There's soup on my fly

I'm still here

noreply@blogger.com (schmuckraker) — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 14:13:00 +0000

Family is great. Christmas was wonderful. New Years eve now and tomorrow a brand new calender. Food has been good lately..

I'll be around in '12. Lots of months in 2011 with no updates. But... as a dad I've been busy.

I'm still eating.. still reading.. still working

noreply@blogger.com (schmuckraker) — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 13:27:00 +0000

But it's been a busy time with a child. Stay tuned..

Thanks inflation..

noreply@blogger.com (schmuckraker) — Fri, 27 May 2011 21:54:00 +0000

The Memorial Day barbecue is almost 30% more expensive this year over last..

The simmering summer eating season is here

noreply@blogger.com (schmuckraker) — Fri, 27 May 2011 20:33:00 +0000

And in kind, I'm searching for the perfect burger. I'f love suggestions and where in the states is the USA where I can find one.. Email me your thoughts and suggestions or just comment on this site appropriately. The hunting begins for the cheeseburger in paradise.

Political fundraisers

noreply@blogger.com (schmuckraker) — Mon, 16 May 2011 23:51:00 +0000

Of any party I've ever worked, I think political fundraisers or anything political for that matter have always been the least fun.. the most tense.. the most awkward.. And the party I most wanted to leave quickly.

Children.....

noreply@blogger.com (schmuckraker) — Wed, 11 May 2011 00:06:00 +0000

I never before thought that when I had a child I would care so little about having hot food, or often having food at all. When people say 'everything changes' they aren't lying. As a matter of fact, so much has changed that when I search the archive of my own site SoupOnMyFly.com, I think of me as a different person in those times..
Don't get me wrong, of course. It's still me. The same me. The same brave part time server full time eater in a world of food and abdominal pains after eating, but there is so much more I know now... so much more I want to know. And so much more to come.

Stay with this site. I promise to update it more.

Even if I am not working as much as the weekend warrior as a waiter, I am still eating places. And I still feel I can add some flavor to the world of food, no matter my role in it: Customer or worker.

It's my hope that everyone's Mother's Day came and went without much fanfare

noreply@blogger.com (schmuckraker) — Tue, 10 May 2011 23:57:00 +0000

But for anyone in the restaurant industry, having Mother's Day without fanfare is just not possible. So in that regard, I hope it went well and fast. Over and out. Quick. And hopefully cash filled your pockets too.

For me, it was the first Mother's Day that I didn't work.. Having a son, I spent the day with my wife and new mom for the first time. And I didn't mind it one bit. Believe me.. Not working at a fast-paced insane restaurant on Mother's Day was a blessing more than Christmas itself.

So hopefully out there in serverland, your day was just as well. If you worked I'm sure it wasn't.

Despite a lack of updates.. There is still soup on my fly..

noreply@blogger.com (schmuckraker) — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 17:12:00 +0000

Expect more in the coming days.. I've been busy with a child. That's right, this part-time restaurant worker and full time restaurant eater now has a one year old.. one who is feasting on his forumla but eagerly anticipating asparagus scampi over wheat pasta. Or that's just me.. Either way, the soup is on a simmer, and the fly is down. More updates coming, so continue to stay tuned..

noreply@blogger.com (schmuckraker) — Sat, 01 Jan 2011 05:01:00 +0000

NEW DAY! Out with '10 Good morning .'11!

happy new year world.

Hopefully Christmas was great for everyone...

noreply@blogger.com (schmuckraker) — Sun, 26 Dec 2010 21:42:00 +0000

For those who worked, I hope that went fast. But not fast enough that life feels like it's going to fast.. Or just somewhat fast. New Years next. The first biggest night for restaurants of the year.

Did I create a new drink?

noreply@blogger.com (schmuckraker) — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 02:52:00 +0000

Orange juice, Sierra Mist (natural?), and Amaretto?

I'll call it "The Soup on the Fly"

Finding the truth on food: A worthwhile mission. But don't expect to find anything

noreply@blogger.com (schmuckraker) — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 02:57:00 +0000

The United States Senate just passed S 510, a food safety bill, even though many including the Tea Party were against it..

Now I try not to be political on this blog -- food shouldn't be, right? You can debate religion and politics over dinner, that's fine.. but food should be a little distant from political distractions.. No?

Although NEWSWEEK magazine last week featured a tale of two plates: On side part of the cover story was an image of a slice of pepperoni pizza, and on the other portion was salmon and lettuce, along with one carrot. The moral of the article: The poor are overweight because they eat bad food and the wealthy are snobby about good produce, hence: Liberals vs conservatives.. Republicans vs. Democrats. Red state vs blue state. And we all zone out.. Because, even if we are interested, we are all a little tired of constant political news being forced into our heads 24/7.
But I digress.
Back to the food bill.

Why did some hate it? Why did some farmers think it went too far? Why did progressive institutions think it will save the lives of millions?

This is the problem with our programmed reality. News organizations report what people say about something. That's fine. But shouldn't there be context? Shouldn't someone actually go to Thomas.loc.gov? Look the bill up? Read it.. report what is in it? Add CONTEXT to the subtext.. add real information to the sound bites. Give us juicy information--ON WHAT IS REALLY IN THE BILL!!

There is at least one article that sums up what the bill will do if signed into law by President Obama.
1) (and no big shock) Higher food prices.

2) While roadside stands and people selling food from gardens will not have their farms banned, they will apparently have to comply with state and local food rules. As currently worded, they will not have to register with the FDA.

3) FDA will have the power to order recalls and not ask companies to voluntarily do them. That is a major change.. massive and major. And it would altogether change the FDA's direction and jurisdiction.

There is real information out there. I challenge you to, as I am trying to do, find real actual and true information on the bill.. It's difficult. Sounds bites are ruling our lives...

I do have one concern, and perhaps this would be shared by both opponents of the food safety and modernization act and proponents as well: What about imports of food from other countries that don't share our same safety standards? Have we kept up on this.. What about genetic splicing? Is this really the best idea, even if it would hurt Monsanto's wallet to truly study it? ...chemicals in our food...good idea or bad?

There are real choices we, as consumers, must make. It's my hope that any law Congress moves through will help consumers have safer choices. And while we are searching for the truth, don't forget to eat. Even if it's from a garden.

Hopefully everyone made it through Thanksgiving weekend

noreply@blogger.com (schmuckraker) — Sun, 28 Nov 2010 14:54:00 +0000

I actually had no work at all this weekend, no parties or weddings or anything else booked. Which was fine. A few days off from both jobs was in order..

And despite our intelligence, my wife and I did go to eat at Olive Garden. The server told us on Thanksgiving Eve he walked out of the restaurant with nearly $200 .. Not bad. Hopefully anyone else out there that did work made boat loads of cash.

Maybe I'm just getting old..

noreply@blogger.com (schmuckraker) — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 03:14:00 +0000

Two funerals and a wedding--all running together, with only minutes to spare while cleaning up a funeral dinner with an angry bride waiting for her wedding to begin in the same room..

It was a tough one.. And as funerals go, the estimate of 72 was way under the 130 that showed up. Ironically funeral 2 was estimated at 80 but only had 72.. funny how things work out..

But as the funeral dinner plates clanged away in the kitchen, another bride and groom started their life--on time thanks to an overworked and tired staff that just wanted to go home..

I began wearing a pedometer at work a few weeks back. Today I walked 12.6 miles.. Not bad for a 10:30am to 10:00pm shift I'd suppose..

But now at the age of 30..with a child on the way..and weekends lost every week I am starting to truly believe I'm getting too old for this gig..
But I love it.
Why?
Why do people who work in the food business hate it, but yet love it? Why do they complain constantly about people and their sore feet.. but yet they are on time for work every week? Even when the tips are bad, they laugh and complain, and put in a day's work..

I left tonight probably not making as much money as one would think after so many things in one day, but it's alright. Because I also felt like I put in an honest day of work..
And I was really glad I wasn't working in the downstairs club for the Saturday night crowd.

I'm just too old for that......

When drunk women attack

noreply@blogger.com (schmuckraker) — Sun, 31 Oct 2010 13:10:00 +0000

Let me begin by saying, without question, if I was propositioned by a woman or man, I would deny them the chance to be with me.. I have a wife and child on the way.. I am not about to ruin that with a one night stand on the whim with a customer in the restaurant I work in.. But that's not saying being hit on isn't a character builder.

Not that I would really know. The female wait staff doesn't seem to have any issues.. Any given wedding, and 4 hours of an open bar later, and they can hardly walk by the customers without a whistle or a sweaty-toothed-madman asking a waitress to go home with him..

But then I saw the congo creepin' through the black..
Cutting through the forest with a golden track.

I was hit on last night. First time ever (that I know of) besides the occasional priest that always seems to have his eye on the only male wait staffperson. But I digress.

The 'hit on' wasn't nearly what I would have wanted it to be.

The woman looked like a wild wolf, with black puffy hair standing up and bouncing around. Giant thick glasses. She was pale white..whiter than me in January.. and she was celebrating a class reunion from the early 1980s.

The moment came right before that magic drunken moment when the room begins to spin.. She looked at me, caressed my chin, and said "you have the most beautiful eyes. You're beautiful. I'm sorry. I'm drunk."

That was it.. Years of working, and this is the one hit on moment that comes my way..

Later she had some fun dancing to the band, spinning around ferociously to the music.
I'm sure when the night was finished, if she made it home without falling asleep in the parking lot. From the appearance, she was caressing a porcelain god only a little later..

Is it time?

noreply@blogger.com (schmuckraker) — Sun, 17 Oct 2010 03:36:00 +0000

I love working in the food business--there are times we all complain of course..
But for the most part, it's me. It's what I like..

But I think I just don't like working for other people's food businesses..

I would love the chance to have my own restaurant..

Cut our budget? Take this

noreply@blogger.com (schmuckraker) — Sun, 10 Oct 2010 12:54:00 +0000

Budget hit NASA cooperates with China despite Congressional opposition

I want a steak.

noreply@blogger.com (schmuckraker) — Sat, 09 Oct 2010 22:14:00 +0000

That's all.

What not to eat all in one day

noreply@blogger.com (schmuckraker) — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 02:02:00 +0000

1) Friendly's for breakfast.. chocolate, unhealthy pancakes along with lackluster eggs and toast.

2) KFC for lunch. Even if it's grilled.

3) Buttery dinner.

4) Ending it with raw radishes.

I pity da fool that does this. Me. I pity my stomach.

Another weekend, another wedding

noreply@blogger.com (schmuckraker) — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 00:11:00 +0000

Something was wrong with the air tonight, my face was redder than an apple..

But the best was the last cork screw becoming lost and the owner and bartender making a contraption out of a hammer and a screw to open wine bottles.

That's ingenuity at its finest.

How depressing it is to see my favorite restaurant near death

noreply@blogger.com (schmuckraker) — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 01:39:00 +0000

I remember ordering pizzas from this little (I'll keep it unnamed, I don't want to be accused of slander) Italian eatery in my hometown of Ashland, PA .. I recall how the taste was different from other places.. it was a bustling little restaurant that was converted into one from a former movie theater. The building has a lot of history ..

And now, it's nearly dead.

It's been slowly going downhill for a few years.. There were ups and downs.. former owners wanted out. But the new owners, who I think wanted in, aren't really concerned about the demise!

I went there tonight.. I ordered a large pizza with sweet sauce and mushrooms. I got called back within minutes. They were out of mushrooms.. I still went ahead with the order.

I walk into the establishment, once busy now empty, and the soda machine was out of order.. TVs were turned off.. credit machine was "out of order" .. cooler was empty besides good old Coal Region Guers Iced Tea.. and my pizza was the only order waiting to be picked up.

It made me sad.. but angry, too!
Give me the restaurant!
Let me go "hell's kitchen" on it!
Let me go "Kitchen Nightmares" on it!
Give me a few weeks.. Something has to bring this place back.

Even if they lie and say "under new management" maybe it would at least make someone come back in..

I don't want my little former favorite pizza place to die away. I long for the taste of the traditional sauce.. Long for the days when they delivered it.. long for the days when people went in there.

It's a lonely world when you own an empty restaurant. But for God's sake! do something to get people back in! Don't just let your pride and joy slip and slide away into the black hole of tasteless memory..

Dinner before Gaga

noreply@blogger.com (schmuckraker) — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 01:10:00 +0000

I went to see Lady Gaga the Tuesday night in Philadelphia with my wife, her sister, and a friend. Before the sexual show, we were striving to eat somewhere else besides the former Wachovia arena, now Wells Fargo Center. I am just not happy paying $7 for a hot dog, or pizza, and $8 for a beer..

We ended up at Popi's Restaurant in South Philly.. and it wasn't bad at all.

I was worried.. I was decked out in a white T-shirt along with cammo shorts.. The others in my party were a bit better dressed than the casual me. But it was all fine.. they accepted us, and actually the staff was quite happy that they met some folks going to see the Lady Gaga show.

I had the chicken marsala, my wife and her sister had crab cakes, and our friend had some chicken dish (name escapes me) .. The food was very reasonably priced for South Philly and it was quite good for a quick meal .. Drinks? .. ehhh a little higher priced--but $5 for a beer instead of $8 is fine with me for city standards.

So .. I guess the bottom line: If you're going to see anything at the Wells Fargo arena, give yourself some extra time and Mapquest Popi's to eat a nicer dinner that will be good and reasonable as opposed to expensive and sloppy ..

A bad lunch...

noreply@blogger.com (schmuckraker) — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 01:32:00 +0000

Chicken that tastes like rubber but it's still pink.. coffee burned with a tinge of pepper.. and salad with brown spots.. It's a diner, baby, it's a dive.

IN LABOR for labor day

noreply@blogger.com (schmuckraker) — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 02:55:00 +0000

Work tomorrow.. three parties. Work Sunday .. two parties. Ugh...

A strange meal...

noreply@blogger.com (schmuckraker) — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 02:54:00 +0000

...shrimp over pasta with .. spaghetti sauce on top. I don't care how fancy a restaurant it may be, you can call it whatever you want, but it's still shrimp with spaghetti sauce. That's it.