Location: Breaking Bread Ministries/LaSalle Street Church
Date: Wednesday, July 06, 2016; 5:45-8:15 pm
I had not been for my regular shift in months, though I had
come for the “Summer Spectacular”
last month. I arrived to see that Marianne
was here along with the usual Week 1 squad.
Chef Dan handed me a masher like the one used for potatoes and told me
that it would be my best friend for the evening. I was presented with a giant vat of beans and
told to go at it with the masher. They
were eventually going to be converted into "refried beans", meaning they were a
long ways from the desired consistency.
And it was all on me!
 |
| My beans |
A volunteer was chopping cilantro next to me and Chef Dan
was telling her to go finer. I mentioned
to her that based on the task that I had, she was ok doing hers. Another volunteer was chopping fresh garlic
and Chef Dan told her to go finer as well.
I mentioned that we had garlic powder, at which he said that he prefers
fresh whenever available…and then proceeded to add a lot of garlic powder into
the beans. He also added cumin as I
continued to mash. Chef told me to move
the giant pan to the stove in order to start the cooking…while I continue to
mash. I asked another volunteer to help
carry the vessel to the stove and as I continued my mashing, I had to take care
so as not to burn myself on the flame.
Behind me, fresh mayonnaise was being made in a stand mixer and I
whispered to Marianne that I once made mayo with hand, not a mixer…referring to
a cooking class I had taken in ‘Alliance
Francaise’. Everyone’s an expert in
the kitchen.
As I continued, meat was being cooked on the griddle and a “Mexican Pilaf” was steaming somewhere
else. It was indeed a “Mexican themed” dinner tonight, with my
beans, some sort of “Sopes with Meat”
and the rice. Plus, we had cinnamon
rolls, which were stinking up the place good. I was tired, hot and sweaty and my fingers
were blistered. People kept coming and were encouraging, sympathizing etc., but no one offered to help. Chef Dan said that I deserved an award
tonight. I asked if there was going to
be a ceremony and an after party. Chef
said that he would cook for me, really hinting that since volunteers can also
have the meal, his task was already done.
Another comedian!
 |
| Tonight's plate |
I asked Chef Dan if he had an “immersion blender” and he said he did, but didn't offer it early on since it would have
clogged; however it was ok to use it now.
But now the problem was that there was no plug point near the
stove. So we had to move the pan again;
which was still preferable to me over the mashing. I started with the blender and it was only a
slight improvement on the mash, primarily because of its weight and the fact
that I was tired. At one stage the Chef
said that we had the consistency we wanted, but before I could celebrate, he
wanted to move the pot back to the stove and continue stirring over heat. I spent the next several minutes stirring the
pot to ensure that the beans did not stick to the base. Finally, Chef Dan said that we were ready to
transfer to a “6 inch pan” and with
my arms being numb, I said that someone else could do it. My part in this process was at an end.
I went outside and saw that the music was on with Phil playing
the piano. I went over to chat with him and
he invited me to sing. I said that would
not be good for anyone! Marianne got
everyone together for her speech and she went over the instructions, especially
for the benefit of the 3 newcomers that we had this evening. In terms of assignment, as usual I would be
on the plating team. As we lined up, I
found myself at the end of the line, responsible for the garnish. The plate with the rice, beans, “sopes” and meat would come to me, and I
would sprinkle “Cotija Cheese” and
the chopped cilantro, which I was doing with flourish. “It’s
all in the wrist’, I mentioned to another volunteer. After everyone had been served, I stepped
aside and the seconds started. Then,
depending on where guests were sitting, I was stacking the chairs and moving
them to the back, helping clean the front of the house. We were done at 8:15 pm and I left after
saying bye to everyone. My dad would be
visiting next month and so I mentioned to Marianne that I may get him with me.
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