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Thursday, February 10, 2011

Counting my chickens

As of right now, I am finishing up my Culinary Arts and Restaurant Management degrees. I have 1 more class in each category to take over the summer/fall and then I will graduate. I have also been intending to apply for the Baking & Pastry Arts program which would have me done with St Philips in Spring 2012. It's competitive-- about 80 people apply for a class of 16. But I'm confident that I would be accepted because *brag mode engaged* I am well-known in the department, I have excellent grades including in the pastry classes I've previously taken, and once I get that pesky little detail of not having any professional references straightened out, I write a pretty good application essay. Plus my good friend Marnie will kill me if I don't apply for it, because she is too.

Well, Marnie may be killing me.

Have I mentioned that Chef is consulting on the side for a fellow who is opening up a bakery? Probably not. This week I took two bakery-related field trips with Chef--Monday we went and picked out and paid for restaurant equipment on the South side of San Antonio. Boy do I need to learn Spanish. Chef told me straight out that if I went in there speaking English, I would get a different price quote. But that equipment is built like a tank, yo.

The second field trip was getting it delivered to the location, which he has already purchased. It's in Leon Springs on Boerne Stage Rd and I-10, which is a pretty great area. Of course it was the day that San Antonio decided to be 20 degrees, but whatever.

So the long and short of it is, this guy Tom has the business plan and savvy but he needs a general manager, effective April or May of this year. Chef thinks it should be me. Tom seems amenable--at his request I have already sent him my resume and we are meeting sometime over the next week or so to discuss employment.

If I like what I hear, this may be my entrance into the culinary world.

I mean, when else can you graduate from school and have your first job offer be the GM position to start up a new business? Especially one that is being consulted by Chef who certainly has the years and experience to back up his confidence in what Tom is planning.

It's kind of scary and awesome. But I want to be sure that I believe in what Tom wants to do and my role in making that happen. I've had enough "jobs" to know that I am happiest and I work hardest when I'm part of a mission. I'm a crusader. That's why I'm enjoying my work with Chef so much; I see every part of it as a chance to do something great, and it's really rewarding for me. He's got to make me a believer, or I'm staying the course with school.

A slightly inappropriate funny. Chef and I were talking about my upcoming interview. I was expressing how nervous I am to ask about their expectations of me as the GM of this unknown business, and Chef told me I was going about it all wrong. Rather than letting Tom tell me what I was going to do, I need to tell him what I can do, what I will do, and what I won't do--namely, work myself to the bone and never see my family.

I surely looked skeptical with a hint of shock, because have I mentioned I'm a crusader? who were not known for their rich and thriving personal lives? so Chef took a different approach. "Treat the interview as if it were a request for sex. YOU have to be the one to set the terms. YOU set the conditions and be firm about them, and if he doesn't follow through, it's a no-go." He paused and added, "Just put your mind back in high school."

I dimpled and said, "Oh, no, married life is like that too."

Sad thing is, it made sense. And I feel more confident going in and changing my life. Possibly. This may all be very anti-climactic if it doesn't work out, but it's a fun milestone.

(In other weekly news, I finally finished the food requisition list for Olives Ole, put it in a snazzy format and am getting it proofed before submitting it. And I also turned in my ingredient requisition for the San Antonio Rampage demo next Wednesday. Tomorrow night, the aforementioned-future-assassin Marnie will come over with her son and sister-in-law and we will do a test run of the demo using the civilians as surrogate hockey players. Which means between now and then I need to buy the test run ingredients and finish the handout which is the basis of the entire class. I will need to hit up the Original for a bit this weekend but not actually for the Practicum--my Legal Issues class wants us to do a "property inspection" and check for any safety hazards/violations, so it's as convenient as anything. Well okay it isn't, because it's downtown which is a long drive and then I have to deal with parking nonsense, but I would feel silly inspecting a random other place.)

3 comments:

Rosie Posie said...

"Treat the interview as if it were a request for sex. YOU have to be the one to set the terms. YOU set the conditions and be firm about them, and if he doesn't follow through, it's a no-go." He paused and added, "Just put your mind back in high school."

I dimpled and said, "Oh, no, married life is like that too."

BWAHAHA! Oh, sorry.

On a more grown up note; DUDE THAT'S AWESOME! I hope that he propositions you with an excellent and amazing opportunity! I'll come eat your pastry in June. :)

Rosie Posie said...

Um, ok, that sounded a little naughty. I'll come eat pastry at your shop...

Megan and Tavis said...

Rosie - you win at internet. :D