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Confessions of a Parties That Cook Dishwasher

“Let it be a dance we do. May I have this dance with you?”
Mission AccomplishedThese lines, by poet Ric Masten, epitomize what it is like to work for Parties That Cook. Each event is the choreography of an event planned: a menu picked, a venue chosen, a date selected, and finally, a team cast. Chefs and servers and dishwashers, oh, my! The team unites for another dance and another opportunity to hear happy guests exclaim, “That was so much fun!”

Seven years ago, I answered an ad on Craigslist for a last minute dish washing opportunity with Parties That Cook. Having washed dishes my entire life unprofessionally, this was the perfect excuse to finally get paid for it! Still washing after all these years makes me reflect on what I love about working for Parties That Cook.

I love the physical act of washing dishes: the sound of the running water, the feeling of accomplishment when a dish goes from dirty to clean, and the way I can go on autopilot thinking about something else as I wash — sometimes solving a problem in the process.

Fun times!I actually love when the job feels challenging and seems overwhelming. I stare at a mountain of dishes or a pan that has been burnt beyond recognition and think I will never finish. At the end of the night, I’m dirty, wet, and my hands have transformed into prunes. The job is accomplished.

I love the fact that, despite the stereotype of food industry workers being smokers, I’ve encountered very few people who smoke. It makes for a very pleasant work environment.

Team PlayersI love how polite our team is. What we learned in kindergarten, we constantly use on the job. There is a chorus of “please” and “thank you” throughout the event. Our mothers would be so proud.

I love seeing the subject line “New Staffing Opportunity” in my email. Yay, another job! A double? Even better!

I love that Parties That Cook consistently engages its employees, asking for feedback about what can be done to improve events. The best part: they don’t just ask and do nothing. The team listens, things change and improvements are made.

Parties That CookWhat I love most of all is that I work for a company that makes people happy. The concept of a hands-on cooking party is still foreign to a lot of people. When guests attend their first Parties That Cook event, they are delighted and impressed. In particular, the people who don’t cook regularly, or even at all, are thrilled that they have created a delicious dish in just an hour’s time. Given that so much of Parties That Cook’s business is repeat customers, we must be doing something right.

Parties That Cook Heads to Jerusalem for November Cookbook Club

November Cookbook Club TableCookbook Club Table

We recently hosted our November Cookbook Club – a special lunch we can’t help but look forward to. As usual, it was a hit! This month’s featured cookbook was Jerusalem by Yotam Ottolenghi and Sami Tamimi. If that first author sounds familiar, that’s because we featured his cookbook, Plenty, in a previous cookbook club. Our reviews were so positive we had to give Jerusalem a try.

From flavorful vegetable dishes to sweet deserts, this book boasts 120 recipes accompanied by gorgeous photos. Both Jerusalem-born authors share recipes from their home city — influenced by diverse Muslim, Jewish, and Christian communities. Let’s see how recipes were brought to life in a most delicious manner!

The feast began with Kelle’s Burnt Aubergine & Mograbieh Soup, or in layman’s terms, “Burnt Eggplant Soup”. After the first taste: WOW. I really wan’t expecting the flavors to fit the title so well. The soup had such a unique flavor. Baked aubergine pieces were tossed in with a blend of burnt aubergine and tomato soup. The Mograbieh Israeli couscous added a soft yet firm texture to each spoonful. It was distinctively delicious!

Cous Cous

Tanya presented a fantastic looking and tasting dish: Couscous with Tomato and Onion. It was so light, airy and buttery, everyone helped themselves to seconds and thirds (guilty)! The toasted top layer of couscous provided a crisp bite, and was followed by the tasty tang of tomato. Sprinkled with green onion, this simple dish would make the perfect side for any meal!

Pickled Veggies

Erica made a vegetarian-friendly Middle Eastern rice dish with lentils and freshly fried onions, Mejadra. I unapologetically bathed my food in the absolutely delicious cucumber yogurt (Greek, of course). For extra credit, Erica also brought a jar of curried pickles. Veggies like cauliflower and rainbow carrots floated in cider vinegar and curry powder. The purple carrot even turned the liquid an awesome shade of purple.

Meatballs

Crissy made mouthwatering Meatballs with Fava Beans and Lemon. After soaking in a stock with spices galore, the beef and lamb meatballs were so flavorful! The light green edamame and dark green cilantro garnish added vibrant color, making her plated dish looked like something out of a magazine. I highly recommend pairing this dish with rice!

Beth made a striking Saffron Chicken & Herb Salad. Citrus, honey, black pepper and mint gave the arugula and basil leaves a sweet zing. Grilled chicken pieces seasoned with olive oil, garlic and orange puree were also tossed with the greens and aromatic saffron, making the whole dish come together like a sweet symphony.

Mary brought in an amazing Herb Pie. The creamy blend of ricotta, feta and aged cheddar cheeses were balanced by the perfect amount of Swiss chard, arugula and parsley. Hints of dill and onion weren’t lost in the shuffle of the other ingredients, and the pie was baked with an incredibly light and flaky buttered filo pastry on top. So satisfying.

Bibby brought in a gorgeous dish of Roasted Butternut Squash and Red Onion with Tahini and Za’atar. The rich colors sure caught our attention, but the Za’atar herb really gave the dish its Middle Eastern flare. The first bite was a blend of creaminess from the tahini and the soft, meaty squash — YUM. For extra credit, Bibby brought along some skewered persimmons from her backyard!

Christina made a Spinach Salad with Dates and Almonds. I absolutely loved this dish. The simple dressing of olive oil, white wine vinegar and lemon was a great addition to the spinach leaves. Tossed with plenty of red onion, dates and almonds, my favorite component was the buttery pita pieces. Yum!

Cookbook Club Nov '13_spinach salad mini

For desert, Emily made a fantastic batch of Spice Cookies. The brandy-soaked currant flavor definitely stood out, but the cinnamon-y (that’s a word, right?) and citrus flavors held their own. The lemony sugar glaze paired surprisingly well with the chocolate in the cookie.

The typical overachiever, Bibby also prepared a Semolina, Coconut and Marmalade Cake. The semolina and sweet marmalade made for a crumbly and delicious treat!