There’s a moment after the last plate is served, the last table is cleared, and the kitchen has been scrubbed clean, when the team finally exhales. In professional kitchens, this moment is often accompanied by a cold beer, a raised glass, and the camaraderie that only comes from surviving another service together. As far as I know, there is no specific name for this ritual in the culinary world, but in Japan it is also a common practice in the corporate world. It’s called “nominication”—a portmanteau of “nomi” (Japanese for drinking) and “communication”—and it’s a ritual that strengthens bonds – whether you are in the corporate or culinary world.
The Magic of the Post-Service Drink
The after-service beer isn’t about drinking for drinking’s sake. It’s about connection. There’s something grounding about sitting together, out of uniform, sharing stories of the night’s chaos. It’s where the head chef becomes just another teammate, where jokes are made about the dish that almost didn’t make it, and where new team members start to feel like they belong. The beer is incidental; the connection is the point.
You’ve just finished your shift, it has been a brutal service—one of those nights where everything seemed to go wrong. As you sit outside the kitchen, beers in hand, the head chef raises his bottle and says, “To surviving the storm.” That small moment of acknowledgment turns a hard night into something you can start to joke and laugh about. It’s the kind of bond you can’t force—it’s built in those shared moments.
The Science Behind Nominication
Research shows that social connection and team bonding can lead to increased employee engagement, productivity, and job satisfaction. Nominication, with its emphasis on informal connection and shared experiences, taps into these benefits, creating a space for team members to relax, recharge, and build relationships that extend beyond the workplace.
Building Trust and Camaraderie
Nominication works because it levels the playing field. It’s a chance to step out of roles and hierarchies and connect as people. In a high-pressure environment like a kitchen, where tensions can run high and tempers can flare, having a space to decompress together is invaluable. It’s not about solving problems or hashing out grievances; it’s about reminding everyone that they’re part of a team.
This idea isn’t unique to kitchens. In Japan, the concept of “nominication” is deeply ingrained in workplace culture. Colleagues go out for drinks not just to unwind but to build relationships that strengthen their work. It’s about creating trust and a sense of shared purpose—and maybe even laughing about the mistakes that seemed monumental in the moment.
Adapting Nominication to Your Workplace
The beauty of nominication is that it doesn’t have to involve alcohol. The essence of the ritual is in creating a space for connection. It could be a coffee after a tough meeting, a casual lunch with the team, or even a walk to grab ice cream after a long day. The important part is stepping away from the stress and finding a moment to connect as people, not just colleagues.
Every Friday, the Shutta team shut down the computers at lunchtime and we go out for a long lunch together. We call it Fat Friday and it is our version of nominication. We have even assigned a team member to be Fat Friday manager and find us new places to try out together. While we remain on call for our clients until the end of the working day, Friday afternoons are for us to connect, as people and as friends.
A Tradition Worth Keeping
In every kitchen I’ve worked in, the after-service ritual has been a cornerstone of team culture. It’s where lessons from the night are internalized, where bonds are forged, and where the next service feels just a little less daunting. It’s a tradition worth keeping—whether in a restaurant, an office, or anywhere else teamwork matters. So, next time you’ve had a long day with your team, raise a glass (or a coffee cup) and toast to surviving the storm together.
Try Nominication in Your Team!
If you’re looking to boost team morale, increase collaboration, and create a stronger sense of shared purpose, give nominication a try. Start by organizing a weekly team lunch or an after-work social activity. Encourage open conversation and informal connection. You might be surprised at how this simple practice can transform your team dynamic and lead to greater success.