CULA-confidential

I'm a cook, not a woman

Since moving to the male-dominated hot line of the kitchen, I find I do miss the company of other women. I love my work and really love the restaurant where I cook, but it's not easy. One time the chef told me to stop shaking the saute pan "like I was shaking my dick." "Ha, Ha, Ha," I replied, "I don't have a dick." He got really pissed off that I laughed but I really did think it was funny. A dick! What a hoot. On the front line, no one's feelings are taken into account. The chef will yell at whomever is closest for whatever infraction. That was hard to take. Also, there is no arguing on the line. Chef's word is law. The only answer is "yes chef," or maybe "right away chef." No back talk is allowed. I do work hard to be seen as a cook, not a woman. It's difficult because I'm a hugger. I love to hug people. I guess my overwhelmingly foul mouth makes up for the hugging.

Me at work

This is me at work. It's a lousy picture because I look ridiculous. I have a small head and a not-so-small body.  We have to wear skull cap-style hats and my uniform is huge so the result is a woman who looks remarkably like a pin head. No insult intended to any microcephalics who may happen upon this blog.  I stand over a hot stove, making fabulous food for well-to-do people.

Tomato lore

Did you know that plum tomatoes have three chambers, hothouse have five, and heirloom tomatoes have seven chambers?

The odd number of chambers makes it difficult to chop tomatoes when cut from "pole to pole." Cut them along the equator, or at a point parallel to it, and they are much easier to de seed.

Woe is me, I got my first B

It was bound to happen eventually but I got a B. Actually, two B's. One in Supervision and one in practicum (because I didn't have time to work at the food bank last semester).  I hated the supervision instructor. He wasn't fond of me either. Admitting that he once (many years ago) fired a cocktail waitress because she wouldn't sleep with the hotel owner didn't exactly endear him to me. Later in the semester he made a wizecrack about the feminist movement so I made a smart ass comment  that because of feminists, his DAUGHTERS would never be fired for refusing to sleep with the boss. He winced but got the point. All things considered, I guess I'm lucky that I got a B. At least I got an A in my quantity class, International Cusine. I hated supervision but I do credit the class for getting me out of the dreaded pastry department. We learned that it's easiest to move up (or in my case over) if you train your replacement. So I did and I did.

Peel ginger

Peel fresh ginger with a spoon and you won't waste as much.