Journey of realization.

3 years ago

I had just Moved away from everything I knew, Not being the most confident child and the lack of the social hub that is school I found myself unable to meet new people and form new friendships.
So I found myself as a Lonely 16 Year old finding refuge within another world, World of Warcraft to be exact. I had No obligations so i was stuck in my house for almost every waking hour.

The only thing i had control of within my life was my characters within World of warcraft, and it was the only social interaction i had within my life.

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Not an exciting weekend!

After it hit me I couldn't play world of warcraft for the rest of my life I decided to do something that everyone should do, Find a job! After searching for some of hours i had quite alot of simple Jobs i could do, I decided to Go for gold with this one Job, So I Rushed to my trusty notepad to Write a C.V.
...Save, Upload, Send! I felt unusually excited. It took 3 Days for me to get a response, Following a phone call I managed to land my first interview!

Looking back on that Interview I Realized How awkward and weird i came across as, But never the less at the time I waited eagerly for a response, After 4 days of Patiently waiting it hit me, I wasn't getting that job. Being a Human I rationalized the outcome to myself, I didnt want that job anyway....
So From that day on I decided to search for the perfect job, Something I would love to do for 8 hours a day! Funny thing was, I had No idea what i wanted to do.

6 Months down the line I found myself an Interview as an Apprentice Commis chef for a local Hotel.
I got to the interview on time, Some-what wet because of the weather, I go into the Hotel Lobby and ask at the reception About my Interview, I was told to take a seat, He will be with me in a minute!

Imagine things you probably shouldn't do when your being greeted by your potential employer.
Listening to music - Check.
wearing your awesome rain coat - Check.
Not making eye contact - Check.

After having a Chat with the Chef for about 10-15 minutes, He decided to show me around the hotel, Function rooms, Restaurant, the kitchen, We then Had another brief chat then we went up a flight of stairs into the offices I shook hands with the General manager and she offered me the job....

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WTF?!

14th November 2010
My first day, I got to the kitchen, Greeted By the sous chef, Stuart. He called over the tall Nigerian Chef de partie, Sam. there are few things I remember about that day. I had to Seal off some Braising steaks, During which I burnt my hand! Also being unable to understand a thick Nigerian accent. Which made learning just a tad difficult!
That Day I Found Out on the 16th November I had to travel to another hotel for a induction course for my apprenticeship.

Thankfully Stuart had sorted out the logistics of it all, And Gave me a lift to the hotel, As we Arrived, He promptly Kicked me out of his car and said Good Luck! then Drove off!
I Checked into the hotel and found my room, Dumped my stuff on the floor, then I went to the bar to meet all of the other apprentices.
We all chatted about the hotels we worked at and how long they had been working there for, When it got to me I answered With a answer which was some-what comical, "I've been a commis chef for 2 days" then laughed in comparison to the years the other had been working for.
The Organizers Got us all Free Drinks, Being my 18th Birthday I had my first legal alcoholic beverage.We Shortly after Moved into a Small Function room, Where we would be eating our 5 course Dinner.
The service was amazing, I drank a glass of wine, Minutes later Refilled, And all for free! So I decided to Keep on chugging it down. Because of all the drink I dont recall anything from that night apart from trying to do the Cracker Challenge + Show Spoiler +

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saltine_cracker_challenge)

I woke Up the next Morning at around 7am Feeling unusually Refreshed, Untill I seen the state of the room, the Floor, Bedsheets and curtains Covered In Sick! Not good!
1 Pint of Beer, Priceless
2 Bottle of Red House win, priceless
Carpet and bed being cleaned, £127.45

I had never actually met my head chef Before Until my day of return, He was not too pleased to say the least. I did learn to Peel Potatoes faster tho!
Every 3 months I traveled to a different hotel for some practical work and some seminars, From London to Harrowgate, Everyone being Relatively similar, a Night of Drunken antics and a Boring seminar!

14 Months Later

I Returned to the hotel in which I Redecorated the room, But this time was for our "graduation" and a Cook-off! I was Going up against people who have over 5 years kitchen experience, some that work in 2-3 Rosette Hotels. And Well Me, the Boy who had never cooked fresh food untill 14 months ago! GLHF!

The Competition was Simple, You had to Produce 1 Main course and 1 Starter or dessert, We didn't know the ingredients till we started. I didnt have a main course in mind, I Planned just to wing it! but the Dessert, I had it all planned out, Baileys Brulee, Raspbery Coulis and Langes de chate.
We Had 2 Hours to pull it all together, As we entered the kitchen I came to the shocking realization. We Only have One Oven....

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I just got fucked

Coming to the conclusion I wouldnt be able to keep an oven on 110Degrees for 40 minutes I had to think on my feet, Use all my experience (lol) to come up with something else!

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I can do that....

I decided to do something simple for my main course as my plans just got screwed over. so i decided to do something simple, Parsnip Puree, Cajun chicken, tomato Salsa and Fondant potato.

Being in a new kitchen is always quite intimidating and that being said It took its toll on me, I Screwed up on so many simple things!

To make tomato concasse you have to skin a tomato, You need to Place it in boiling water till the skin loosens then you refresh it in ice cold water, Skin, Dice, Magic Perfect tomato Concasse, Unless you forget to chill it so you have soggy tomato!
Orange vinaigrette, We'll need some Djon Mustard... Fuck they don't have any! Whole grain mustard is an okay substitute, None of that either? Lets be a total idiot and use French mustard so it tastes/Looks like ..... basically poo, Success!
But it doesn't stop there, Being used to the non-stick pans we have I put my Makerel Fillet into the pan, Go to flip it... Lovely crispy skin, stuck to the pan, GG!

Needless to say I obviously wasnt the winner, But one of the scottish lads did produce this!

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Yummy!

I Couldn't believe how far I have grown, I was a sky young boy 18 Months ago, Now Im confident, Cheeky and feel better than ever. Although I was working 55+ hours a week, I was unsure if this was the career I wanted to pursue, Until I got advice from the most unlikely person ever.

I had been working together with the same people for about 15 Months now, and we had never been out together, So After a long day of work we ended up going out, Eventually ending up at a strip club! I watched my friends blow like a week of wages in 20 minutes while I ended up talking to one of the dancers about Her dream job and such then She asked me the same question, I realized even when working 70 hours a week i don't find working a chore, and from then on I have Realized my passion and enthusiasm for food!

Now that I have a Passion, All I need to do is feed the fire.

Journey of realization.

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