We're never satisfied, are we? In Britain it's either too hot or too cold. At the moment it's very much the former, so spare a thought for the poor chefs out there who have been experiencing temperatures of slow-roast proportions in the kitchen lately.
A straw poll conducted on Caterer's website discovered that kitchens around the country were recording average temperatures of 44°C last week, but nearly a third reported figures above 50°C. Worse still, the How Hot is Your Kitchen? online survey reveals that some chefs are working in even more oppressive and stifling conditions than that - at up to an incredible 65°C.
Weather conditions have changed dramatically over the years, and while Britain is keen to do away with its reputation as a destination for sleet and rain, there's a limit to the conditions in which people can work. It really is serious stuff and can lead to fainting, nausea, muscle cramps and a general inability to concentrate - not good when you're handling a knife.
As a result, the British Hospitality Association has called on the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) to introduce an upper temperature limit for workers. The HSE, on the other hand, has dismissed the proposal stating that "imposing an upper limit might encourage employers to run up to that limit". But what's your view? If you want to voice your opinion, go to
www.caterersearch.com/forums, or if you simply want to record the temperatures in your kitchens, fill in our survey online. Before you do that, though, take note of our tips for countering the heat in your kitchens on page 6.
When you do get a moment to cool down and relax, take a look at our spectacular photographic diary of 24 hours in hospitality. This collection of pictures, taken by
Caterer photographers and by you, our readers, celebrates the breadth and depth of this wonderful industry.
As you can imagine, our 20-page special, starting on page 26, can offer only a snapshot of what's been sent in,
but you can go here to see many more images taken last month on the longest - but thankfully not the hottest - day of the year.