Chefs share their near death experiences in the kitchen

Recently, the Independent published an article on chefs revealing their near-death experiences in the kitchen.

To read more chef's near experiences read the full article on the Independent here

Whilst we enjoy the delicacies that come out of the kitchen, these chefs speak on the disastrous incidents that have happened in the kitchen.

Chef and owner of Restaurant Benedicts, Norwich, Richard Bainbridge

Speaking on how he’s cheated death twice in the kitchen, the first time was slicing his finger at college and having to be taken to A&E by his mother with his detached finger in some ice. Fast forward a while later, his oven gloves caught fire whilst lifting a 20litre pot of soup off the stove.

He said: “I proceeded to burn my hands severely as I didn’t want to lose the soup!” Well that teaches us to always appreciate our soup!

Simon Rogan, from L’Enclume and Rogan & Co owner in Cumbria

We’re all guilty of over-working ourselves, but Simon told the independent his near-death experience’ occurred when he was working as a temp in Reading. Under immense stress he claims to have been close a heart attack! “For about five hours the order machine didn’t stop, so I literally served hundreds and hundreds of customers”.

Head chef at The French Table in Surbiton, Eric Guignard

Working at the Capital Hotel as a young chef, Eric gave himself a pretty nasty cut involving…oysters! Whilst opening oysters by hand, the blade slid and cut all the way through the palm of his hand. Ouch.

Vanilla Black, the vegetarian restaurant’s head chef, Andrew Dargue

Attempting to light an old gas oven, Andrew experienced a major make over. Whilst thinking there was a fault with the oven and waiting for something to happen, the gas oven fired up, exploding in his face. This resulted in Andrew’s eyebrows disappearing.

Chef director of Duck & Waffle, Dan Doherty

A young apprentice, trying to embrace the smells of different flavoured oils, what could go wrong? Dan explains whilst he was trying to figure out what flavour oil was in a plastic bottle, squeezing the bottle, however unaware that the oil was filled to the brim.

The oil ended up going up through his nose and down the back of his throat. “I genuinely thought I was going to die. It was pretty funny to everyone watching though”. I bet that helped him find out the flavour!

By Marigona Bucinca

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