There are certain things men have to know. There are certain things that make me laugh. And there are certain things you just have to share with your friends. Enjoy! :)
Sonntag, 30. August 2009
Freitag, 14. August 2009
A cook and a sailor
This Wednesday was really something out of the ordinary. If I had expected a normal workday with sitting on my desk and communicating with my customers, I was proven wrong. Tuesday night, a colleague told me that she would not be able to do her "kitchen internship" on the next day, because she is ill. As I had been on the waiting list, I would spend half day in the kitchen. And it was going to be a great time.
After breakfast I joined our Italian-Polish-Brazilian-Spanish kitchen crew to find out first hand how it is to cook for 1400 employees. Well, in fairness you have to say that there are two restaurants, so usually it is not quite as much. Still I was chopping vegetables for 500 servings of fajitas and cooked rice for 600 people. I was lucky, because it was "Mexican Day" and everybody loves Mexican food. And if any of my co-workers are reading this: If you did not like the fajitas - it was me who seasoned them - so you know why "a little more curcuma" might have been missing.
I have to say that if I were a cook (and I have worked in other kitchens before) I would definitely want to work in this kitchen. Our cooks work from 8 am to 3 pm and they get the weekends of. What is even more important: They don't have to clean up after themselves. This was particularly shocking to me, because as I have got three cooks in my family and also some friends with that profession, I know there is one particular weakness every cook has: Your kitchen will look like a mess after they created some culinary treats. So if you take the responsibility for doing the dishes from them, they will go crazy and use even more pans, pots and cutlery. :)
In the afternoon, we went on a team event: Sailing in Dun Laoghaire with my team. I love team building and it was great fun - apart from the fact that we would have been happy if there had been some more wind.
If only every workday would be like that...
After breakfast I joined our Italian-Polish-Brazilian-Spanish kitchen crew to find out first hand how it is to cook for 1400 employees. Well, in fairness you have to say that there are two restaurants, so usually it is not quite as much. Still I was chopping vegetables for 500 servings of fajitas and cooked rice for 600 people. I was lucky, because it was "Mexican Day" and everybody loves Mexican food. And if any of my co-workers are reading this: If you did not like the fajitas - it was me who seasoned them - so you know why "a little more curcuma" might have been missing.
I have to say that if I were a cook (and I have worked in other kitchens before) I would definitely want to work in this kitchen. Our cooks work from 8 am to 3 pm and they get the weekends of. What is even more important: They don't have to clean up after themselves. This was particularly shocking to me, because as I have got three cooks in my family and also some friends with that profession, I know there is one particular weakness every cook has: Your kitchen will look like a mess after they created some culinary treats. So if you take the responsibility for doing the dishes from them, they will go crazy and use even more pans, pots and cutlery. :)
In the afternoon, we went on a team event: Sailing in Dun Laoghaire with my team. I love team building and it was great fun - apart from the fact that we would have been happy if there had been some more wind.
If only every workday would be like that...
Sonntag, 2. August 2009
Swedish delight
There are some things that you never would have thought you might miss. Many of which I have learned about in my last few months in Ireland. I am not talking about the German sun, Klöße (potato balls), Franconian beer for 2,50 a pint or pretzels. I am talking about something more Nordic, yet deeply woven into the everyday-life of most European's my age. People who pretend not to have heard of Billy and Lack and the delicious Köttbullar are mostly hypocrites. So finally, after a long period of postponed start dates - IKEA has made it to Dublin.
On Tuesday night, I have finally been there after work. On the second day after the grand opening it was not too stressful and I was finally able to add some sparks of cosiness to my fully furnished apartment to distinguish it from the hundreds of other apartments in different buildings that have been furnished by the same company. And yes, it seems that furniture is a lot cheaper if you buy it in bulk.
The best thing about Irish IKEA is that it is just as inexpensive as everywhere. Well, in the future you will have to pay three Euro for parking, but still: The food is cheap and cheerful and there is free refill on soft drinks. I had a nice IKEA hot dog (unfortunately no onions) and bought some Köttbullar, almond tart and Daim for home. What a happy evening.
See - there is always joy in the small things! Thank you Ingvar Kamprad from Elmtaryd in Agunnaryd.
On Tuesday night, I have finally been there after work. On the second day after the grand opening it was not too stressful and I was finally able to add some sparks of cosiness to my fully furnished apartment to distinguish it from the hundreds of other apartments in different buildings that have been furnished by the same company. And yes, it seems that furniture is a lot cheaper if you buy it in bulk.
The best thing about Irish IKEA is that it is just as inexpensive as everywhere. Well, in the future you will have to pay three Euro for parking, but still: The food is cheap and cheerful and there is free refill on soft drinks. I had a nice IKEA hot dog (unfortunately no onions) and bought some Köttbullar, almond tart and Daim for home. What a happy evening.
See - there is always joy in the small things! Thank you Ingvar Kamprad from Elmtaryd in Agunnaryd.
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