burn

Definition

To get caught without necessary ingredients or having botched an order beyond salvation. Also, to deliberately sabotage someone's order out of spite—kitchen karma at its finest.

Example Usage

I got burned on scallops—we're completely out and I have two orders on the board.

Origin

Restaurant kitchen failure terminology, multiple meanings depending on context

Fun Fact

Getting 'burned' by running out of ingredients during service is considered a cardinal sin; good cooks obsessively check par levels to avoid this shame.

Source: Kitchen management and service slang

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