5-26-04

Today’s assignment was for one of the country’s largest contract caterers. I was the first person to arrive, which put frighteners on me because I was a few minutes late. The staff of 15 or so were a delight. Zimbabweans all of them with big smiles and a joy for life that you will rarely find in a minimum wage employee in Britain. I quickly made a friend of Pido who is a fine man who quickly showed me where everything was and where I could find the coffee machine. No pot washers in this kitchen yesterday so the pots were stacked to the ceiling to be washed before any cooking could commence. I was only producing lunch for 70 or so in a cafeteria setting so my day was not too pressing—two choices and a vegetarian dish for the main course and custard to go with a pre-packaged dessert. Pido would make the soup and I would split by 2:30pm. An English guy, Adam, played T rex at many decibels over the safety threshold and a couple of other young guys wandered in later with monster hangovers and no appetite for work. What a waste.
After a brief meeting with the manager I was told I would be coming back there each day for a week or two until they found a permanent chef. Joy. He also offered me the position of ‘Executive chef”. He must be kidding—I already get paid more than what he wants to offer me and I don’t have any headaches or weekends to work. I have a feeling that I shall be back here and I am sure there will be more on this one later.