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rockzilla · 06-06-2005, 05:02 AM

I cook at a homeless shelter

I'm awake at around 4:30, out the door by 5, and in my chef's whites by 5:30.

I start by checking the week's menu and the day's volunteer schedule. We set out a rough plan for the day based on what we have to cook, and what we need to get prepped for the next couple of days. Once we figure out what we're doing, we start getting breakfast ready for anywhere between 200 and 350 people. The worst part of the job is that you're never sure how busy it's going to be.

Breakfast is served at 7:20. Depending on how labour-intensive breakfast is (for example, it takes way less effort to scramble eggs for 300 than it does to fry them) and how much volunteer help we have, I may be on the line serving breakfast or I may be in the back getting things ready for lunch, or I may still be getting the last of the food ready.

The boss usually gets in around 8:00, he usually pulls me aside and gives me a list of functions that need to be catered today, sidework and cleaning that he'd like done and any other kind of wrench he can throw into our impeccably planned schedule.

We stop serving breakfast at 8:30 and clean the kitchen and dining room, or have volunteers do it for us. Depending on how busy I am, I may or may not have time for breakfast.

Now we have about 3 hours before lunch has to be ready. Depending on how much prep work was done the day before, that may be all the time in the world, or it may not be enough. We've also got to make sack lunches for guys that go to work, sandwiches to hand out in the evening, all sorts of other little tasks that have to be done or delegated to a volunteer.

When I have the time and the right ingredients I also try to cook something special for the staff meal. The homeless guys are pickier than any 4 year-old I've ever met, the vast majority of them are strictly meat and potato types. I get a lot more freedom to experiment and cook the way I like to when I feed the staff. We serve lunch from 11:20 til 12:00 for the homeless, and the staff eats at 12:30.

Once everyone is happy and well fed, we clean the kitchen again and finish the day by getting things ready for tomorrow. As soon as the clock strikes 1:30, I'm gone.

06-06-2005, 05:02 AM	#6 (permalink)
rockzilla Junkie Location: The Kitchen	I cook at a homeless shelter I'm awake at around 4:30, out the door by 5, and in my chef's whites by 5:30. I start by checking the week's menu and the day's volunteer schedule. We set out a rough plan for the day based on what we have to cook, and what we need to get prepped for the next couple of days. Once we figure out what we're doing, we start getting breakfast ready for anywhere between 200 and 350 people. The worst part of the job is that you're never sure how busy it's going to be. Breakfast is served at 7:20. Depending on how labour-intensive breakfast is (for example, it takes way less effort to scramble eggs for 300 than it does to fry them) and how much volunteer help we have, I may be on the line serving breakfast or I may be in the back getting things ready for lunch, or I may still be getting the last of the food ready. The boss usually gets in around 8:00, he usually pulls me aside and gives me a list of functions that need to be catered today, sidework and cleaning that he'd like done and any other kind of wrench he can throw into our impeccably planned schedule. We stop serving breakfast at 8:30 and clean the kitchen and dining room, or have volunteers do it for us. Depending on how busy I am, I may or may not have time for breakfast. Now we have about 3 hours before lunch has to be ready. Depending on how much prep work was done the day before, that may be all the time in the world, or it may not be enough. We've also got to make sack lunches for guys that go to work, sandwiches to hand out in the evening, all sorts of other little tasks that have to be done or delegated to a volunteer. When I have the time and the right ingredients I also try to cook something special for the staff meal. The homeless guys are pickier than any 4 year-old I've ever met, the vast majority of them are strictly meat and potato types. I get a lot more freedom to experiment and cook the way I like to when I feed the staff. We serve lunch from 11:20 til 12:00 for the homeless, and the staff eats at 12:30. Once everyone is happy and well fed, we clean the kitchen again and finish the day by getting things ready for tomorrow. As soon as the clock strikes 1:30, I'm gone.