(Long) Weekend Update...

Another "weekend" comes to a close, and even though it was of the long/holiday variety it sure didn't feel like one. Amazing how working 24-of-72 hours in a weekend can cut it short.

The job continues to be awesome. I'm learning a lot and quite quickly. I'm being trusted to complete increasingly complex tasks on my own and spending less time harassing the woman training me with the "where is this?" or "how do I do this?" kind of questions.

I snapped this pic on my walk home Saturday night:

Pittsburgh can be a pretty city...when it's not cloudy and raining. But good luck with that.

I wanted to give people a better idea of the area surrounding work so I snapped this pic while on my break Sunday. This is the park across the street from the hotel (aka where I sit and unwind during breaks...if I get one). I know I've heard the church in the photo was in a movie (I want to say 'Ghostbusters'), but I'm not 100 percent on that.

The theme of the weekend at work was again Kosher, Kosher, Kosher. This time there were two events, a mid-sized one on Saturday and then a wedding on Sunday night. Both were new and exciting in different ways.

Saturday Kosher events pose an interesting problem in the kitchen because Jewish people are not allowed to eat food prepared on Saturdays (or more specifically, sundown Friday to sundown Saturday). That's their Sabbath (Shabbat), in case you didn't know. Because of that, it meant a hellacious amount of prep and cooking Friday night by us to prepare for the event the next day.

The wedding was extensive Sunday and was a lot of work-- reception finger foods, salads, entrees, desserts, etc. And dinner wasn't until 9:30pm...makes for a long day. Considering how much Kosher I've done in the past two weeks, I half feel Jewish at this point.

Interesting side note-- when I was sitting at the park on a break with the woman training me on Saturday she filled me in a bit on what puts the grand in this grand hotel I'm working at:

When the G20 was going on this past year Obama stayed there, and yes, our kitchen made him food (an egg white omelet for him, just a halved grapefruit for the First Lady). The representatives from Russia, England and India also stayed. ... Apparently a couple of movies have filmed scenes in the hotel (most notably 'Silence of the Lambs' -- which I need to see now). ... The Steelers stay at the hotel the night before every home game. They actually enter the building via the same doors as me! This explains the numerous Steelers decals on the walls and two elevators. And yes...we cook for them (and no, Browns fans, I don't accept bribes)...

This really made me sit back and think a bit the next day when I was sitting in the park alone and snapped that pic above. Here I am working at a four-star hotel in downtown Pittsburgh. When I look up all I see is buildings, most belonging to some of the most powerful companies in the country. I can watch people enter and exit the 'T' (subway) and the constant and bustle around me.

Not to be all sappy...but how the hell did this happen? This was far from my dream when I was little. Hell, it wasn't my dream five years ago. I wish I could thank a few people who really turned me onto the idea of big city living-- it's just awesome.

I love being in the middle of it all. I really like that I'm putting my time in now for this job. I see good things at the hotel, and in this city, in my future. I've never felt so at home...well...away from home. It's a feeling you don't prepare for...it just happens.

Whew...OK, that was a bit much for a blog post. Let's take a peek at this:

That's Enchilada Lasagna. I know, I know-- another "lasagna." Deal with it! I sure know I can, because it's delicious. Check out Alton Brown's recipe for your own 'omNomnom' moment.

AND SPEAKING OF OmNom...that's the new name for the blog mascot! The person behind the winning name you ask? The man...the myth...the legend...Tim Baker. You voted, he wins! Tim will get something for submitting the winning entry eventually. For now just bask in the glory, good sir. Also, thanks to all who entered! I liked the response and will do more of these in the future.

I will be back with posts about the latest food in kitchens, a trip to the PITT Zoo (I did have *some* fun this weekend, I promise) and hopefully a story about me winning this contest. Feel free to check back regularly for all of that!