January 1, 2010
Happy New Year {Comments Off}
First of all Happy New Year,
Its been a while since I have updated this dusty blog, but as you can see I have updated it with a new look and added some new stuff to it. Among some of the new features is the new photo section that automatically imports my photos that have been uploaded to Facebook and other social network sites. To access the photos you can use the link above “photos »”
Over the last couple of months I have been busy with School. In the last block (Sep-Dec) I have been in a practical block which requires me to work in all the practical outlets at school for at least one week. After completing your 5 days (8.5 Hours per day) you get a grade based on your performance and also on your technical knowledge, this grade is assessed by a older year student then approved by an instructor of the school.
I started with Room Service in week one which required me to setup coffee, tea and small snacks for small conferences/meetings, ensure that the staff room and the villa are in order with regards to beverages. It also required me to serve special lunches for VIP’s or the school’s director. Our school also has open days every few weeks which also requires the service of room Service to setup and serve the coffee, tea and other beverages for the guests. During this week we were also required to help setup the school reunion for older graduates which included ensuring that 1000 glasses were all clean and fingerprint free.
In week 2 I was placed in the Sandwich section in La Mangerie. La Mangerie is based upon the La Place concept from V&D, a self serving buffet style with different sections:
- Juice Bar – Freshly squeezed fruit juices and also desserts ranging from apple pies to Tiramisu
- Salad Bar – Different salalds and full meal salads
- Pasta Section – All sorts of different pastas can be found here with different pasta every day
- Grill and Wok Section – This section has your steaks and other grill meats with noodles and other Wok dishes made every day.
- Fish Section – Most days fish dishes are served with dishes ranging from salmon to tuna steaks
- Pizza Section – Four days a week pizza is available baked in a traditional pizza oven
- Sandwich Section – In this section a variety of different sandwiches are prepared daily it also allows students to create their own sandwiches from freshly baked bread.
La Mangerie is open daily from 11:30 – 14:00 and 16:30 – 17:45 for students and staff to enjoy a lunch / dinner.
The sandwich section required tasks to be carried out such as baking bread everyday, preparing sandwiches, ensuring food and safety rules were followed with regards to food on display, ensuring that the right ingredients were ordered for the next day.
Week 3 I was placed in another section of La Mangerie, the Juice Bar consisted of preparing all the juices (basically squeezing oranges for a long time), also it included more intresting activities such as preparing deserts ranging from Apple pies to Tiramisu.
Week 4 was my last week in La Mangerie in the Salad and Pasta Section, the salad section required us to make the different salads for each day and also I had to prepare the pasta for lunch and dinner. Pasta was cooked on request of the guest wishing to have Pasta, this is done with Induction style cooking to ensure a fast and reliable cooking method. During the practical block if you are late to a shift (even by only a 1 minute) you have to work an extra shift (an extra 8.5 Hours) this also applies to being sick or not showing up at all (this however requires two shifts done). This week required me to work an extra shift because I slept through 3 alarms (apparently I got up for my first alarm and turned it off then went back to sleep although I have no memory of this) which made me late by about 2 and a half hours which meant I had to work an extra shift.
I was glad after 3 weeks to be out of the kitchen and to be doing something else, this week I was in front office / back office (basically reception with some extra tasks). This outlet was quite easy with many different tasks to do which made the work enjoyable. Some of the tasks included greeting guests, answering the phones, ensuring all mail is sorted and delivered and writing emails.
The last week before the Christmas holidays I was in Housekeeping Skotel which was the worst outlet so far I must say. Tasks included cleaning hotel rooms, bathrooms, toilets, kitchen and cleaning general areas of the hotel while wearing my 3 piece suite (that was out uniform).
In the Christmas holidays I spent time just relaxing and visiting some family while enjoying the many Christmas dinners.
Back to school on Monday to start with Skotel Reception for one week.
