So, with our recent finances being a bit tight (thank you Mr. Economy!), I answered a job ad on craigslist to help out at the local Nascar track. It was at the main "members only" club house for three days of racing; Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
I put in a total of 48 hours in three days, I was beat.
Let's revisit that gracious event, shall we?
To say that it was unbelievably-crazy-insane in that kitchen would be an understatment. Aside from the massive amounts of food (we're talking in the tons! The feeding number I got was a total of about 7500 people!) that we cranked out, it was one of, if not THE loudest kitchens I've ever stepped foot in.
The combined levels of decibals from the searing, grilling, the hood vents sucking, buzzers from the ovens and steamers, the phones ringing, the chopping, the cussing (mostly from one particular country bumpkin farm girl with an affinity to gangsta rap music and singing) and, let's not forget, the screaming from the brigade of fellow Northerner Chefs, Sous Chefs and Cooks, made it impossible to think straight!
None of us were even aloud to stay still for a moment. There was a time when I just stood there for one second, catching my breath, when one of the Nazis (the uniforms made them look like Nazis, sorry, lol) came over to me and ordered me to get busy, do something, it was great man. I felt like I was back in the begining 20 years ago learning how to chop onions and shit, lol.
Just because WE, the grunts, weren't aloud to stay still, catch our breath, or EAT, didn't mean that it wasn't going on around us. If you were "in charge" or worked for the local food service company, or were friends/ relatives to the aformentioned, you had the God-given right to stand there and do nothing. If you had a mic stuck to your shoulder, you were even aloud to SIT IN AN OFFICE most of the time, lol. Boy, there were a few times that I wished I had one of those mics. My sciatic nerve was throbbing quite a bit.
Anywho, overall it was a great time. Long hours, yes, but I got to meet some awesome people, some famous people and felt alive and full of purpose for the first time in a while. I guess standing that long brought me back to how grateful I should be for the life I lead today. To think that I could be doing that shit EVERY DAY like I used to just sends chills down my spine.
Check out these pics I clicked off with my cell phone.
I put in a total of 48 hours in three days, I was beat.
Let's revisit that gracious event, shall we?
To say that it was unbelievably-crazy-insane in that kitchen would be an understatment. Aside from the massive amounts of food (we're talking in the tons! The feeding number I got was a total of about 7500 people!) that we cranked out, it was one of, if not THE loudest kitchens I've ever stepped foot in.
The combined levels of decibals from the searing, grilling, the hood vents sucking, buzzers from the ovens and steamers, the phones ringing, the chopping, the cussing (mostly from one particular country bumpkin farm girl with an affinity to gangsta rap music and singing) and, let's not forget, the screaming from the brigade of fellow Northerner Chefs, Sous Chefs and Cooks, made it impossible to think straight!
None of us were even aloud to stay still for a moment. There was a time when I just stood there for one second, catching my breath, when one of the Nazis (the uniforms made them look like Nazis, sorry, lol) came over to me and ordered me to get busy, do something, it was great man. I felt like I was back in the begining 20 years ago learning how to chop onions and shit, lol.
Just because WE, the grunts, weren't aloud to stay still, catch our breath, or EAT, didn't mean that it wasn't going on around us. If you were "in charge" or worked for the local food service company, or were friends/ relatives to the aformentioned, you had the God-given right to stand there and do nothing. If you had a mic stuck to your shoulder, you were even aloud to SIT IN AN OFFICE most of the time, lol. Boy, there were a few times that I wished I had one of those mics. My sciatic nerve was throbbing quite a bit.
Anywho, overall it was a great time. Long hours, yes, but I got to meet some awesome people, some famous people and felt alive and full of purpose for the first time in a while. I guess standing that long brought me back to how grateful I should be for the life I lead today. To think that I could be doing that shit EVERY DAY like I used to just sends chills down my spine.
Check out these pics I clicked off with my cell phone.
We marked over 2000 pieces of chicken breast!
Tons of Spagetti Squash!
What a view man!
Me and a few from the crew!
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