The kick of luck

The kick of luck

  It's one in the afternoon one Saturday. After attending to some personal tasks and a few purchases, I felt the need to fill my empty stomach. I caught a glimpse of a restaurant not too far from me. Hardly four minutes walk. It looked clean and wasn't too noisy. Some people were enjoying their food as only the clinking of spoons and forks was springing from them. Others were waiting for their meals to land before them, casting eager looks each time the servers passed by with their trays full of hot,smoky eatables. As I was alone   I settled myself before a small table which could accommodate only two customers.  Luckily it didn't take a long time before a server could take my order. Ten minutes later he came with a tray containing my stuff: fried chicken, a bowl of vegetable soup, baked salmon, bread and a pint of beer.  In fact I started with the beer and went on eating. After eating almost half of my food,I shifted my attention from my stomach to other topics. The Pandemic Covid-19  gave rise to many economic problems. It had cast a negative impact on the sales prospects of my company's product. The overseas' market had collapsed. Our manager had made it clear to us that the only solution was a temporary salary cut of 70 % and to call at the factory only two days per week. . If the situation were maintained, the factory would close down. For me, it meant that I would be jobless. I  should re-engineer myself. My eating speed went remarkably down. While my looks sailed around, more specially at the trays of fuming foods ,an idea flashed to my mind: Whatever the economic situation, people would always try hard to fill their stomach. I said to myself: "HI Ramo  why don't you join the food making business?"

The only way to do so would be to acquire some cooking skills. I thought that it would be wise for me to follow a cooking course at the Gaetan Duval school of cookery and pastry. I could join for a part time class. I had a saving and I  thought  I could pay for the whole course right at the beginning. While these thoughts struck my mind, I had almost reached the end of my meal. I paid my bill and left. On the way back home, I kept reviewing my new decision. The next day I talked about it to my best friend Herod. He found it a bright idea and a positive decision. He even proposed to extend a financial help in case I would feel the  need. I thanked him for his encouraging advice and his generous offer.I explained to him that I could manage but I would turn towards him if the need arose. 

     I went on the school's website and filled an application form .A week later I  got a  favorable reply but I was asked to wait  for three weeks as a new batch would start then. I forwarded my application and first semester fees. Since then I took a deep interest in cooking.I never used to spend some time in the kitchen. My mother said:" I never got any help from you here. I wonder what had urged you to turn to cooking".

     I explained to mom about the culinary course I would follow shortly and the reasons for making that choice. She was happy to learn that news. She agreed with me and promised that she would share all her cooking knowledge with me. I thanked her for her encouraging words. Before the start of my course I had gleaned from her some good cutting and chopping skills as well as interpreting and practicing the prescribed cooking directions of certain recipes.

    In the meantime I made appropriate arrangements with the manager of my factory. Along with my salary cut, my factory was offering only two days of work. It was good for me. I was able to follow my course for three full days. I had an additional afternoon class to complete my weekly scheduled program. I focused well in my studies and I was doing well both in the theory and practical programs.

     One student named Dany from our batch was going to hold his birthday party . Another friend named Ali and myself, we promised to prepare some snacks for him  at our own costs. We bought all the  meat, shrimps, flour ,vegetables and spices needed. We prepared them at my place. My mom too joined us to cook and bake the various items we intended to make. Finally after four hours of active preparation, we were able to display a variety of tasty snacks for my friends' party.  The party was scheduled for five in the afternoon 

Ten to five, almost all the guests had turned up. They were first served fizzy drinks and juice. Around five o'clock snacks were served 

to them. As we went around, we could overhear the guests' reactions regarding the snacks served to them. While they were mostly engaged in chats  we could overhear only a few who commented 

     " These snacks are very tasty. They are not oily, light,low calorie ones and eye-appealing. I would prefer ordering same for a party at my place." Similar comments heard here and there were encouraging and convincing.

    When the party came to its end, the invitees thanked the host for his wonderful party and the variety of tasty snacks taken at his place. After their departure, Ali, Dany and me got ourselves seated for a chat. We congratulated  Dany for his amazing party. He also thanked us for the marvelous snacks we prepared for that occasion. He shared the positive feedback he got .He knew that the stuffs we bought were quite costly. So he wanted to give us some money. We both refused, saying that those snacks were our gifts for him. After being thanked and congratulated by his parents as well , we took leave of him.

     Some days later my friend Ali and I, we reviewed our excellent preparations at Dany's place. We discussed the possibility of forming a snack team and get it advertised online. We planned to take on board another student friend who showed himself very resourceful.  We contacted him another day. He was keen to join us.

     My friend Dany called me and said that one of the guests present at  the party wanted to place an order for some five different snacks,totalling to 250 pieces for his birthday party to be held after a fortnight. That was a great news for us. I called Ali and the newly recruited friend Mario ,making them aware of this coming deal. We decided to meet on the following  Saturday to decide on the size, quality and pricing of our products. Dany called us back and said that the guy , Mr. Ralph wanted to discuss with us about the types of snacks. The next day after our meeting,we received Mr Ralph's call and we finalized everything concerning the pricing, delivery procedures and mode of payment. 

     Two days before the delivery, we managed to buy all the necessaries and kept them at my place .The snacks were to be delivered on Sunday. As we were free on Saturday, we did part of the chopping, mixing ,blending and shaping. Early on Sunday we proceeded with the baking, cooking and frying. For these tasks, we got a helping from my mom who kindly shared her culinary experiences with us.. Around four in the afternoon we had finished with the cooking. We then started with the packing. At five Mr Ralph came in a van with his son. We gave him and his son one from each type to taste 

They found them good and tasty. He paid the bill,  thanked us for our excellent preparations and left. 

     After his departure  we sat down and  rejoiced at our achievement. After deducting the expenses, we were amazed by the profits we got and which we shared equally. My friends gifted my mom for her help and for using our kitchen and refrigerator .

     As the course progressed, we grew more confident about our cooking skills. In two months our cooking studies would end. On the other hand my job at the factory was still unstable although lockdown had been uplifted. Tourists were coming to visit our island and job prospects in hotels were much better. I would definitely leave the factory job. I had to decide whether I would maintain our cooking team entrepreneurship or join the tourist industry as a young chef.  Finally I decided to give our cooking company a chance as the orders kept coming and at times when they were too many in queue, we were obliged to refuse. We started earning much more than we could get as a chef. 

       Our culinary course came to its end and we were highly elated to be qualified chefs. All three of us had taken the same decision. We had got enough money to buy a second- hand food-truck and kitchen waresfor our company. As time passed by, we intended to give our company better structures and increase our labor force 

     I always paid tribute to that day when I was inspired in the restaurant while having  my  lunch to join the cooking business .At present I'm a successful food entrepreneur. We were planning to create a modern kitchen  in a rented building. My parents were proud of me for my dedication and excellent culinary know-how which had caused a noticeable change in our lifestyle.