A Family Thing

The Story....

So yes a few months ago I decided to leave my big city life to head back home well I guess head back to my new home in Sturgis South Dakota.

Sometimes we all just need a little change.

But it's become a funny thing though cause sometimes it just sounds like a long sad story. I was living in NY and decided to quit my pastry job so I could go back home to work with my dad. Here I am a trained french pastry cook working a bar doing all crazy kinds of jobs. But the one thing people do not understand...

Is it was my decision.

I was not asked or forced by my dad I wanted to do this. To be honest it was perfect timing. I was ready for a change. So i think sometime people see me and wonder why I am doing thing. I'm doing this because I love the business my dad has had. He built it from the ground up. And I hope one day I can do the same thing.

I wanted to be more involved.

So yea I took the summer off but not from working, I guess really from baking. And maybe I'll decide to keep going on with my dad and find some more events or maybe I'll find a job. All I really know is this summer has been great. Working side by side with my dad and getting back to my routs. 

This is a summer I will never forget.

Countdown...

I feel like i have a countdown going on.  And this countdown really is no fun, because its about finding a job. The thing is, its not just about finding a job its about figuring out my life..

What do I do next?

I went to Pastry School in Chicago, then moved to New York and worked in a Restaurant. So now it is about figuring out what to do next. I could move back to NY but I am not sure if that is what I want. Do I want to move back to NY?

Or is it time to find a new place?

Is it time for a change in my surrounding, for a change in what is around.  I think it might be, but now it is about finding that next place. But getting up and just moving to place that I don't know is always scary.

Answers...

Too much of a countdown for me...But I feel like time is running out and I need to figure out something.

Let's get back on track...

So I can not believe it has been a year since my last post. Well let's just say it has been a crazy year, but I'm ready to get Back on here and start blogging again. The last everyone knew I was living in New York and working as a pastry cook at a restaurant. Well my time spent their was great! I met many amazing people and learned lots, but it came time to go to the next thing.

So I deciede to put down my whisk, and go back to what I know and love...Bar-B-Que.

I moved to South Dakota to be with my family and to run the business with my dad. I thought it would of been a nice getaway from the city, and for sure it was time to getaway. I also wanted to work on the business more and get even more ready for the rally. I knew it was going to be a big summer for us, and many more to come.

It has been a good summer, we have been open at the Throttle for a couple of months now and while we have had that open we have been in Greeley at the Stampede which was a success. And now we have just finished up at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, which was a blast as always.  We are now set up at the Centrals States Fair in Rapid City, and then we will be at the Mustang Rally.

I am still working on my goal of doing something amazing with pastries one day, I just took a step back for a little to do something I knew I wanted to get back to. And while in this whole journey of my life Ive been going back and forth.

I love Pastries, and I know I love baking.

But as time goes on Im falling for Savory

I think I am going to work on pastries skills for a little while still, but at the same time Im going to look more and more into moving over to Savory. I think it could be a good thing for me.

While I am still in South Dakota working on the business, It is getting to that point in time I need to figure out what to do next.

So...thats where I am at.

What shall I do next in my life??
Where should I go?
What should I do?

Visit at the Restaurant

So I got home from work early today and had sometime, and thought I would finally post.

The other week my Aunt, Uncle, and Cousin surprised me at the restaurant to eat.

It was so great to see them, and for them to come and support me at my job. I don't think you really understand what I'm doing until you come and eat at the restaurant.

So they came by, and I went out to say hi to them...

Everyone at the restaurant took such good care of them, my Chef even told me to send out every dessert to them...this is what the table looked like...

They didn't know I was bringing everything out, so when all the runners starting bringing it all out, they were surprised. I stood and looked out the window to see their reaction, my Aunt was just so happy...

Torta...

Cannoli...

Rhubarb...

Bomboloni...

Sorbet, and Gelati...

Went out after they got everything to see how everything was, they were just so thankful!

Them stopping by to eat really made my day, I was just so happy to see them, and I was just really happy they enjoyed their time there.

Problem

So here is the problem right now...

Because of my job all I have is...

Working, and Drinking.

At least its all not alone. Right?

I work with great people and I drink with those same great people.

I need to get out and see what I can find.

Restaurant

Being in an actually kitchen, can sometimes be the best and worst feeling in the world. That moment you walk into the kitchen you feel like your at home, this is the place you are meant to be in. At the same time you walk in and it can be an overwhelming feeling, especially when its a restaurant kitchen. Its not just a kitchen making pretty pastry's its a kitchen making everything, and it can get hectic, lets just say its always hectic.

I never wanted to work in a kitchen, I don't think I ever had a real reason, I think I just knew it would be crazy and did not want to be in the middle of it. But the reason I like it is because its busy, and fast pace. Dinner service is always busy, once dinner service starts it can be non stop until the restaurant closes.

Its that atmosphere around you that makes you wanting more, makes you excited for service.

Kitchen Time

So I have been working for a month now, and its been a long and tiring month. But at the same time it has been good, this is an experience that I know will be great for me. Anytime anyone starts something new, there is a lot to adjust to, and that is what I am doing right now. Just trying to adjust to something I am not use to. I never wanted to work in a restaurant, but it just happened, I decided it was something to at least try. There is no harm in trying, just so much to gain!

So I started reading Anthony Bourdain-Kitchen Confidential, which I have not gotten far, but its already great, I love how inappropriate he is. I'm reading this book, and it makes you know someone understands you, that there is this society of people who understand what working in a restaurant is like, as well as just working in the food industry all together.

“ I’m asked a lot what the best thing about cooking for a living is. And it’s this: to be a part of a subculture. To be part of a historical continuum, a secret society with its own language and customs. To enjoy the instant gratification of making something good with one’s hands-using all one’s senses. It can be, at times, the purest and most unselfish way of giving pleasure (though oral sex has to be a close second). ” - Anthony Bourdain