Rules To Remember If You Are Thinking About Quitting Your Job

These rules were told to me by a buddy Mike Moosman from New York and Memphis. While they are written about your job they can apply to quitting just about anything, including your supper club.

Rules

There are assholes everywhere
You are probably making pretty good money for what you do, where you do it.

2.a When in doubt, REMEMBER Rule #1.

These rules tie pretty closely to an experience I had with one of my favorite nephews. He lives in Orlando, but we have stayed in touch over the years via text. When he turned 16, he complained to me that his dad wouldn’t buy him a car…all his friend’s dads had bought their son cars… I responded to him “Yeah your dad (my cousin) is an asshole!” Then I queried, “If a lot of your friends and family are assholes, does that make you an asshole?” Guilty! We agreed, I can be an asshole. My nephew responded, yes but you are a good asshole. That isn’t such a bad handle. But, I have to confess, it is usually easier, not to be an asshole.

A few years ago, I had dinner with Mike Moosman while he was living in Chicago and I told him how I loved his: there are assholes everywhere line. He said: “I have a new Chicago saying along the same lines”.

Your worst day at Kraft (or any other compony) is better than you best day under the bridge (referring to the lower Wacker Bridge in downtown Chicago where the homeless live.)

It is so true. We can all complain about where we work or certain people we associate with. But, no matter how bad it is, you are probably a lot better off than many.

If you enjoyed this blog and similar other stories/supper club lessons follow me on Facebook and Twitter and subscribe to get future blogs at www.impromptufridaynights.com/blog and check out my book Impromptu Friday Nights a Guide to Supper Clubs. Published by Morgan James Publishing and available through most channels where books are sold.

Food Safety…No Hands Please!

One of the keys to food safety is to stay away from things that have been touched by human hands. Then again, when you think about it, just about all food preparation involves touching food. If you think that everyone working in the kitchen is wearing sanitary gloves, you are delusional.

The funniest piece on party etiquette is the Seinfeld “Don’t Double Dip The Chip” episode. This the one where George gets confronted for double dipping his chip. While double dipping isn’t cool, there is probably less risk from the dreaded Double D than there is from unsanitary handling

RULES TO LIVE BY…

If you are doing the preparation, keep repeatedly washing your hands.
If you are eating at a party, avoid things that have been repeatedly touched.

On my first trip to the Philippines, I traveled with a Finance guy. I ate everything in sight and had no problems. The next trip I travelled with a microbiologist who schooled me on the dangers of food safety. I was careful, and I got sicker than a dog. The moral of this story is that sometimes a little knowledge can be dangerous.

There is a great article in the Wall Street Journal from 10/14/18 “Grazing Tables Are Suddenly Everywhere – And Nobody Knows How To Use Them” The Essence of the Grazing Table article is that at the first glance, they make a great impression, but if you know a little bit about food safety, they can be a direct route to a touch of the ptomaine food poisoning.

I ran a coconut company in the Philippines where salmonella contamination was a constant risk. We had extensive processing steps and procedures to manage the risk. There was only one room where the processed material was packaged and that room was run like an operating room. For example, all workers went through full body washes and hand scrubbing. They wore scrubs, special shoes, gloves and masks. Cleaning procedures were meticulous. As I have professed in earlier blogs Processed Food have become dirty words in todays marketplace. But, there is food safety in food processing that even George Constanza would appreciate.

One last word of advice on food safety. If you ever think you might be at risk for food poisoning. Say you are heading to a third world country famous for food issues, or even going to that grazing buffet at a party. Take one chewable Pepto Bismol in the morning beforehand as a prophylactic precaution. A food scientist friend taught me this trick and it has served me and many others well. Give it a try.

When in doubt…remember the no-hands rules!

Out Of The Mouths Of Babes

One of the funniest things that ever happened at a Supper Club event goes back to a New Years Eve party we had several years back. Before I go further I have to say two things:

1. Alcohol was involved
2. Names have been changed to protect the guilty

Susan and I hosted a neighborhood New Years Eve party for years. This year in question involved extensive appetizers/drinks, dinner/drinks, game/drinks and dessert/drinks. About a quarter of the way through the evening “Ralph”, who I had probably over-served, announced to party that his new years resolution was to “have more sex in the new year”. His wife who is usually adept at controlling such out bursts was missing in action. It really got out of control when another neighbor who was a psychologist started querying: “So Ralph tell us what you really feel?” As you can guess Ralph was the target for a fair amount of teasing, but the evening went on and a good time (non-sex related) was had by all.

A few days later I was back at work and got a call from Ralph to apologize for his S.E.X. comments at the party. While the whole thing was funny to me, poor Ralph had taken a (deserved) beating from his wife and probably had been forced to give me a call. Later that day my wife and kids met me at McDonalds for lunch. In recalling the highlights of my day I told Susan about Ralph’s call and apology for comments. I was careful to spell out the S.E.X. word in front of the children. My daughter Jennifer who was about 9 quickly leans across the table and carefully turns to protect her brother Brian (6) and whispers “You had S.E.X. at the party?” Susan and I both initially burst into laughter and then almost in harmony ask “How do you know about S.E.X.”. To which Jennifer answered confidently “Oh Lydia (Ralph’s daughter aged 10) has told me all about it”. In the immortal words of Ricky Ricardo on “I love Lucy” we had quite a bit of explaining to do.

One of the keys to a great party is a great appetizer. I love canapés. Try these (Clockwise):

Mini Tacos With Pulled Pork
Gourmet Grilled Cheese
Beef Tenderloin On A Parmesan Crisp
Lobster With A Wasabi Aioli

Do you want to catch up on similar tacky stories? Keep an eye out for my book Impromptu Friday Nights – A Guide to Supper Clubs – from Morgan James Publishing sold anywhere where books are sold.