07.19.06
It begins.
The job is mine!
I am now a chef!
I have never been so scared in all my life! 
So here’s how it went down. I went out to Cafe Tirolo (that is the name of the place, which I can now tell you all) to see if they were interested in bringing me on board, and well, basically I already had the job. The head chef is selling the business to my neighbor and my neighbor had already made up her mind she wanted me - sight unseen - and, well, the head chef (Vic) could really care less as far as her decision.
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But that being said, he is obviously a really nice guy, and really knows his stuff. He is the perfect example of pragmatism over idealism. He does not wear the chef’s jacket and the checked pants, he wears a t-shirt, apron and shorts. (He confessed to me the shorts are not smart as he has been burned several times, but he still prefers it. I informed him I would be wearing long pants - a decision I made on the spot.)
The cafe is in a small space, and there is no walk-in fridge. Much of the food is delivered daily, and they make all of their own pastry on the premises. In short, it is a real hard-work place with a lot to be done by all on hand, and he asked me if I could start tomorrow morning. 8 AM.
And here I was afraid I would be working late nights…
So here is how my day is filling out tomorrow:
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7 AM - get up, go to work
8 AM - arrive at Cafe Tirolo, observe prep work, and help out as much as I can
2 PM - lunch shift is over, having sufficiently made a useless mass of myself in the kitchen, I go home
2:30 PM - start working from home on old job
5:30 PM - go to culinary school
11 PM - get home from culinary school, go to sleep
7 AM (Friday) - get up again to be at work at 8 AM
I think the theme of this blog is “mixed feelings”. While I am excited to become a chef, I am terrified of the possibilities. While I am thrilled to be starting my cooking career tomorrow, I am not looking forward to that schedule.
But most importantly, I have to make sure to tell you how it all goes. Tune in sometime tomorrow afternoon, and I will try to let you all know how it went! I can’t promise coherency, but I will do my best to let you know what the first impressions are!
Man, this “Bachelor Week” thing is just not working out the way I had planned…
Stumble it!
Wendy said,
July 19, 2006 at 7:20 pm
Congratulations! I found you through DCBlogs live feed. Good luck!
Anne said,
July 20, 2006 at 4:02 am
Congratulations!! I hope you’ll like it and get really good experience from it! I wish I was a little closer, I’d be happy to come and eat there
mrgali said,
July 20, 2006 at 8:35 am
I wish my husband would use his time so effectively when I’m out of town. Hmph.
Seriously, you’re making me want to drive in and get some of their yummy pasta… and sausage… and salads… oh man, I can’t believe I used to work in that building and could eat there everyday. Do you think your neighbor will open up a CT2 out here in Leesburg?
Or at least make it open on weekends?
Alejandra said,
July 20, 2006 at 12:50 pm
Congratulations! Oh I’m so weirdly excited for you, blogger friend. You’re going to learn so much, although i really don’t envy that schedule. Ugh…that’s just awful. But you can totally do it…
Carriebelle said,
July 20, 2006 at 3:16 pm
CONGRATULATIONS! We’ll definitely have to eat there the next time we’re up to visit - mmmmm…Wiener schnitzel and spaetzle…mmmm!