kitchen Angst!

I have a prime example of what I was saying about Latinos in the work place. Just the other day my dishwasher (Christian) from El Salvador ( his brother worked for me before) , brought in 5#’s of beef brisket, a can of black beans (which we have in house already) , and some corn tortillas ( which we also keep in stock ). He wanted us to fix tacos for lunch, for the staff. He payed over $20 out of his own pocket to bring food into a restaurant and have lunch. That to me is an over the top show of respect!! Then He did the unthinkable…. He handed the meat to me personally (the only white guy in the kitchen) and asked me to prepare it! Now I love Latin food and I am really good at fixing it, but for a true Latino to do this… brought a tear to my eye! This is True Honor and Respect, and I better not mess it up or miss the mark.

So I went to work, I made a great dry rub with cumin, paprika, cayenne pepper, cinnamon, salt, chili flakes, and black pepper. I rubbed it on the beef and set it aside for it to soak in. Then I started on the other aspects of the dish, I asked my partner Artimieo to make his mothers guacamole, and slice up some lettuce, as well as refry some beans! He started with Kidney beans ( again out of respect ) We have black beans in house but he wouldn’t use them because We use the black on a daily basis, and the kidney’s aren’t on the menu. He didn’t want to make the business suffer for our lunch. Both Artimieo and I worked through breakfast preparing our lunch feast!

OK! a quick reality check for those reading this who are not in the industry! At this point It’s 8:30am (or so) I’m in the middle of my breakfast rush and I’m cooking tacos… for my dishwasher… for lunch….from scratch! Thats crazy! But thats a kitchen! I had to work twice as hard that morning as I normally would, but it was worth it! Not only did I get a GREAT LUNCH! but I gained the RESPECT of another! We had so much fun that day. It was hot and we could have been very bitchy, instead We were all smiles and laughter! Chefs are crazy, you put them in a hard situation, and they will find a way to make it harder so they can enjoy it as well!
We had one hell of a lunch that day, but more important was the bond we made as a team! A family! I may be the only white, gay guy in that kitchen, but I have the respect of every one of those men (and I for them) and that to me is worth more than gold!

Just remember what You give, is what You get!

Respect!

Always,

keep eating,

James