Hell Week!!!

Sorry I haven't posted for a while readers. I just finished my first week getting paid for what I've waited so long to do... being a professional cook!!! Wow, what a week it's been. Let me first say that I'm working at Hamilton Farm Golf Club; a highly prestigious private golf course located in north central Jersey. The LPGA Tour will be visiting in May for a match play tournament and I'm very excited about that.

Well, anyways, let's get back to the kitchen. Besides the chef and sous chef, there will be about 10 others (including myself) employed in the kitchen. Most of the people are new to the golf course this year and were unavailable to start this week because they had to give proper notice to their previous employers. That meant this week (my first week) there was only the chef, sous chef, me and one other cook to do all the work. We didn't even have a dishwasher. That was mostly done by poor, poor me. The club hasn't officially opened yet, but we still had plenty of work to do. On wednesday and thursday we prepped food for the entire dinner menu to serve to the front of the house staff so they would know the food. That was absolutely crazy!!! Last night we had to cook for about 50 people (members and their guests). We prepped all the food in the main kitchen in the clubhouse and then transported everything to the Mansion where the dinner/reception was held. The Mansion stands right down the road from the clubhouse and is a beautiful Victorian building. Inside there are many themed dining rooms (library, wine cellar). It's a beautiful place.

I spent the last few days prepping and plating most of the salads, but I also helped out making ravioli and family meal for the staff. I've learned so much this first week and am excited to learn so much more. Unfortunately, since I haven't worked for so long and am not used to being on my feet for the entire day, I'm feeling the effects. I'm absolutely wiped out. Fortunately, I have the next couple days off for some much needed rest and relaxation. Here are some pictures of dishes that are on the dinner menu. On the left is dover sole. The middle picture is a quail egg ravioli and the right picture is steak tartar!!!