🛑 Alea Iacta Est — And I’m Done Playing Nice
Sometimes, the only way to win is to walk.
Alea iacta est.
The die is cast.
And this time, it’s not Caesar crossing a river — it’s a chef crossing the line between loyal employee and rebel.
This isn’t just Latin.
This is reality for too many of us stuck in toxic kitchen cultures.
We show up early, stay late, cover shifts, train new hires, take the heat — and for what? For managers who hide behind spreadsheets, and owners who think “team spirit” means pizza once a month and a pat on the back.
Let’s call it what it is: manipulation.
Disguised as opportunity.
Wrapped in “we’re all in this together” nonsense.
🍽️ We Didn’t Get into This to Please the Suits
Cooks never started cooking to please accountants, owners, or suits.
Our craft comes from within.
It defines who we are.
We’re not here to hit your Q2 targets — we’re here to cook food that makes people feel something.
Sure, food and labour costs must be controlled. P&L needs to be balanced.
We’re not stupid — we run kitchens, not charity clubs.
But don’t mistake our understanding for acceptance.
Because profit was never our endgame.
Purpose was.
👨‍🍳 What Alea Iacta Est Means for Chefs
In kitchens, alea iacta est isn’t just a phrase.
It’s the moment you snap.
The day you realise: they don’t care, and they never will.
It’s the exact second when:
- You’re pulled aside for “being negative” because you spoke up about working conditions.
- You’re told to “smile more” by someone who’s never worked a double on the grill.
- You’re expected to fix broken systems without being given a voice or a vote.
And so, you walk.
Not because you’re weak — but because you’re done pretending.
⚡ The Suits Behind the Spreadsheets
We didn’t come into this industry to be micromanaged by people who haven’t worked a station in years.
We didn’t sign up to be invisible.
To be underpaid, overworked, and gaslit into thinking “this is just how it is.”
And we certainly didn’t sign up for leadership from people whose only skill is writing passive-aggressive emails.
“Alea iacta est.”
🔥 Let the Fire Burn — I’m Not Looking Back
I’m not asking for change anymore.
I’m not begging for better rosters.
I’m not making excuses for lazy leadership or short-sighted priorities.
I’m walking.
With my knives.
With my dignity.
With my peace of mind.
And if that makes me “ungrateful”?
So be it.
Because maybe, just maybe, when one of us walks — another starts thinking.
And the next one throws their own dice.
📢 To Every Chef Still Stuck There
You know that feeling in your gut before service — the one that’s not adrenaline, it’s dread?
That’s not normal.
That’s your soul whispering: alea iacta est.
You deserve better.
Not later. Now.
So if you’re ready — throw the damn dice.
