BRAND AMBASSADOR and PERSONAL CHEFFING in ONE DAY

So yestereday I made my first personal chefing this year for an elderly couple   in one of those richie rich aparments  in  mid- Manhattan.  I am just a side kick for them since the couple have their own French chefs for the weekdays and another couple chef for their summer home..   But first I had to do my grocery shopping and specifically  buy my meat at Ottomaneli’s   and at Citarella for the fish. Price is no question for quality says boss.  Then I go to their  plush apartment and the kitchen is all mine.

What’s my menu for the night:  Irish lamb stew for the Mr and Fillet Flounder for the Mrs. with a set of veggies:  whipped potatoes and carrots for him and brocolli rabe for her.  All paired with wheat grain quinoa.  And dessert is a simple fruit compote. They are simple people with deep pockets….anyway...

So of course, I also serve but the Mr. has his own buttler/personal caregiver who also caters to him.  The table is complete todos recados so to say...Goblets with delicate chinawares, Silver utensils on either side.  I heat the plate up (yes, peeps, I heat up the China dinner plate so it is also warm when served and the food should be piping HOT when served)...So I do that.. And while they are eating, I put all the food that I cooked on a SILVER bowl platter  and place them on a hot tray, then cover it with aluminum foil..That way, when they want seconds, I just put the silver bowl on a tray and serve them….(Cook na, waiter pa)...-- mura lagi sa sinehan..

Anyway, so much for that.  This is one racket I love to do and I get a kick out of doing it.  

And when the dinner was  done, the Mrs. is always so kind to compliment me.  And this is what she said last night.

“VAnette, the fish was delicious and what a brilliant idea of putting slivers of lemon in between the fillet.”  (Mrs. always wants her fish thick and flounder fillets are thin so I combine two slices but placed a thin lemon slice in between.  And lots of olive oil, butter and thyme herbs which she loves)   and then my boss continues, “But next time, can you take out the toothpicks?  I almost ate them.”

Epic fail….(the reason why I placed the toothpicks was because I didn’t want the fillets to open up when I quick fry them to get that crunchy coat on the outside but still moist on the inside.  And because I got so excited, I forgot to pluck them out)..epic fail lagi!

Nevertheless,  I still enjoy what I do….OH and before I went to my personal cheffing, I was Brand Ambasador that morning…That was another fun  thing...And now my body needs a massage from all that fun…

Oh BTW, To all those who are in New York today, Sunday….it’s a “No Pants in the Subway” day.  It’s crazy fun in New York.

love that contrast 

at a grocery doing samplings

All Around Monkey Do!

Sitting on the train to work, the first day of January, the surroundings inside the train smelled of stale beer and sweat,  this, after many revelers travelled back home from a night in Time Square after the famous New Year’s  falling of the ball.  I knew this would be the scenario since several days ago, the LIRR railroad announcement regarding added train schedule was in effect for christmas and new years day.

When I reached my destination, ( a few towns before the Hamptons) a chauffer picked me up and brought me to the main house, where I was greeted by my boss with a happy new year hug.  I am just one of her staff assigned at the summer house, and I am only there when needed.  It’s a regular job but with flexible schedules- and only when they are there.

Such is what I do, one that I am comfortable with.  It won’t make me rich, but at least it pays off some of my bills.  Since I am on a per hour basis, I make the most of my time  until the next visit.  Meanwhile, in between jobs,  other things keep me busy such as writing and other stuff which would fill up my agenda.

I thought I would have a quiet 2 weeks off until the next visit which would be the holiday of Martin Luther King weekend, when  several messages in the email and phone came one after another.  These are the so called ‘rackets’ that I get into of which I am just  so happy to  oblige.

I have friends in the city who do Air BnB ,  which is an alternative for tourists when hotels are fully booked or they are on a budget.  It’s a no brainer job since you only do a little housekeeping for my friends.  This kind of work  is my normal routine at home, so,  why not get paid doing it for someone else.  Besides, the flexibility and not being attached to a job is what I really want....I own my time and I have no boss looking over my shoulder.

An  email came from a company if I was free this weekend to do a demo.  You know, these are the ones you see in supermarkets and big stores like Costco and Trader Joes….something like that…..be a sales lady to try some samples of  their product.  Lots of smiling and lots of freebies. I do this for a company that sells coconut water from the PHilippines.   I get a chance to chat with tons of American customers, such that when I ran out of English words, I  start speaking my Visayan linggo  and do sign languages……..just kidding.…..oh well!

Plus this week, I am doing a ‘gratis’ personal cheffing at a friend’s house, since I have offered to help her make some Italian food.  Her boyfriend has been complaining of smelly dried fish (daing) or the salty adobo she freguently makes in his house.  She’s a good ‘only filipino dishes’  cook but when it comes to international cuisine, I guess she needs assistance.  And so what are friends for.

So from just expecting to be quiet this week, I am now bombarded with tons on my hands and I just love it.  To top it all, I am awaiting my yearly calendar from my ex-boss where I will plot all my schedules for the year-----all the food trade shows, from the International Food trade exhibits, Fancy Food Show, NY Food and Wine, etc..etc..etc..--  plus a few travels up my sleeve...I’m happy and excited.

So, in conclusion…...This little fiery lady is one wild monkey to reckon for 2016…

Bring on those bananas!!!!!! I’m coming to get them.