As I said in my Previous Post (Non-Music Post) being Second Chef had its Advantages and it's Dis-advantages!
Now for One of the Dis-advantages, This was around Winter Time in 1984, some Years previously I had been doing my Chef Training College Courses from 1974 to 1979.
Two of my College Tutor's Stand out in my mind, as to being the Best Cookery Teacher's I had, while doing my 5 Year's Training, One Being a Chef by the name of "Lee Mills" and the other was a Chef named "Brian Thompson"
Why I mention this is, because One Night while being in Charge of the "Casino Kitchen" I was on the "Stove" and an Order came in for A "Beef Stroganoff" amongst other Dishes, I believe it was a Party of about 4 People!
So I did the Order and everything was Fine (or so I thought it was) and a little later, the Waiter came into the Kitchen, and said to me "the Chap on Table 5?" reckons He used to be your Teacher and would like a "Word with you"
So when I had the time to spare, I went out into the Restaurant to see Who it was, now "Head Chef Peter" was Good at the sort of thing, I was Not, I liked being behind the Scenes!
To my Surprise when I got to the Table in Question, I saw my Ex-College Teacher "Brian Thompson" sitting there, immediately I thought he was going to say "What a Lovely Meal, Lee, I taught you well!
But he didn't, In front of everybody, he started going on about, "I Taught you how to make Beef Stroganoff properly, all them Year's ago, and you Dished this up for me, what the Hell's going on!
I was Stunned, to say the least, but I quickly got my thoughts together and in front of everybody at his Table and in the Restaurant at that time, I said, That was back then, I now Work here for "Peter", and I will Cook Meals how he wants me to Cook them, after all, they pay my Wages!
I then Walked back into the Kitchen, and that was the "Last Time" Brian Thompson, Spoke to me, I have seen Him a Couple of times around town , since then, I don't know if he see me or he just didn't speak!
That all Happened some 28 Years ago, so if I saw him tomorrow, Would he Speak, I don't know!
About the "Beef Stroganoff" what was He moaning about, to tell the Truth I cant remember, but I think it was something to do with the "Fresh Single Cream" I had used!
Incidentally, he was also my Head-Chef (Brian Thompson) when I worked at the "Sandringham Hotel" about 2/3 Years previously!
Around February 1982 I was trying to get back into Work, I had wrote to Butcheries and Hotels, I didn't really know whether to stick to Butcher's Shop, for the Easier Hours or go back to being a Chef!
As it turned out, one of the Hotels (The Sandringham) I had wrote to, (that was Re-Opening after a Period of being Closed) had a Head Chef who used to be my Teacher/Chef at College about 3 Years earlier, a Chap by the Name of "Brian Thompson" so I had a great chance of getting the Job.
I went for the Interview, it was, as I said Re-Opening with a New Owner and a Complete Re-Furbishment, plus all new Menus etc, and we were going to have an Open Plan Kitchen, that was un-heard of back then!
It was going to be Different Working there, because it was about 3/4 Months away from Re-Opening, so I would not be Cheffing/Cooking straight away, I was going to be Helping putting the finishing touches to the Kitchen and I was going to be Helping getting the Hotel ready for the Opening!
The Interview as I remember went well, so I just had to wait for a Letter, to see if I had the Job.
As for Music around this period, in April of 1982, the Temptations got back together for the "Reunion" Album and Tour!
The Best and Biggest Hit Track on the Album by far was "Standing On The Top" Written, Produced and Performed on, by Rick James, it was Really a Rick James Track, Featuring The Temptations!
All them Great Voices on one Track! Download the "Reunion " Album
