One More Time

Rainy Days

On my first day at work. I probably was the most excited Garbage Boy in whole of France.

I was skipping along my way to work on my first day. I slept at an alley nearby the restaurant because I didn't have anywhere to go. In the restaurant, there were so many types of people. By that, I mean the chefs here. All of them have different characteristics. For example, the rotisseur of the restaurant, Mr. Martinez is a married man with 3 kids. Although he smiles and laughs most of the time in the kitchen, but he is always serious and efficient when it comes to preparing roasted dishes. Mr. Roussel on the other hand is an alcohol abuser. During working hours, he doesn't talk much. Just to have him say "hello" is already crazy enough. But if you bumped into him late at night, he will have a bottle in his hands and he'll be the noisiest man in Paris. Funny how the most disgusting drunk man in the kitchen is the legumier chef, the one who prepares the healthy vegetable dishes. Then there's Mr. Lacroix. The sous chef. He is a visionary, kind-hearted man. He brought me to live in his apartment. "It's not much, but its home" said Mr. Lacroix when he first brought me into the apartment. He lets me sleep on the couch which is far better than sleeping on the cardboard boxes outside in the cold night accompanied by rats.

During work, whenever I am free, I would always watch as other chefs prepare their dishes. Mr. Lacroix will always show me how its done and give me tips. "Whenever you're placing the sea urchin, make sure you place it on the plate gently. Sea urchins have feelings. When you're rough with it, it will no longer taste as good as it could be". I will always bring a small notebook in my pocket to take notes on tips that they gave me. Mr. Lacroix and I will always stay back after work so that he could teach me more on cooking. Even in his apartment, he gave me the freedom to practice my cooking skills in his kitchen. "People always say practice makes perfect. Well I disagree with that as nothing is perfect in this world. Practice makes permanent. It locks in your mind on how to do something. Yeah it won't always be perfect but if you practice the best way to do something then it will be locked in your mind and you will always produce the best" said Mr. Lacroix. Whenever I failed, Mr. Lacroix will put his arms around me and say something like "You almost had it. Keep trying. I believe in you.". Those words are the reason whenever I failed, I'll comeback trying harder.

At the age of 20, I was given the opportunity to work in Délicieux as the tournant. My job is to fill in as needed on stations in the kitchen. This is great as I will get to learn more about everything. Since, I now have a bit money, I decided to move out of Mr. Lacroix's apartment to stay in an apartment closer to the restaurant. It was a great year for me as I went through new experiences in the kitchen.

The following year, rain started to fall heavily. When I got myself to the restaurant in my soaking wet parka jacket. Everyone stood still. They looked shocked. As if something ridiculously terrifying had happened. Everyone was looking at the executive chef in disbelief. That is when I was told that the restaurant was sold to another owner who wants to change everything but the name "Délicieux". By everything, I do mean everything. Including us. From that moment onward, I knew dark days were ahead of me. I need to find a new job as soon as possible. It's too early to go back LA, giving up. But no one was hiring a chef at that moment. So I had no choice but to work at Poissonnerie Blomet. A seafood market. At this stage, I wouldn't mind working as anything. Just as long as I get to pay my rent and bills, I'll be good. But working at this seafood market surely did change my life. I mean who would've thought that I'll meet the love of my life here in this seafood market?