This is where I work - with pictures!

[Plongeur]

The nice chaps here at ChefTalk have asked me to post some pictures, so here we go.
I took these just before Christmas at the restaurant, and will take some more when we start back at school too if they let me. I only had a few minutes to take these - busy day cleaning ready for the holiday - so I'll repeat them later in the year and include some with actual people in them; there may even be one including Chef, if I can get him to stand still long enough.
You can click these pictures to see larger versions (if you're REALLY bored, that is).



This is me about to clean the 'containers', the giant dustbins in the hotel car park; note that I am wearing ALL my cycling gear under my kitchen aprons (one cotton, one plastic) because it's do cold here at the moment. Sunny South of France my a*&^.



This is what my Plonge usually looks like at midday, immediately after we've finished staff lunch; the sink contains most of the stuff we've made a mess with during morning prep. - note the beetroot stains in the calot (metal bowl), that was our starter for staff lunch; the encrusted Pyrex dishes on the side mean we had some sort of gratin, probably a Dauphinoise.



The plates in the red bowl mean that the waiters have, yet again, forgotten that it's ONLY for couverts - knives, forks and spoons. Still, I've only reminded them of this eight times a service for the past year, so it'll take a while yet to penetrate their minds I guess. And that's my Hobart in the background, apparently covered in grime.



Ah, that's better; nice and clean during the service. Those plates on the rack in the background are Chef's preferred cheese plates. They were designed by Jeff Banks, the English fashion designer. They weigh an absolute TONNE, but do stand up well to being dropped so, on balance, I like them.



Chef's spice rack (well, part of it) in the economat; he has some interesting stuff which I haven't seen elsewhere, like the 'Long peppers'.



The view from my Plonge room door up to the kitchen. This is after service (and no, the tables aren't gold - no idea why they're that colour in the photo). Note the gleaming copper pans underneath the table, I polish them every day. No, really. And I note also that I took this photo at 1445 - it WAS a quiet day, normally the kitchen isn't this clean and empty after lunch for another half an hour or so.



My new company car parked out in front of the hotel.



Chef's workstation at the end of the day with his knife case and the book I gave him as a 'thankyou' present for all the help he's given me over the past year or so.

These and a few more images from life in the kitchen can be found at http://www.mostxlnt.co.uk/diary/images/resto/ and you can read my intermittent journal at http://www.mostxlnt.co.uk/diary/

[lentil]

Thanks for sharing your pictures, Plongeur. I'd take your South of France, sunny or otherwise, over my cold New England right about now!

What does your screen name mean?

[lentil]

Never mind. I read your profile.

[frycook]

Hey. nice pics. and that kitchen looks nice and clean. That book you bought your chef, is that Anthony Bourdain's kitchen confidentials? If so i just read that book last week. Really good book. take care.

[Plongeur]

Thanks. Yes, that's the book - one of the things that got me cooking professionally too.

[pattyrose]

Great pictures! I went to France for the first time last summer and i have to say i loved it and especially loved the people! The kitchen looks pretty cool and i hope you had some fun.. with the company car :P