McDonald's. I hated working the counter and begged them to teach me the flat top. My first real kitchen job was at West Chester Country Club; again, where I begged to be allowed in the kitchen to learn.
Chicken broccoli alfredo over fettucine. Jimmy at the country club taught me. I was so pumped the first time I did it without breaking the sauce. I'm pretty sure my college girlfriend only dated me for our last four months because I would make it for her anytime.
Molasses Pork Chop with Sweet Mashed Cider Kale
Recently, my grill cook came in still drunk and high off coke from the night before. I sent him home and gave my dishwasher a 30-minute crash course on salads. He's a quick learner. The two of us cooked for over 100 people that night and it was one of the most seamless services I've had shorthanded in my whole career.
My grandmother is by far my first inspiration in cooking. She showed me how to provide comfort through food. She made me want to spend the whole day in the kitchen cooking a meal that would be devoured in less than an hour.