Apprentice Chef Cassi Vollmer

Once in a while you get a promising apprentice chef.

Now that might take a long time to come, I have been a chef now for over 24 years and can count my promising apprentices chefs on one hand!!!. You might think that’s crap, well if you want to count the crap then the number will definitely climb.

I am from the old school and probably not many out there still cooking can relate to that, the most of us are well gone from the industry, sad to say but that’s the way it goes.

I am quite demanding in the sense that all I ask for is perfection within certain boundaries. The very best they can do is great, but generally we can always do better.

Anyway back to my apprentice. Cassi started out as a school based apprentice whom came to me with her mum for an introduction chat. This was very impressive and reminded me of the time when I had my first interview at the London Hilton on Park Lane, a bit different from Beaches but none the less a key moment within my career. Read the story »

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Eating out in Yeppoon has never been better

Eating out in Yeppoon has never been better

Dine out all day for under $50

Dinning out in Yeppoon has always been a bit difficult. Restaurants come and go, open and close at a whim and offer somewhat differing service and etiquette. However after dining out the other day I felt the need to write this article.

My wife and I dine out every week, yes every week. Now some of you are thinking how can they, well I will show you.

As the title reads dining out has never been better, well I’m not saying that we have better restaurants or that the food is better, what I’m getting at is that you can get great value for money right now here on the coast. It’s not always about filling your plate or dressing up and spending over the top for average produce.

So with out further ado I will let you in on a great tip…

Breakfast. I am a great fan of a cooked breakfast and like many Australians enjoy a plentiful meal in the early hours to jump start the day. The best place that we have found for value is at The Shore Thing. Here you can have a full cooked breakfast of bacon, eggs your way, sausages, beans, ample toast and tomato all for just $13.50 oh and I forgot to mention it includes a free Tea or Coffee. The breakfast menu has plenty of choice and is very well presented. Don’t forget to ask for the HP sauce which is available. Total bill $27.00

Lunch. Well again we have sampled many a place for lunch, not all because some just don’t fit the bill for certain reasons, too expensive, limited options and so on, but this place which has had many a name and make over has got the value for your dollar spot on. Y4 again in the main street of town has an extensive menu at very reasonable prices. The food which we have sampled is of a clean crisp and satisfying quality and there for fills the lunch spot. For $13.90 and $11.90 you can have meals. Not to mention the other priced dishes available. We had a basic chicken schnitzel and parmigiana that come with salad and Bad Boy chips. For $2 a soft drink can be consumed in the air conditioned premises. Total bill $29.80

Dinner. Now dinner can be a challenge and we have found that few places offer what I would call a budget priced meal. Not cheap and nasty or a kids meal either. Some of the clubs have even a pricey feel to them but not Beaches Restaurant and Bar. Here you can have an authentic wood fired pizza for $15. They range from $12 to $18 and have a huge variety, not to mention that they are made fresh to order and baked in the wood fired oven. Beaches does offer a wide variety of food options from seafood, steaks and much more all at different prices, but for this example of dining out for under $50 you can’t look past the best pizza on the coast. Pizza and a beer $20 Total bill $40

Breakfast @ The Shore Thing $27.00
Lunch @ Y4 $29.80
Dinner @ Beaches $40.00

Total $96.80
Leaving a few dollars for a tip or a scratchy.

So what are you waiting for. For less than $50 per person you can eat out on the Capricorn Coast not just for dinner but all day, so come on get out there and sample some of the local cafes and restaurants and enjoy.

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Red Onion Confit

This is my second entry in Weekend Herb Blogging, hosted this time by Chris from Mele Cotte. Chris you do have lots of entries I am going to need a holiday to get to see them all. Sorry that I missed out last week with the founder of the Weekend Herb Blogging event Kayln hosting. Read the story »

They Call Themselves Chefs

What is with you young boys out there, I say young only because I class myself in the old school regime. Today I herd that yet another chef did the ‘walk out’ in service. Now that’s just great. It seams to be a common thing these days.

Firstly, I do know that some employers have absolutely no idea, that most don’t pay well and that they want you do be at there beck and call. Now that I have agreed with you so called chef’s out there, let’s get this straight. How ever much you are in a mess, for what ever the reason, what justifies the right to drop tools and just go…..

I myself have worked in some very tough conditions, but have never lowered myself to just giving up and walking out. Staying power is what is needed in this industry boys.

When you open a new restaurant and after it’s hay day things slow down and it’s tougher than expected, you just can’t run and hide or walk away, there is lots of money at stake. You knuckle down and push on, get yourself established, change a few things here and there, but you just don’t give up.

I suppose one day you chefs might want to have your own place, well I just hope that you are one of the few employers that pays over and above what the chefs want, that you treat them with great respect, that you supposedly have gained enough knowledge and experience to command such respect…….

What gives me the right to say this, well I have done the hard yards, for many years. I have worked in some of the best well known hotels and restaurants. I have held positions of recognition for some time.

How do you expect to receive great money and positions in the work place without much experience. Just working here and there is not enough. Go out and work in some of the best places anywhere in the world if you want to, but only then can and should you start to demand the recognition. If you find yourself in such a place with an abundance of fine places that’s great, if not, well make the move….you have to go and get it, it won’t come to you.

Remember, people like to discuss people and this industry is one of the best for that, we look at others and judge them for what they do, where they have worked, what experience they have. Now this is a small town and no exception to the rule. I have been here for some time, with a very good reputation, do you think that somebody might just call that chef John to enquire about so in so, just remember it’s a small world boys.

Oh and one more thing, you won’t get picked for the national team unless you play for a big name club eh, wake up and swallow your ego and start to earn some respect. My team is far from full but believe me I only want the best.