Monday, June 11, 2007

Back on the Chain Gang

Today is my first day back at the restaurant. They’re promoting me to the dinner shift in the hot kitchen where I’ll be cooking pasta. I’m terrified. Pasta is the toughest spot on the line; there’s no time for mistakes and you must be tough as nails. And strong. Hella strong. Considering my arm hurts from yesterday’s tennis lesson I think I have some work to do.

Embarassingly, my other fear is that I’ll cry. Because that is what I do now, apparently, when something gets to be too much, or too stressful, or too hard. I cry like a kindergartener. And that’s NOT OKAY because there is NO CRYING in the kitchen. Not when you’re trying to prove yourself in front of a bunch of big strong men. (Didn’t you read Kitchen Confidential – imagine how much worse it would have been if he were a girl, and if he cried? Ouch.)

The title of this post refers to this song, which they used to play before the beginning of the night shift when I was first starting at Garde Manger because it was at the beginning of somebody’s iPod mix. You know how each baseball player has a song that they play when he approaches to bat? Maybe this is my song.

And hey, I just watched the youtube thing and you know who cries? Chrissie Hynde. Chrissie freaking Hynde cries in this video, while she’s singing. Probably because the song was written about the death of her lead guitarist (and boyfriend?) after his overdose. If Chrissie Hynde can cry at work maybe I can too.

8 Comments:

Blogger Jeff in NC said...

Bah, you're MEBETH! You own pasta. Kiss pasta-ass! :)

9:40 PM  
Blogger Jeff in NC said...

er...I meant KICK pasta-ass. That's a bit different than KISS pasta-ass.

9:41 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

You'll do great! I was watching Hells Kitchen and one of the chefs (a guy) cried in the kitchen. Another one couldn't cook the pasta and was kicked off. I liked him and wanted him to stay. But I know you'll do better than all those t.v. folks. ;-) Have a good one!

Paz

6:51 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I hope you muscled through, Beth! First time back is bound to be tough, but I hope your coworkers were extra nice to you (or less mean?). Anyway, if you cry, it's just extra salt in the pasta water, and my Italian friends say it's impossible to use too much salt...

6:50 PM  
Blogger Randi said...

Oh Hell, I've cried at work twice in the last week. In my case, it was my boss who made me cry so I dont feel too bad about it.

8:14 PM  
Blogger Haley said...

one, great song! two, i cry at everything on a regular basis (i think i have hormonal issues or an overdose of whatever makes you empathetic)--all i have to do is watch a sappy commercial or hear a sad story and here come the tears. it can be a bit embarrassing. three, i'm sure you will do wonderfully. in fact, i know you do because i peaked at your next post already.

and four, i hate raisins too! especially when they try to sneak them into cookies. gross!

10:07 AM  
Blogger t. primo said...

New to your blog by way of Hampton Smoker (my Bro in law). Love it so far, as I too am a chef, I enjoy hearing about other chef's experiences.

I'll keep checking back despite the fact that I LOVE RAISINS! Mmmmm, Nature's Candy!

Don't hate me, join me...c'mon, they're really good. ;)

1:37 PM  
Blogger ركن كلين said...


لذلك تحرص شركتنا افضل شركة مكافحة حشرات بالرياض كأفضل الشركات الموجودة فى الرياض على التخلص من جميع الأفات الشرسه مثلا الفئران وغيرها من القوارض التى من الممكن ان تكون سبب فى تدمير اغراض اى منزل او قد تسبب بعض الامراض اونقلها.
شركة رش دفان بالرياض
شركة رش مبيدات بالرياض
شركة مكافحة الصراصير بالرياض
شركة مكافحة النمل الاسود بالرياض
شركة مكافحة بق الفراش بالرياض
اسعر شركات مكافحة الحشرات بالرياض
شركة مكافحة الفئران بالرياض
شركة مكافحة النمل الابيض بالرياض
شركة تنظيف موكيت بالرياض
شركة تنظيف كنب بالرياض
شركة تنظيف فلل بالرياض

7:33 PM  

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