OK, it's been a couple of days since the first tasting.  To say that I was stressed or had a 'minor' meltdown would be.. Under-descriptive.  

The main problem that I'm dealing with is just the overwhelming timing of EVERYTHING!  I got hit with a 'time-frame' for all these tastings at work, and wouldn't you know it... right smack in the middle is my business finally getting sold (after 2 years on the burner)... Kid's medical appointments, Josh, Tat and kids trying to work out the logistics of moving back to L.A. to help out Tat's Mom, Jack F'ing up a simple 'car sale', 'Other' issues on the home-front... My Brain Is About To Explode!!!!!

I did everything in my power to be 'prepared' for this tasting.  The Tasting was on Monday... I started preparing on the Friday prior.  Well... at least the MEAT was cooked! 

The tasting was supposed to be at Noon on Monday.  I couldn't get into the kitchen until 10:30am on Monday.  I went into this tasting thinking that (like all tastings I've ever seen), that ALL menu items must be DONE and on the tables at the SAME TIME.  This was my MAJOR stress.  The kitchen in this 'restaurant' is SMALLER than my kitchen at home.  It is IMPOSSIBLE to get everything done and ready to go out at the same time!  There simply is no way to make it happen!  I lost my mind trying to MAKE it happen.

Josh started out with me in the kitchen... "What do you need me to do?"  Beats the Hell outta me!!!  I can't even figure out what the 'F' I'm doing here!!!  Then Linsey showed up (with her sweet little daughter Audrey... OMG.. you would LOVE this little blonde-haired cuttle!)... After about 30 minutes... Josh took Audrey... then it was me and Linsey to try and save this DISASTROUS Tasting.

So, the tasting was scheduled for Noon... It's now a little after 1:00pm... We finally decided to send out 'courses'... It was the only way with the limited cook and prep space.

I'd do my best to get each dish made... Linsey would take them out... then explain them while I was in the kitchen 'M-Fing' and all sorts of other things... trying to get the next one ready.

Now... Denise, Linsey and ANYONE who knows me and has had my Pupusas... I can make them in my SLEEP!!  Not here! Not in THIS kitchen.  Linsey was blown away by the difficulties I was having with the masa.  Between the heat and dryness.. we just could NOT get the masa to work! (I taught Linsey how to make Pupusas.. and she makes them all the time for her and the family)... It just was NOT working!!!

Anyway... we got through the tasting... BAD pupusas and all..I Never left the kitchen... she did all the work of selling and explaining each 'course'.  According to Linsey... they LOVED everything... (except the pupusas).

I broke down crying at the end.  I felt so HORRIBLE for letting Lindsey down!  She promoted me to these people.  Not only could I NOT cook... But I made her look like an ASS for saying that I WAS a GREAT cook!

She told me again... They COULDN'T hear you 'M-Fing' every time... they LOVED the FOOD!!!  They are really excited about the 'Member' tasting... 

So.. I learned a LOT from this DISASTROUS tasting... Something that will HOPEFULLY help the the one that REALLY counts... THIS kitchen is NOT adequate for 'ALL AT ONE TIME' tastings... The member tasting will happen in the EVENING... which means I have the WHOLE day to prep... not just a couple of hours... AND... Send the items out in courses... NOT all at once.. which is impossible in this kitchen!  

The member tasting is on February 20th... then I was dropped the bomb of having to have a special 4 course meal for Valentine's Day... Oh.. OK... (that's ANOTHER LONG-WINDED blog!)

Oh.. and in case you're wondering.. the NON-Cook people (the one's that pay the bills... and paychecks)... are under the impression that I can come in 15 minutes early and have everything ready to go... like rolling 200 eggrolls, making 'brie en croute' and 'French Onion Tarte' (which requires 40 minutes on the onions alone)... 


Linsey understands and gets that there is 'prep' time for all these items... They don't.. so if you come to Copper... expect to wait 2-3 hours to get your order!!!


Linsey and I both know that prep time is a full day to give you a 'weeks' worth of 'whatever' plus daily prep... they just want fancy food popped out like a cat giving birth to kittens.... 


Looks like I may be moving in with you Nay after all!!!