I showed up early to a holiday party yesterday to offer my sous chef skills. I was given a peeler and a pile of potatoes, which was fine by me. I actually find peeling potatoes very relaxing.
Peeling potatoes was a big issue in my house growing up. My dad peels potatoes with a peeler and make a million swipes on each potato. My mother uses a paring knife and peels a potato in ten slices. My father explained to me that my mother did not grow up as poor as he did and peels potatoes like a queen. He told me to always peel potatoes like a pauper.
Yesterday, the chef came to check on me after ten minutes and said, "Oh, you have to go back and get all of those eyes off of those potatoes." I said, "Aren't we shredding these to make potato pancakes?" She said, "Yes but if you leave the eyes on, the potato pancakes will all turn brown."
As it turns out, being a sous chef is a lot like being an attorney. Someone tells you do things that don't make any sense and you just do them to avoid argument.
I said, "Yes, chef."
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