I was looking at the finish product, the bucket of peelings, and the package of carrots still to go. First a 3rd of the already smaller version of a carrot was chopped off the end, then it was peeled, a tip was created with more peeling, and then another round of peeling to make it look round and like the carrot was just born all cute and perfect and the same size as all its little brothers. Three small packages of carrots consumed my morning. Granted, I had worked on 2 packages of asparagus as well… but that part was easy…. This carrot business was serious business and when I thought I was finished the chef came over and said,” now with the tip of your knife clean the top part,” as he scrapped the minutest, little bit of brown around the trimmed carrot greenery. I kind of wanted to laugh and say, “You’re kidding right?” but then I saw his face and the concentration he was putting into the tiny carrot that seemed to disappear in his hand and I realized I had a ways to go. I have officially entered the tedious world of a Michelin Star Restaurant.
There were only three reservations last night… a total of twelve people. Twelve! But let me tell you, those twelve people receive plates created with painstaking precision … down to the placement of micro green leave on a smear of sauce. I’m used to the faster paced kitchen… Go, go, go, go, faster, faster, faster. This was the opposite and it was really impressive to watch. They use the smallest and cutest pans… yes… I said cute. They are tiny, and “kid sized,” but since there are so many components on each plate you only need to use tiny pans and spoons for the one scoop needed. It was all about exactness and perfection- making the next look just like the last. It is still a kitchen but a really small one. When there is no work to do jokes are flying, me standing oblivious to the conversations, but when the ticket came it there was a silence of concentration and only limited and necessary communication, me standing and watching in silent awe.
Fall is fully here… My time in the sun is shorter than before. I know the time change has something to do with it, but even considering that, the sun doesn’t feel as potent when I am in it. More trees are standing around all leafless and naked and all the others have lost the semi green and fully entered the yellow/ orange / red zone. The tips of the grass are all dry from their nightly frost coating. I’m wearing my jacket more but I’ve had my door/window tilted open through the day and all night for almost a week so it isn’t that terribly cold… just required socks and pants.
Yesterday I went through most of my things; vacuum packing some I know I won’t be wearing before I leave and organizing other things I could, but just want to wait a little longer before packing. I’ll still need to do one more load of dunklewash before I go and give this room one last good wipe down, but the end is nigh. 6 nights and 5 days to go. My mommy has probably started packing and trying to prep some dinners to leave at home for my sister. My dad is trying to organize things at work to smoothly transition himself out of work… My sister… well… she is enjoying the last three weeks of driving my car… Meanwhile, I’m sitting here... thinking about what a shiny, clean Corolla I will come home to…. Carpet vacuum included… right Sarah? ;) I’m starting to get that funny little buzz called, “butterflies” below my rib cage and a smile on my face.
When I leave here I will spend 2 weeks with my parents traveling around the area and into the Czech Republic to meet some family we have only recently been in contact with. Until then, I really have to keep my mind focused. Even today during the never-ending carrot story I had to keep bring my mind back to the carrot and away from vision of me sitting across from my parents eating käse spaetzle… Hmm… käse spaetzle… It’s officially I am back to normal stomach health… The thoughts of gooey cheesy deliciousness brought something I haven’t had since Monday night: hunger and salivation. Fabulous sensations…. Though they would be that much better if there was käse spaetzle in my near future… but something tells me the Bavarino will be serving stew… boo…
Hey! That rhymed! Sorry.
You write so well and so funny!
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