April 17, 2007

The Right Place at the Right Time
(Or: Always Listen to Kim)

I was falling into the pit of despair when I noticed that Kim was on Skype. I gave her a ring, and joyfully she answered. After a brief catch up, I mentioned that I was headed to the pit. “Don’t go there.” Kim instructed. “When you see a sign saying ‘Pit of Despair’, go the other way.” I suggested that the stormy weather from earlier in the day seemed to have calmed, and if I got my act together enough I could load my computer into the basket of my bike, ride to someplace for a glass of wine, and work to a beautiful sunset. Kim immediately instructed me to do just that.

As I sat at my table at the Palais, typing away to the surf and a nice Riesling, I couldn’t help but overhear the woman at the table next to me asking whomever was on the other end of her phone to judge the up and coming “Cooking in Schools’ Competition.” I hesitated for only a moment.

“Excuse me,” I ventured when she had finished her call, “I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but I couldn’t help but hear you mention a Cooking in Schools Competition. I’m a student in the Le Cordon Bleu Masters of Gastronomy program, and I was wondering if you could tell me more.”

She could. She could tell me that the competition was for high school age culinary students and that she was looking for judges. She could tell me that she owned a catering company and they were always looking for help. She could tell me that she was on the board of Food Festivals South Australia and that they had dozens of events coming up. Lastly, she could tell me that here was her card and please be in touch because there’s a lot I might be interested in.

So much better than the pit.