An Iron Chef Fans Diary, January, 2002
Thursday, January 3rd, 2002
T/A Burger King - two 16 year old guys, who were scheduled to get off at 1:00 p.m.,
took off. T/A doesn't pay overtime. We were in the middle of a rush with two dozen people at the front counter and ten cars in the drive-through. The schedule only had me and a young lady trainee on her second day working the whole store from 1:00 to 3:00. There was no way we could keep up.
I gave refunds from 1:30 to 2:00. I shut down the drive through. I was embarrassed and humiliated.
No one should be treated like this.
The King Supply truck came in and the driver unloaded everything into the back of the store.
I'm supposed to move everything into the freezer, before it melts, and run the store too.
Friday, January 4th, 2002
The T/A manager issued a memo; all refunds come out of the managers paycheck. He claims that he can run an $800 hour with himself and one other person.
Friday, January 4th, 2002 The
Sixteenth
"New" Battle
Main Ingredient:
Beef
Cooking Style: French vs. Japanese Knife Master
Iron Chef:
Hiroyuki Sakai Challenger: Mitsuru Saitoh
I did the best cook-along ever, matching all seven dishes.
I will not bow to the humiliation at work.
I am still Wooden Chef. Ichiban.
Saturday,
January 5th, 2002
Main
Ingredients: Tuna
Cooking
Style: Japanese
Iron
Chef:
Rokusaboro Michiba
Challenger: Takashi Mera
Sunday, January 6th, 2002
I worked from 5:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. even though I was scheduled to be off at 1:00.
Some people came in at 2:00, so did the truck. I clocked out and went home.
After I had been raging around Kitchen Arena for several hours,
Elaine told me to call them up and tell them I quit.
George will get his chance to run the store by himself.
Sunday,
January 6th, 2002
Main
Ingredient: Yogurt
Cooking Style: Szechwan Chinese
Iron Chef: Chen Kenichi Challenger: Genichi Itoh
Tuesday, January 8th, 2002, a Red Letter Day
I finally met Bill Collins a.k.a. Iron Chef Tennessee. It turned out we had a lot more in common in the computer business than in the cooking field. We had lunch at P. F. Chang's Chinese Bistro.
It's right across from the newly restored Parthenon.
Wednesday, January 9th, 2002
I talked to the future manager of the new P. F. Chang's opening in Cool Springs about a job.
Thursday, January 10th, 2002
I turned in a resume in person at P. F. Chang's. I was called later by the Operating Partner who set up an interview for Sunday at 3:00 p.m. with the District Manager from Phoenix, Arizona.
Friday, January 11th, 2002 The
Seventeenth
"New" Battle
Main Ingredient: Sea Eel
Cooking Style: Japanese
Iron Chef:
Rokusaboro Michiba Challenger: Yasuhiko Yoshida
Saturday, January 12th,
2002
Main Ingredient:
Homard
Cooking Style: Japanese
Iron Chef:
Rokusaboro Michiba Challenger:
Hanato Katsumi
rerun of December 21st, 2001
Sunday, January 13th, 2002
The Operating Partner of P. F. Chang's called to cancel the interview with the District Manager.
Sunday, January 13th, 2002
Main
Ingredient: Abalone
Cooking Style: Japanese
Iron Chef: Masaharu Morimoto Challenger: Tsuyoshi Kajimoto
Thursday, January 17th, 2002
I interviewed with Southdown, Inc., that has 40 Burger King franchises around Nashville.
I showed up in my manager's uniform, complete with the B. K. tie.
Friday, January 18th, 2002 The
Eighteenth
"New" Battle
Main Ingredient: Pike Eel
Cooking Style: French vs. Japanese
Iron Chef:
Hiroyuki Sakai Challenger: Hirohisa Koyama
Saturday, January 19th,
2002
Main Ingredient: Sea
Bass
Cooking Style: French vs. Japanese
Iron Chefs:
Chen Kenichi and
Rokusaboro Michiba Challengers:
Joel Bruant and Furutaka Masashi
rerun
Sunday, January 20th, 2002
Main Ingredient:
Crab
Cooking Style: Italian vs. Japanese
Iron Chef: Masahiko Kobe Challenger: Kiyoko Sakai
Thursday, January 24th, 2002
I received a rejection letter from Southdown.
Friday, January 25th, 2002 The
Ninteenth "New" Battle
Main Ingredient: Corn
Cooking Style: Japanese
Iron Chef:
Rokusaburo Michiba Challenger: Keiji Nakazawa
Saturday, January 26th,
2002
Main Ingredient: Beef
Cooking Style:
French vs. Japanese
Iron Chef:
Hiroyuki Sakai Challenger: Mitsuru Saitoh
rerun of January 4th, 2002
Sunday, January 27th, 2002
Main Ingredient: Giant
Eel
Cooking Style: Japanese
Iron Chef: Masaharu Morimoto Challenger: Hiroichi
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