Thursday, November 24, 2011

WORKING EXPERIENCE AS EXECUTIVE CHEF

This is the extra ordinary group that working hard chef for the Penang Culinary Chef Association

Something special, more that special when you can be associate photograph  with wellknown artist


working at the Paradise Beach Resort, awesome experience more than chef tale or a cook's tour. The only past story will share with the good bar tender on the beach and Hornbill Restaurant.

Make yourself available not only in the kitchen but sometime in the advertisement.

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Chef Managing Stress

To all the Executive Chef, Banquet Chef, Sous Chef, Chef De Cuisine, Gardemanger Chef, Main Kitchen Chef and all the Supervisor in Kitchen Department.

Beside the daily cooking production, mise en place, last minute confirmation function, also food consistency in various oulet that you are incharge there is something that i would like to share with all of the Chef.

MANAGING STRESS

What is Stress
Stress refers to a broad class of problems differentiated from other problem areas because it deals with any demands which tax the system, whatever it is, a physiological system, a sosial system, or a psychological system and the response of that system.

( Lazarus, 1971 )

Symptoms of Work Stress
Psychological Symptoms of Work Stress
1.  Anxiety, tension, work long hours, confusion, and irritability with sexual unbalance.
2.  Feelings of frustration, anger, and resentment not everyone understand you, others   Department Head.
3.  Emotional hypersensitivity and hyper-reactivity with the Waiters and Waiter pick up food late.
4.  Suppression of feelings, girlfriends that you like ignore you.
5.  Reduced effectiveness in communication that they dont understand your " ........" words.
6.  Withdrawal and depression with the type buffet set - up and the quality of poor food in your outlets.
7.  Feelings of isolation and alienation, should be happy hours and the drinks not ready yet!
8.  Boredom and job dissatifaction, no medal and awards in culinary competition always BRONZE...
9.  Mental fatigue and lower intellectual functioning, lazy to read and write the report, food cost high, food complain and staff diciplinary action form...and worst that you off day and holiday being cancel for the last minute function. Nobody understand about HACCP requirement in food business...
10.  Loss concentration focus with did not have "..." for a week.....
11.  Loss of spontaneity and creativity about your menu design, promotion, sales and marketing activity.
12.  Lowered self-esteem and no girlfriends.

Physical Symptoms of Work Stress

1. Increased heart rate and blood pressure.
2. Increased sex-creations of adreanaline and non adrenaline.
3. Gastrointestinal disorders such as ulcers.
4. Bodily injuries.
5. Physical fatigue.
6. Death.
7. Cardiovascular disease.
8. Respiratory problems.
9. Increased sweating.
10.Skin disorders.
11.Headaches.
12.Cancer.
13.Muscular tension.
14.Sleep disturbance.

Beahavioural Symptoms of Work Stress
1.Procrastination and avoidance of work.
2.Lowered performance and productivity.
3.Increased alcoho; and drug use and abuse.
4.Outright sabotage of the job.
5.Increased visits to the dispensary.
6.Overeating as an escape, leading to obesity.
7.Under-eating as a withdrawal, probably combined with signs of depression.
8.Loss os appetite and sudden weight loss.
9.Increased risk-taking-behaviour, including reckless driving and gambling.
10.Aggression, vandalism, and stealing.
11.Deteriorating relationships with family and friends.
12.Suicide or attempted suicide.


Effective Ways To Manage Stress

1.Health examinations.

2. Nutrition :
                     a. Eat plenty of unrefined foods, cook fresh and not after a few days. Chef  can create the
                         best food, but seldom eat the best ingredients food.
                     b. Keep processed foods to a minimum, eat fresh fruits and fruit juices.
                     c. Be careful about fats and oil.
                     d. Vitamins and minerals.
                     e.  Drink plenty of water,....mean water.

3. Exercise
                    a. Exercise for stamina - long distance jogging , better swimming.
                    b. Exercise for strength. Push up at least 10 time to 20 times a day.
                    c. Exercise for suppleness when you have time after work or before start cooking, carry up
                        down rice bag about 10 kg each.

4. Effective relaxation, you all chef know what i mean..Spa therapy. good accompany like travels.

5. Short naps. Always do this after a long night last nite.

6. Enjoy Music

7. Take a break. ( find the way for a short, quick let go.....)

8. Express anger.

9. Talk it out, when you dont like about the food and canteen menu for the staff.

10. Holidays, vacations and hobbies when there is a food competitions and exhibitions.

11. Meditation i mean when whatever you have a nice teacher for this class, special arrangement before
      you going for this subject.

12. Initiate action, do not wait for direction.

 I mean the Chef, work longer hours and all the time in the Kitchen.
The best way to deal with stress it is up to individually Chef how to avoid it.
Every Chef have the right way and how to manage the stress. The secret of the Top Chef is to perform according the quest demands, perfectionist in the food preparartion is critical.
Fo the Chef in Cruise line, the Stress can be divided for how high and enjoyable the Chef take the job resposibilities. All the best to all my profession Chef.

Sunday, January 2, 2011

L'apprenti Deli UPM NEW MENU

"HAPPY NEW YEAR 2011"

I wish every body a great start for a new year ahead and prosperous with a good health. At the meantime my self and the team still in the progress of developing the new menu and product for the L'apprenti Deli at University Putra Malaysia.

All my sous chef and pastry chef working hard for the last few days, before we celebrate a new year 2011. The team spirit and commitment are very high.

To change and make changes of the menu need allots of planning and trial. We develop as a team and moving forward to standardize all costing and recipe development. Product specification and supplier meeting.

The recipe base on the last 2 years since we are open the L'apprenti restaurant. The favourites item such as Roast Chicken, Lasagna, Nasi Lemak and our best cheese cake.

 Muffin and some other pastry product on display
Scone and Vanilla Muffin

Curry puff and Tuna Puff

Suji cake and apple pie

Assorted Danish

Assorted filling bun

Adiba cashier and waiters

Assorted individual cake on display

Chocolate marble cake

Cheese cake

Selection home made sandwiches with smoked salmon, tuna and smoked chicken with mayonnaise.

Din Baker's smoke salmon sandwiches

Lapprenti deli UPM assorrted cake and pastries

Selection the whole cake such as Cheese Cake, Tiramisu, Black foresT, Pandan Kaya, and Cheese Almond

Chocolate cheese cake

Marble Cheese Cake

Home bake Cheese Cake

Cheese cake individual slice

Strawberry Tart

Chocolate Chips Cake

Brownies

Coffee cheese Cake

Tiramisu in the Glass


Brownies

Chocolate almond eclair

Round Eclair

Chocolate Tart

Chocolate Mud Cake

Marble Whole Cheese Cake

Peach Danish

Baked Cheese Cake

Blueberry Cake

UPM L'apprenti Deli open Monday to Fridays
              8.00 am to 5.00 pm

L'apparent Deli side view

Nice Deli and Clean

Front view

Staff on training for the cashier

Chef in charge for Deli and Pastries

Assorted Pastries

Cake display

Side view at Food Complex

Cosy ambiance

Welcome to the L'apprenti deli


Decoration and display


Chef on duty

Thumbs up for a good recipe and taste

Chief cashier

Chef Azahar from UPM.