As Executive Chef in fine dining establishments in the eighties and nineties, I witnessed firsthand the changing landscape from the traditional (classic) dishes to the new, colorful platescapes that overzealous chefs, with their squeeze bottles in hand, chose to paint like graffiti artists. I liked SOME of the new look plates, and I was oneContinue reading “Don’t Forget Dessert”
Category Archives: food service
A Little Something Extra
I was involved in one position or another in restaurants in my journey. Part of that journey was as a tipped employee. I loved that position better than any I held afterwards, even after I ascended to the Executive Chef position in a starred French restaurant. Why? I was single and working in a majorContinue reading “A Little Something Extra”
Loneliness
I like being alone, but I suppose feeling lonely is a curse for some. Others can be alone even when surrounded by other people. I am one of them. I think I equate people with being antithetical to a clean and healthy planet. I would be alright with a smaller world population, or even better,Continue reading “Loneliness”
No Pressure
I think we would all like to think we would be cool under pressure, and able to lead masses of people if need be. Right. Very few are the stalwarts, impervious to distraction. Single-minded, yes? But in a good way. These are the people I want placed in charge of keeping our citizens safe (includingContinue reading “No Pressure”
Here We Go Again
In this dangerous world, our nation’s defense is Priority One. Or at least it should be. What do you do when you want to attract the best recruits possible to join our naval forces? Lower the standards, of course. The business sector has been doing it forever to attract workers who just don’t want toContinue reading “Here We Go Again”
Wait For It…
I am the very first to admit that, of all the many gifts I have inherited and refined, patience is NOT one of them. Oh, I’ve gotten better, but more often than not, throughout my life, impatience has cost me. I used to be such a stickler for my food quality. Classic French cuisine requiresContinue reading “Wait For It…”
Closing Time
I worked in food service for several decades and closed many an establishment. I worked my way up from dishwasher to starred chef and at that level, I had a Chef Tournant whose staff would close and secure my kitchen. If I was on hand for closing, it was for a special occasion, or IContinue reading “Closing Time”
The Big “L”
Nat King Cole and nearly every other singer on the planet has, at one time or another, placed a love song or two in their playlist. We sing about love, we revere it, we even build great monuments to it. But what are we doing to perpetuate it? Love is not self-sustaining. It needs toContinue reading “The Big “L””
No News
Here’s a thought. How about we go to weekly newscasts? Think about it. What changes from day-to-day? The same hatreds (maybe a few new ones even), the same prejudices (maybe a few new ones even). I don’t need a morning caucus of chowderheads like that Dilton Doily-looking dumbass Joe. Talk about an egomaniacal misogynist. LetContinue reading “No News”
Grey Divorce
I had no idea what that even was until some family members we have are going through issues after forty years. Forty years. I don’t have a clue about the new ways of going about getting married, as I was one of those saps that did the whole “struck by a thunderbolt” thing when IContinue reading “Grey Divorce”
