What does “Heard, chef” mean in a kitchen?What does “Heard, chef” mean in a kitchen?

Where do you hear "Heard, chef"?

You hear it all through service. The chef says, “Two salmon, table twelve.” A cook says, “Heard, chef.” The chef says, “Fire the short rib.” A cook says, “Heard.” If you have wondered what “Heard, chef” means, that is it. It means “I heard what you said, and I will do it.”

The “chef” part is a name for whoever is in charge of the kitchen or the station. Some kitchens say “Heard, chef.” Some say just “Heard.” Some say “Yes, chef.” Kitchens differ, but the idea is the same.

Why do cooks say it back?

A kitchen is loud. Fans roar, pans bang, and tickets print. A cook has eyes on the pan and hands on the knife. The cook cannot look up every time someone speaks.

So there is a problem. If the chef gives an order and hears nothing, did the cook hear it? The chef does not know. The chef has to say it again, or walk over, or just hope.

“Heard” fixes that. It is a one-word receipt. It costs a second. It tells the speaker the message landed, so they can move on to the next thing.

What is call and response?

Call and response is a simple pattern. One person calls. Another responds. The call is the order or the warning. The response is “Heard.”

Here are a few calls you may hear, with the usual response.

• ”Fire table twelve.” The call tells the cook to start cooking. The response is “Heard.” Now the chef knows it is started.
• ”Behind.” A cook walking past with something hot says this so you do not step back into them. You answer “Heard,” or you stay still.
• ”86 the salmon.” A cook says the salmon is gone. The chef says “Heard,” and then tells the floor. You can read what the call means in what 86 means in a kitchen.

Notice the pattern. Say it short. Say it loud enough to be heard. Wait for the answer. If you do not hear one, say it again.

What should you do if you did not hear?

Say so. “Say again, chef.” Do not nod and hope. A nod is not a “Heard.” A cook who says “Heard” and did not hear is worse than a cook who asks again. The first one can cause a wrong plate. The second one costs two seconds.

The other half of the rule applies to the person speaking. If you give a long order, keep it short and clear. Say the table, the dish, and the change. Then wait for “Heard” before you walk away.

How do you teach a new cook to say it?

Say it to them first. When you give a new cook a task, listen for “Heard.” If they nod, say, “I need to hear you.” Say it kindly and say it every time for the first week. After that, it becomes a habit.

Explain why, too. A new cook may think it is just a rule. Tell them it is a way to keep the line safe and the plates right. People do the things they understand.

What other words go with "Heard"?

A line has its own small language. A few more words travel with “Heard.” Kitchens differ, so use the ones your team uses.

• ”Behind” and “corner.” You say these when you walk past someone, or round a blind corner, so they do not step into you.
• ”Hot” and “sharp.” You say these when you carry a hot pan or a knife through a tight space.
• ”Fire.” The chef says it to tell a cook to start a dish now.
• ”On the fly.” A dish is needed right now, out of order.
• ”Yes, chef.” Some kitchens say this instead of “Heard.” It means the same thing.

These words are short on purpose. You can say them while you move. The point is the same each time: say it, and let the other person know they were heard.

What does this have to do with Heard the product?

A lot. The idea behind our product is the same as the word. In a kitchen, someone says what happened, and someone confirms. With Heard, a cook says “86 the salmon,” and Heard answers in a short line to say it got it. You can read more on the voice page.

You can type it too. In the demo, you pick a person in a pretend kitchen and say what happened. Try the demo and listen for the answer.

Quick questions

What does “Heard, chef” mean?

It means “I heard you, I got it.” A cook says it so the person who spoke knows the message landed.

Why do cooks say “Heard”?

A kitchen is loud and cooks cannot always look up. A short answer shows the message was received.

What if you did not hear?

Say so. “Say again, chef.” Do not nod and hope.