health
I lost my love of cooking after 12 years as a chef. Moving to a pig farm restored it
Hospitality can be anything but hospitable to workers. But in regional Victoria, I found a community – and rediscovered something I’d lost
TL;DR
- The author experienced burnout and lost her passion for cooking after 12 years in toxic hospitality workplaces.
- The pandemic provided a reset, prompting a desire to reconnect with food outside of kitchen environments.
- Internships with farmers, cheesemakers, and others in the food world were sought, specifically looking for female mentors.
- A two-month internship at Jonai Farms and Meatsmiths in regional Victoria involved raising pigs and on-site butchery.
- Farm life offered a stark contrast to restaurant kitchens, with a warm, communal living and eating environment.
- Meals were often vegetable-focused with the philosophy of 'eating better meat less often,' emphasizing local and homemade ingredients.
- The sense of community and connection to the food from paddock to plate at the farm restored the author's joy in cooking.
- The experience on the farm felt like a homecoming, recapturing the passion she felt as a 15-year-old apprentice.