(no subject)
I work two jobs. My full time job is at a private club. My part time job(optional, really) is at a catering company.
First off, let me say that i still absolutely love what i do.
Having said that, i hate what i do at the club. Its boring food, for boring members and guests. We have delusoins of grandeur, but no desire to spend the time and money that it takes to achieve it. They pay well and offer good benefits (which is rare in the food service industry outside of upper management), but it could be years before i see any significant salary increase. Im also stagnant from an educational standpoint. Im nor learning anything there. Im not growing as a cook. In fact, i think ive taught most of their kitchen more things than ive learned from them. On the positive side, i love my coworkers. They're a fucking blast to work with. They're all hard working, responsible and skilled....and funny as shit.
My other job, at Mitchell's Catering and Events (by far the best caterer in the state), is sort of the opposite. I love the work i do there. Im constantly learning new things, or doing things ive done before but in a different way for a different reason, so its a new perspective on something i already know. Working events is incredibly fun. Theres just something amazing about seeing a week's worth of food prep and stress culminate into a beautiful and elegant wedding, or a birthday party for some rich bastard (that won several national catering awards, and had KC and the Sunshine Band flown in specifically to play for them). Feeling like you just did the impossible. The downside, is the company doesnt like to take care of its employees. Thinking that the employees are their slaves. Ignoring the time tested principle of "take care of your employees and your employees will take care of the company". The people i work with there are also awesome though. Again, all very talented, hard working, and dedicated.
I think ive decided that catering and banquet work is where i want to be. Almost everyone i know has asked me at one point or another "so what restaurant do you work in?" or "Do you want to own your own restaurant someday?" ...as if thats the only thing to do in this industry. There are so many facets that people dont even think about. Restaurants, Hotels, Resorts, Catering, Institutional (meaning, schools, hospitals, ...prisons, military, etc..) Corporate R&D (developing food products you find in a grocery store) Personal chefing.
The one question i hate more than anything, even more than "whats your favorite thing to cook",...is "So when are we going to see you on the Food Network?" Let me get this out in the open right now.
I FUCKING HATE THE FOOD NETWORK!!!
Aside from two or three shows that i enjoy purely on an entertainment level, the rest of that channel can go fuck itself.
And to avoid another rant, ill stop here....and because this bottle of wine is empty and i need another
First off, let me say that i still absolutely love what i do.
Having said that, i hate what i do at the club. Its boring food, for boring members and guests. We have delusoins of grandeur, but no desire to spend the time and money that it takes to achieve it. They pay well and offer good benefits (which is rare in the food service industry outside of upper management), but it could be years before i see any significant salary increase. Im also stagnant from an educational standpoint. Im nor learning anything there. Im not growing as a cook. In fact, i think ive taught most of their kitchen more things than ive learned from them. On the positive side, i love my coworkers. They're a fucking blast to work with. They're all hard working, responsible and skilled....and funny as shit.
My other job, at Mitchell's Catering and Events (by far the best caterer in the state), is sort of the opposite. I love the work i do there. Im constantly learning new things, or doing things ive done before but in a different way for a different reason, so its a new perspective on something i already know. Working events is incredibly fun. Theres just something amazing about seeing a week's worth of food prep and stress culminate into a beautiful and elegant wedding, or a birthday party for some rich bastard (that won several national catering awards, and had KC and the Sunshine Band flown in specifically to play for them). Feeling like you just did the impossible. The downside, is the company doesnt like to take care of its employees. Thinking that the employees are their slaves. Ignoring the time tested principle of "take care of your employees and your employees will take care of the company". The people i work with there are also awesome though. Again, all very talented, hard working, and dedicated.
I think ive decided that catering and banquet work is where i want to be. Almost everyone i know has asked me at one point or another "so what restaurant do you work in?" or "Do you want to own your own restaurant someday?" ...as if thats the only thing to do in this industry. There are so many facets that people dont even think about. Restaurants, Hotels, Resorts, Catering, Institutional (meaning, schools, hospitals, ...prisons, military, etc..) Corporate R&D (developing food products you find in a grocery store) Personal chefing.
The one question i hate more than anything, even more than "whats your favorite thing to cook",...is "So when are we going to see you on the Food Network?" Let me get this out in the open right now.
I FUCKING HATE THE FOOD NETWORK!!!
Aside from two or three shows that i enjoy purely on an entertainment level, the rest of that channel can go fuck itself.
And to avoid another rant, ill stop here....and because this bottle of wine is empty and i need another