It's a miracle that no matter how bad the situation outside the kitchen, getting my hands on food helps keep me centered, or at least sane ( Read more... )

In early, met with the boss, tipped out, ordered food, wrote a schedule, prepped, cooked dinner with D, who was being a drama queen, and G and A on the cold side. We were hopping -- there's a big group of, I think, music teachers at the Lodge. One of their number came by this morning to tell the boss that "when we were here last year, you had a ( Read more... )

wow, those were eleven tough hours. the morning guy wanted out early and sous wanted in an hour late. at least it's payday! woohoo.

ordered the damn mussels BUT didn't GET them, so came up with lime-and-tarragon seared scallops with sautéed spinach, spiced walnuts, and rice pilaf instead. Sold a bunch. sous and I had big tables from jump, seven ( Read more... )

One of my cooks called in sick last night and then tried to get sent home today. Thing is, I fear he is using some fairly serious drugs. He could soon flake out and be lost. The good news is that a walk-in applicant came in today, a bright young fellow with a cute wife. They want to move to the Gorge. He's available mid-May. This might work out ( Read more... )

The boss said I was over my labor budget every week but one while he was gone. Time to cut the schedule.

The new guy didn't show up. Again. This from a so-called chef. Two messages and an e-mail... nothing. So one of my dishwashers is going to step up to the hot line. Another long day tomorrow.

I called everybody on the schedule in my kitchen, and no one answered the phone.

The boss came in and ate. He had the oysters. After eleven and a half hours on the line, I am afraid I could have been not quite on top of my game. Oh well, He liked them.

Here's the thing, R. You don't seem to want to be here very much. Your cooking suffers when you have a bad day. You work fewer hours than any other cook in the place, and you always want out early. Everybody in the place is mad at you. As for me, well, I can't get you to bring me a renewed food handler's card, or get to work on time, or even use ( Read more... )

I love it. Spring Break is happening and for me, it means more work. Saw my first sailboarder of the year on the river yesterday. This week will probably be jamming. As it is, my friends Jenice and Mikey are coming out from PDX tomorrow and will probably spend the night: they're on spring break from working at PSU. Then next weekend hippybear and jefu may come ( Read more... )

Worked and worked and worked the prep list today, then cooked dinner with D on the hot side and F on the cold; she gave me two weeks' notice today. Says she's going to move to Eugene and go to school.

Tired after having to yell at my dishwasher first thing this morning:

"B, if you aren't coming to work, you talk to sous or to me, no one else. We ( Read more... )