!” (Good!)
• “Entschuldigung!” (Excuse me!) – My go-to phrase for apologizing when I make a mistake (which, admittedly, has been quite a few). I accidentally splashed some hot water while rinsing a pot, and my response was a frantic, “Entschuldigung! Entschuldigung!”

A Small Victory (and a Lesson Learned)

Yesterday, I nearly messed up a huge one. I was wiping down a table, and I was rushing, trying to keep up with the other staff. I dropped a glass, and before I could react, I’d gotten water on my hands. I immediately grabbed a new pair of gloves, but Herr Schmidt stopped me.

“Nein, nein! Die Hände müssen gewaschen werden!” (No, no! The hands must be washed!) He insisted I wash my hands thoroughly with soap and water. He explained that the gloves only protected my hands from contamination, not the contamination itself. It was a powerful reminder that following procedures isn’t just about doing what you’re told; it’s about understanding why.

It’s definitely a steep learning curve, but I’m committed to learning everything. I’m determined to be a reliable dishwasher at “Zum Goldenen Hirsch,” and I’m starting to feel like I’m actually getting the hang of things…one hairnet, one pair of gloves, and one “Entschuldigung” at a time.