February 17, 2008
I normally shy away from talking extensively about one event, but I must make an exception for this post. This is because this one event basically was my weekend. It took most of Friday and all of Saturday. This event was the InterVarsity Valentine’s Dinner. The men of InterVarsity make a dinner and treat the women of InterVarsity to a special night. We decorate, cook, clean, and do everything for the night.
I heard about it and said that I would attend and could help. Little did I know what a commitment this would be. I was placed on kitchen duty. Yes, THE kitchen duty. We started with preparing the food at 7:00 PM on Friday night. We cleaned potatoes, cut potatoes, and made chocolate mousse as well as got everything else set up. At the time, we forgot that several people had given up chocolate for Lent and so they couldn’t enjoy it. Whoops! We didn’t end up leaving until 1:00 AM after six hours in the kitchen. I went back to my room that night and was exhausted.
The next morning, I woke up, grabbed brunch and then headed back to the church at noon to continue getting ready. We spent hours and hours cutting vegetables, seasoning pork tenderloin, making bruschetta, and doing everything else that needed to be done. As soon as there was a break, I headed out to help the others who had arrived to decorate. My hidden talents in flower decorating were discovered and I was put in charge of that. I think I did a good job with what I had. As time wound down, stress rose in the kitchen and we were under time pressures. The girls arrived and we had to make sure everything was ready to go. We started serving at six and went non-stop trying to feed sixty-five people. The menu consisted of bruschetta, pork tenderloin, roasted potatoes, a bean salsa, and chocolate mousse. It was really good. I briefly ate two chocolate mousses for dinner to tide me over until later. Then, I took charge of clean-up, which takes a long time. I got things rolling and we were clearing dishes left and right and getting them clean before you could blink. We were on such a roll and were doing great until the sink got clogged. We spent such a long time trying to get it fixed and never did. I didn’t leave until midnight and spent almost twelve non-stop hours cooking and cleaning. I was utterly exhausted at the end. I wish that I could have interacted with people more than during the half-hour I finally sat down for a true dinner and one dance at ten o’clock before heading back into the kitchen to continue cleaning, but I had the role that simply needed to be filled. I think that everyone else had a good time. However, now that I look back, I had a good time. Sure, I spent eighteen hours cooking and cleaning, but I spent a lot of time with fun people and we got to talk about a lot of stuff. Oddly, I’m already looking to next year. I have a feeling I’ll be back in the kitchen and will be until I graduate, since the kitchen staff doesn’t seem to change much and the senior takes charge of everything and plans the menu.
So, that was my weekend. On Sunday, I returned to the church and was so glad to simply sit during the church service. I watched movies and quickly wrapped up whatever homework I had left. That has been my weekend and it has been quite a weekend at that.
Here are some pictures that sum up the experience that was the InterVarsity Valentine’s Dinner (Special thanks to everyone who’s pictures I borrowed):
Look at all these potatoes!
Our head chef, Max, is hard at work late Friday night
The dining room as decorated for the Valentine’s Dinner
I try my best to create a nice flower arrangement from roses
This was the best that I could come up with for an arrangement
Anthony was in charge of all decorations and did a great job
Preparing tons of candles for the ladies’ arrival
Socializing as they wait for dinner to be served
Awww… what a cute couple
Quickly finishing the bruschetta as an appetizer
Three of the other kitchen staff: Ben, Max, and Josh
Tadaa!!! The bruschetta is ready to go
Adam, the other kitchen crew member, is ready to start serving
This was the dinner that we served the ladies. It got tons of rave reviews.
And for dessert… chocolate mousse!!!
The kitchen staff was recognized after the meal
I love this picture… and the flowers I worked with
Let the dancing begin
Everybody doing the Electric Slide
Everyone who attended, except for me and one other person who
were cleaning in the kitchen and not told about this picture
Eric had to become a plumber and fix the drain, which he didn’t
Well, it’s been quite the weekend. The week ahead looks great and I’m hoping to have a quiet and restful weekend next weekend. That’s all for now. Over and out.
Quote of the Weekend: “A good cook is the peculiar gift of the gods. He must be a perfect creature from the brain to the palate, from the palate to the finger’s end.” -Walter Savage Landor
Thought to Ponder: Why are boxing rings square?
Shout Outs: My awesome kitchen buddies: Max, Josh, Ben, and Adam, Tom for his faithful reading and giving me a chance to do this
YouTube Clip of the Weekend:
Drag Racing School Bus
Look for in the future: UR Spotlight of the Week where I will focus on one organization of program here that may be of interest to you.
