I'll Never Think of Easter Day the Same Again!!!

Wow, readers!!! I just survived one of my busiest weekends ever in any job I've had. Now, I'm usually experiencing Easter on the other end of the spectrum. As a paying customer, I've often gone out with family and/or friends and shelled out $30 or so for an average tasting all-you-can-eat Easter buffet. I never thought much about what was going on behind the scenes. Why would I? All I cared about was that there was plenty of waffles, sausage and bacon, potatoes, and eggs in front of me ready to be feasted on. And feast I did!!

Well, that all changed this past week. I'm now working in a kitchen at a very elite country club. So yes, that means I wasn't able to be a paying customer this past Sunday b/c I was actually one of those people "behind the scenes". Let me tell you, it is crazy work. We actually started prepping for Easter a few days ago, but went into a fevered pitch on Saturday. By Sunday morning, basically everything was prepped and just needed to be cooked and then brought out to the buffet stations. We had approximately 140 members (with family and guests) come and they really loved the food. We had the standards, including sausage, bacon, waffles, french toast, and eggs benedict, but we also had more choices such as braised short ribs, some sort of ceviche (sorry can't remember what type of fish was in there; i didn't make it), ham (which was carved on the spot) and a few types of salads (including an endive salad and a spinach salad). Also, there was a huge array of desserts. I should have taken some pictures of the food, but alas I forgot. Sorry everyone. You'll just have to imagine.

After all was said and done, there was still so much food left over so we lined everything up back in the kitchen and had a huge (and I do mean huge) family meal. For anyone not associated with a restaurant the "family meal" is a meal prepared by the kitchen to be eaten by all the staff members (family). Nice, isn't it?!? It was such a tiring day that 1/2 of the wait staff was so tired that they just went home w/o having any of the meal that was left for them. Not to worry though, because those that were remaining + the kitchen staff took care of much of the remaining food. After all, our appetites were huge.

I feel that I went through a battle this past weekend. I think I lost about 10 pounds just from walking here and there and sweating up a storm. Just yesterday, I drank 1 gallon of water. Yeah, no joke... 1 gallon of water. Also, I came away with a couple of injuries. Don't laugh readers, but they hurt and I am now wearing two band-aids on the same hand. On my left forefinger I have a huge blister as a result of splitting a zillion crab legs on Saturday. Then yesterday, I cut my thumb on the mandolin while slicing garlic (the chef likes garlic and shallots to be cut on the mandolin first; and with no food guard you're bound to cut yourself sooner or later).

Well, it's rest time for me today and tomorrow and then it's back to a hectic week on Wednesday. All I know, I'll never look at Easter the same again!!!

Until next time,

Jason G