Last night, I helped serve for Natural Gourmet’s Friday Night Dinner. Each student is required to volunteer for two dinner prep shifts and two floor shifts, and though I’ve completed both the dinner preps, this was my first time serving.
A student class group was cooking (the dinners are either led by one of the Chef’s Training Program classes or a chef at the school), and Val was actually the head honcho! The theme was “Indian Summer,” meshing inspirations of Indian cuisine and the change of seasons.
The first part of the night was devoted to setup. The two downstairs kitchens had to be turned into dining areas, which meant that pots were taken off the wall, tables and chairs were brought in, and festive decor was added. Each group is responsible for creating the table settings, and last night’s was perfect for the theme.
Around 6:30, we started seating people, and the rest of the night was a whirlwind. Pouring drinks, passing plates, collecting dirty dishes- I’m not the most graceful person, but I managed not to spill on anyone 
After everyone had eaten, the staff got to go into the kitchen and go to town on the leftovers.
I got some pictures of the plated dishes, though keep in mind that these had been sitting out since service and didn’t look quite as fresh anymore!
After eating my weight in cherry filling for the chickpea cremes and downing a bunch of pappadams, a few of my classmates and I went hunting for the dessert leftovers we knew existed. They were in the walk-in fridge…mwahaha.
It’s weirdly satisfying to eat off a full hotel or sheet pan full of food.
After we’d thoroughly cleaned the kitchens and put all the fancy plates and glasses away, a group of my CTP classmates and I went to Coffee Shop in Union Square for drinks. I got an IPA, a wheat beer and a Red Strip, and also ordered a basket of plantain chips with black bean dip for the table. We ended up staying out till nearly 2 am, just talking and trading stories- it’s hard to really get to know people in the busy class environment, so it was cool to learn more about everyone in a chill setting.
Today I’m planning on doing nothing until my plans this evening. It’s been a looooong week!
Have you ever worked in food service?
Whew!
WHAT.A.NIGHT
Im glad you liked everything (and found the secret pistachio tuiles) and thanks for serving for us!
Im about to go get “expansive” in VEGAS!
The second course and dessert look amazing!
I worked in a bakery for my first job but haven’t worked in a restaurant since.
That dinner looks so delicious and well planned!
I wish I could say the presentation of the food I had while I was in India a few summers ago looked as good as this, haha. Street food = scary, but deliciuos at the same time.
Have a great saturday! It sounds like we both have the same plan of not doing much..perfect!
Sounds like a great time. Glad you got to know your foodie friends better. Chilling out is the best way to get to know people.
Oh Ive worked TONS in food service and weekend nights are a total whirlwind. Before you know it, the night is over but it’s full-on, non-stop the.entire.time. Glad you got to unwind with your classmates afterward out on the town. And of course, a little sampling of the leftover dessert tray is a beautiful thing
All the food looks yummy. I love the table settings. I use to work in food service. Both in a restaurant setting and in a retirement home. Both settings are lots of fun.
I have worked at a bakery and at a an ice cream shop - it’s crazy how pesky people can be about their flavors! Sometimes when we didn’t have it in stock, they would just walk away instead of ordering another one!
Getting to eat all those leftovers must be awesome! I’m glad you managed to find those hidden dessert leftovers. That would for sure be the best part!
I worked as a hostess at a restaurant for one summer and I don’t think I’d ever do it again.
the indian eats look amazing! havent worked in a restaurant before, prefer to be the chef in my house and get pampered in restaurants
This looks like so much fun!!! Indian food is one of my all-time favorites. Love that picture of your classmate in the walk fridge. So stealth.
There is an AMAZING Indian restaurant that my boyfriend and I frequent often (see here:http://fortheloveofkale.com/2011/09/indian-food-vegan-goodies/). It really is wonderful.
I have worked in many aspects of food service, from my first job at a fast food place, to running a kitchen at a German girl scout camp, to catering countless events and weddings, to cooking short order at the state capital, and of course waiting tables. I have lots of memories about all of this and though they were long, tiring hours (sometimes 12-14 hours on your feet with back-to-back weddings), I always felt so satisfied at the end of an event or evening. I’ve often thought that maybe I’d get away from food service, but after 4-5 years doing other things, I think i’m realizing that despite the long, hot hours, it’s all worth it to sit down at the end of the day with good people and shoot the breeze. This profession brings together people of all walks of life like few other professions do and when you’re dead tired after a shift, that’s when you’re defenses are down and you can be who you are and the others appreciate it.