TechnoBabe wanted to know if I have ever worked as a Chef.
I guess the answer to this is "almost".
In the summer when I turned 15, I worked in a restaurant that was owned by a friend of the family. Due to the nature of our town, it only opened in the summer when there were tourists around. I was the kitchen dogs-body, washing up, using the potato peeling machine, mopping the floors each morning, that sort of thing. It was hard work but I threw myself into it. The owner said that he wanted to take me on as an apprentice in the following summer and train me up. Unfortunately, things didn't work out that way and the restaurant did not re-open the next summer and I ended up going to college instead.
But I was ALMOST a chef. I guess that would be another Alternative Me!
But I love cooking and eating - we always try to make mealtimes a family affair, getting the kids together and talking about "stuff" - what has happened to us during the day, what is happening in the world at large, the latest thing we have seen on a blog or YouTube. I just love it.
My mom never really excelled as a cook - she did good, basic stuff but we never really had the money to go beyond that. It was only after I started to get some money of my own that I started experimenting with cooking - Ken Hom's first book became my bible and at one point we were eating so much Chinese food that Mrs RC and I forgot how to use a knife and fork! We went to dinner at a friend's house and spent several minutes fumbling with them until we got the hang of it again.
I only became Rock Chef when I had my mid-life crisis. Some get a sports car, some get a young girl friend, but I got a new electric guitar. Until then I had only owned bass guitars. I was so eager to get as much playing time in as possible that I played while cooking, having a small battery powered amp clipped to my belt. It was great fun.
OK, that is enough for now! I think I am emerging from the depths of my cold. Time to get lunch.
11 comments:
This is really interesting. I like the attitude you displayed at age fifteen. You were willing to put in the hard work doing what was needed and you were looking forward to the chef training. Sounds as if you have a great knack for cooking so you can put that one down in your list of talents. Thanks for answering my question so nicely.
I really should be getting ready for work, but here I sit in bed, Tootie contentedly on my lap, catching up on blog reading, It's early because The Hub couldn't find those things that slide into the collars of his dress shirt and keep the points down, so naturally I had to get up and help him work through his tizzy, meaning I had to find them for him. I went back several posts and read about your cooking and could almost smell those apples all the way across the pond! Sure would go well with my coffee this morning.
TechnoBabe - Yes, I think I produce some good stuff - if I have to shift career at some point I might go in the food direction again...
Ninny - Funny how us guys need rescuing from tizzies in the morning! Good to hear that you and Tootie are having a nice morning now, though.
Is dogs-body still a common term in England?
wigsf - Yes, it is in fairly common use - at least in my part of the country.
Ahh, what a great read (grin). I'm picturing you picking away at that guitar as you stir the pots - I'm surprised you didn't near electricute yourself (or the roast) in the process.
My big bruv' is a chef (and a guitar player). He's 50-something going on 15, still..
You always seem to have so much fun in the kitchen! And food is definitely a way to lure all the kids into the same place at the same time. I have taken to making big family Sunday dinners and Kacey has told me how much she likes it. Wish I'd have had the time years ago to figure out that cooking can be fun!
Shrinky - only batteries involved, so no chance of a shock - short of licking the batteries, of course. You brother sounds great...
Terri - Well I guess it is better when you only get to play in the kitchen a couple of times a week - when it is your duty to serve up food every single day it quickly loses its shine...
hubby thought about being a chef, but went into computers...I'm hoping that he gets that 'bug' again and starts cooking - even a couple times a week :D, right now he's content with mine...sporadic as it is right now.
TZ - Ah, you should encourage hubby to get into the kitchen, especially if he has a talent for it! Start along the lines of that "Do you remember that meal you used to make?"
Give all of the innovated recipes you've done, I think you have the makings of a great chef. Too bad you didn't pursue that path, but, then again, that would have turned out a totally different Rock Chef.
And thanks for dog-sbody. That's a new term for me. You are never too old to learn new tricks.
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