I left Palmer’s Tavern on Sunday. Literally. The bartender working that day is a selfish bitch who decided that as long as I am in the kitchen prepping and cleaning out fryers, I might as well be cooking food for orders (even though I was not supposed to open for another hour and a half.) So she starts sending orders back, even though I told her none of the equipment was on. Almost immediately after I told her the fryers would not be ready for another hour, she starts sending orders back for fried food and says “I told them it would be about 10 minutes.” Not only should she not even be taking orders an hour before the kitchen opens, but now she’s lying to cover her ass. So I said screw this and left. Naturally the owner was upset, especially considering that the bartender lied to make it sound like I was the one completely at fault. I eventually got to explain what really happened, at which time the bartender had her Sundays taken away as punishment (she is now down to one shift a week.) I doubt that place is going to stay in business much longer.
I did get another job though. I did a trial shift at a place called Pizza Mia in Bedford, and apparently the owner and night manager were impressed enough to hire me. I start working there next Tuesday. Same rate of pay, but more chance that this place could afford raises after a few weeks of proving my worth to them (as opposed to promises of more money among all the phone calls asking if we really needed to have two people working the kitchen at the same time.) So, while I am not really happy that I am lowering myself to work in yet another pizza kitchen, it’s honest work for honest pay and I am still working with food. The upside of it is that when people decide to tighten their belts and not eat out anymore, the pizza places are the last to go. Places like Bennigans and TGI Fridays might be empty, but the pizza places are still going strong. I was also reminded that, had I stayed at Stonebridge, I’d be looking for work soon anyway as that place will be closing down for the winter in a few weeks.