Posted April 3, 2022
"I think a holiday is more strenuous because you try to fit in as much as you can, while you can," Emeline commented with a smile as she stood, taking Barnabas' arm after he held her chair. "And there is the change of routine, but I don't mind, it will be a while before we'll be able to do this again."
She chuckled, resting her hand on her belly. "I just think little Barnabas Junior is getting fussy! But he'll be fine for the kitchen tour, I'm really looking forward to that."
Her little kitchen at home was a simple stove with four burners and the oven, her table and a counter. But she didn't offer nearly the variety of options, nor serve so many people.
Posted April 3, 2022
"Planning for a boy, are we? Well, sometimes the good Lord has plans of his own about such thing, though I wish you the best of luck. A healthy child is of course what is most important." Bill offered. "So if you'll follow me, Misses Pike, Barnabas, I will show you to our kitchen, such as it is."
I'll be needing sons to help run the ranch, Bill. Barnabas said with a grin, "But a little Em wouldn't be so bad either. She tells me there'll be plenty more little ones."
Bill smiled at the revelation. "Indeed. Well, proper planning. That's the secret to anything, families included. Now, this, he said opening a door just off the main kitchen doors, "is where the magic happens!" He boasted proudly and the stepped into the hotel kitchen.
Posted April 5, 2022
"I'd be happy for a dozen children!" Emeline declared, refusing to let herself get mired in her past. "Boys or girls, I'm sure they will all be able to help out, and the house will be filled with laughter."
It was something she was looking forward to, and she wished there was a way that they could just skip to that part. But then, getting there was going to be a great adventure, too!
Arm hooked in Barnabas', she followed their host to the kitchen, stopping just inside the door to take it all in.
"Oh, my goodness, this is incredible! How many cooks do you have? And how can any of this be organized?" She couldn't imagine having to get out so many meals, especially with the variety they offered, and three separate times a day! It was admirable.
Posted April 5, 2022
"You see how she is Bill, a dozen kids?" Barnabas questioned as the walked to the big doors to the Kitchen.
"Oh, my goodness, this is incredible! How many cooks do you have? And how can any of this be organized?" She couldn't imagine having to get out so many meals, especially with the variety they offered, and three separate times a day! It was admirable.
"Well, I cannot say exactly how all of this chaos is controlled. I have on staff a dozen chefs that control segments of the preparation of the meals, one senior Chef that oversees everything. Now that would be at least a sixteen hour day, so with dinner being the biggest meal of the day, I have a second shift just for that, with the same number of cooks, waiters and dishwashers." The Bill smiled, "I understand you have some expertise in that area, Barnabas> At any rate, we are popular, the food beyond compare, the service top drawer. The Palace aims to please."
Posted April 7, 2022
For a long moment, Emeline just watched, entranced, as the chaotic dance of head chefs, chefs, servers and dish-washers played out, seemingly without direction, but certainly without incident, which was impressive! More than once, she had expected a collision, or for one of the chefs to inadvertently chop off a limb, be that his own, or some hapless soul who got in the way!
"It's surely something to see!" she declared with a smile, then she looked at Mr. Sharon. "What about the stores? Can we see those?" She couldn't imagine how much inventory they would need to keep track of, much the less how big a storage area they would need.
Posted April 8, 2022
"Of course." He replied to her request. "Please, follow me." He led them down a hallway past the doors used by the waiters to a side door which allowed them inside.
Bill beamed watching the cadre of kitchen staff hustling and bustling to prepare various menu items for his guests. Like a well oiled machine, from start to the waiters heading out the doors, everything moving perfectly to the customers satisfaction.
"What I can show you in this area is our cooler where the perishables are kept, as well as the pantry, which are continually restock as the meals progress." He said as they made their way across the kitchens peripheral avoiding staff as they moved.
"This would be the pantry." He pulled the large door open to reveal a large room filled with shelving, stocked with items, barrels of flour and other items. It was large and packed, men were appearing the the basement carrying thing to restock as Bill stepped back. "Now, for the ice room!"
They left the pantry almost next door was yet another room. Bill pulled open the large door and immediately a cloud of cold vapor rolled out to greet them. Inside were blocks of ice lining the walls, meats hanging, numerous containers of milk and other liquids, and shelves, like the pantry floor to ceiling of other perishables, ladders to reach the higher shelves. though the tin lined
“Magnificent is it not? I mean, we manufacture our own ice, we have four artisan wells, having a tested capacity of 28,000 gallons an hour and supplies the great reservoir which lies under the the central court. No one goes thirsty here.” He led them out and closed the heavy door behind them. "So I would hope you are sufficiently amazed at our kitchen."
Posted April 9, 2022
"To say the least!" Emeline exclaimed, smiling widely as she looked the space over. It was so different than what she was accustomed to, and it was fascinating that it was the same business, but so diverse. "This is amazing, and so is the result." She glanced over at Mr. Sharon. "I like my own little kitchen as well, since it's all mine, but this is really something."
There was no ambition to have an operation of this size, but then, there was no need for something this size in Kalispell. They had the Belle-St. Regis, and that was enough as far as fancy went. And the Lickskillet served the needs of 'plain folk' who wanted a hearty, inexpensive meal.
"Once the ranch is up and running, I suppose most of my cooking will be for the hands there, but I've heard that a ranch runs on its stomach, so we'll have some of the happiest hands, I've no doubt of that!" It didn't even occur to her that pregnancy would slow her down...it was an inconvenience as far as working, but that was all!
Posted April 10, 2022
"I have heard that said, many times, about the ranch running on it's stomach, and I believe that to be the truth, as with just about everything else in this world. Good solid food, what is here is wonderful. I mean to say that your kitchen, and my kitchen do the same business, we feed people. The difference? What the people are willing to pay to eat. That sounds cold and uncaring, but essentially it is true." He talked as they walked,
"Willing is incorrect, able to pay is more the fact. I take it you run a cafe, not a higher priced restaurant that some cannot afford and that is the sole difference, but, someone has to feed the rich." Then he laughed. "Better a cafe full of hungry, appreciative customers than the demanding, overbearing, complaining bores we serve daily."
"I suppose on the hill we'll see some of that, but there was a time when we all seemed to be working for the same end up there, or maybe my view of it all was skewed." Pike said.
"No, it is not, I felt that same thing when last there." Bill agreed. "So, speaking of the hill and your return, when do you plan to leave? My, that sounds rude, does it not?"
Posted April 11, 2022
"Well, my if customers don't like the food, they don't eat!" Emeline laughed. "Many of them are single miners, cowboys, lumber men...it's my cooking or theirs!" For they couldn't afford the Bell-St. Regis, so the Lickskillet was it!
"That said," she amended, "I've seen those working men riot over bad food and high prices, so I do the best I can. It helps that my dish-washer is the town deputy!"
Then Mr. Sharon asked when they were leaving, and she glanced at Barnabas. "We don't have specific plans, except that we'll be going to Virginia City, so I'm not sure, we're playing it day to day."
A new concept for her, since she'd always had to have plans, and to organize, so she was finding that she enjoyed just 'going with the flow'.
Posted April 12, 2022
Barnabas piped up, "Never heard a bad word about her cooking neither. I mean almost everyone has eaten there, and not just once neither. Good food, good prices, keeps 'em comin' back, as they say, but it is true."
Then Mr. Sharon asked when they were leaving, and she glanced at Barnabas. "We don't have specific plans, except that we'll be going to Virginia City, so I'm not sure, we're playing it day to day."
"I believe we've got another couple things we want to do before we push on, but Bill, this place has been a real treat, and a real pleasure. Glad to see you're doing so well." Barnabas said.
"Well anytime you're in San Francisco, this is home for you, your lovely wife and any kids you bring along." Bill responded. And I, you both as well."