A GRIFTER’S COOKBOOK
Practical notes · Colin Lee MacLeod
A shared kitchen works when everyone can use it. Courtesy is mostly a sequence of small decisions: ask, make room and finish cleaning up.
Read the room
Check the kitchen rules and look at how busy it is before spreading out your ingredients. Keep bags away from walkways and leave access to the sink, fridge and hob. If you need a piece of shared equipment for a while, tell the other cooks rather than leaving them guessing.
Ask before using
A bottle of oil on the counter is not automatically communal. Ask before borrowing food or equipment, and return borrowed items promptly. If you finish something that belongs to the shared supply, follow the accommodation’s system for replacing it or letting staff know.
Clean as part of cooking
Deal with spills when they happen and keep used equipment from piling up in the sink. After eating, wash and return the dishes, wipe the counter and leave the cooking area ready for someone else. A quick rinse is not the same as cleaning a greasy pan.
Keep the social part optional
A kitchen can be a good place to meet people, but someone concentrating on dinner may not want a conversation. Offer help without taking over. If you suggest sharing a meal, agree on ingredients, dietary needs and costs first so nobody feels obliged afterwards.
