Whistleblowing a Toxic Chef
There's an up and coming chef in Long Beach taking the city by storm, but be warned: he's one of the most toxic, manipulative chefs in the industry. His name is Michael Romo and he runs Driftwood Smashers burger pop-up and Brown Butter Boys Supper Club. I'm a long time friend that came into town to support his ambitious 10 course tasting menu last month that ballooned into a 14 COURSE s*** show where he worked me like a dog without pay while blaming me for his mistakes. So I'm going to "serve" you all a 14 course expose on why you should think twice of supporting, or worse, working for this man.
Amouse Bouche
He preps and stores his food at home, where 2 dogs live! If you have a dander allergy, you may get a side of hives with your fries! His signature ingredient, brown butter, was left on a stove for at least three days, uncovered, exposed to allergens.
He drives like a lunatic around town. Excessively speeds, ignores stops, cuts multiple traffic lanes without looking, texting or watching youtube videos and hitting his weed vape.
He left perishables in his car trunk for well over 4 hours. Meats, cheeses, produce, seafood, all stored haphazardly and leaking on each other in almost 80 degree weather.
Apps
He is perpetually stoned, so when he burns breadcrumbs, who does he blame? Me, working on other things entirely. I understand a lot of cooks work white stoned, but if you call yourself chef you need your best judgement and not bong hits.
I came a day early to help prep, and we did absolutely zero prep. Instead, I rode along as he wandered to different grocery stores while he got sucked into his phone. Come day of service, he expected to do everything in 8 hours!
Since we were on a time crunch, he would not allow me to take breaks for food, water, coffee, or even to check in on my family. Bullied me when I complained. Texted me "what ru doing?" when I did finally go to the bathroom.
Watched me struggle with a heavy cart of product through a narrow door and didn't lift a finger. In fact, when I spilled something, he walked away.
He forgot ingredients and sent me to buy them. Didn't pay me back.
Mains
Didn't get paid for any of my labor. 8 hours of back breaking constant work, doing mine and his dishes, lifting heavy plates upstairs, prep task after prep task. Promises of pay were vague and constantly changing, but for the amount of labor I gave there should have been something in return. THIS IS WAGE THEFT!
Kicked me out before the start of service, because I called him out on his ill prepared operation.
Megalomania was on full display. Yelling at his wife, his staff, throwing things around, loudly swearing. Turning on long time friends (not just me). Refusing to listen to any feedback demanding perfection that he himself can’t attain.
Desserts
When I walked out, he held onto my possessions for 20 hours, including prescriptions, keys, passport (I was staying at his place the night before).
Taunted me via text as I asked for my stuff back, hurling personal attacks and insults. He had to be in control of when I got to have my things back.
Take home gift
- He took my chef's knife that my mom bought me, still in its package, and used that for work (this was a few years ago). I wanted it back when I left, but I wasn't about to wander the streets of Long Beach with a knife in my hand and nowhere to go!
I feel like I got Shanghaied into doing his dirty work, and was set up to fail so as not to pay me. We bonded over our mutual disdain for horrible bosses, yet as soon as he gets in a position of power over me he becomes demon. Do not give Michael Romo your hard earned money or labor. Don't reward wage thieves and unethical businessmen who value dollars and social media likes over basic health code and labor laws. You deserve better Long Beach.