I know that I’m not a chef, or really even a cook yet. I don’t think that I’m capable of being thrown in on the line in a high capacity restaurant without any training or instruction and be able to function. I know that I need training and time to learn and increase my skills. Unfortunately I don’t have a money tree and I can’t volunteer 14 hours a day, six days a week of my time for eight months to build these skills. I need a job in which I’m able to learn and improve these skills and get paid. I’m not even asking to be paid much.
What I want to know is why a chef felt it necessary to show me that I’m not ready to work on the line in his restaurant. You may or may not know that a chef at a certain seafood and oyster bar on South Congress in Austin told me that he would “give me a chance” and bring me in on a shift to see how I do. After two weeks of me calling and asking when I can come in and getting brushed aside he finally says “I want you to come in Saturday at 5:00PM.” Obviously I was terrified, but I wasn’t going to say no. (more…)
This week is the beginning of my second 3-weeks at Culinary School! I’m so excited I could explode. We’re finally finished with our lecture classes, Sanitation 101 and Basic Cookery 100. Well, we’re almost finished; we have finals tonight in both, but that felt like the longest and most jam-packed three weeks of my life.
During the first day of class three weeks ago, Brian’s mom became very sick and had to be rushed to the emergency room! It was very scary, and Brian drove down to Houston to be with his family while I was in class. I never want to imply that I think he should stay with me instead of seeing his sick mother, but that first week of school was a roller coaster of emotion and exhaustion. I didn’t realize how much emotional support I would need to do this until it wasn’t there. I felt sad and alone and anxious because I didn’t know anyone at school and fretful about Brian’s mom. I just needed someone there to give me a hug. Thankfully his mother is doing much better, she’s still in the hospital but will be transferred to a rehab facility this week, but the situation was very scary at the beginning of it all. (more…)