Keep On Truckin’- Portland’s Portable Food Scene

March 22, 2019March 23, 2019 / The Black Hat Baker / Leave a comment

Good morning, friends and neighbors.

Some time back, I asked a group of professionals what movies about kitchen life got it “right,” and which ones really REALLY got it wrong.

“Waiting” and “No Reservations” were among the “don’t mention that movie in my presence” list, but there was one movie that everyone- and I mean everyone- claimed hit the nail on the head: Jon Favreau’s 2014 father/son megahit, Chef.

Whether it was the sweet story of a busy chef trying to keep a relationship with his son, that same chef bucking a demanding owner and going into business for himself, or just the gobs and GOBS of on-location foodporn, Chef struck a chord with every pro I met who’d seen it.

When my mother saw the movie for the first time, she said, “See Matt? That looks fun, and not that hard! You could do that!”

Thanks for the vote of confidence Mom, but as cool as it looks- running a food truck is NOT exactly the “easy mode” of the food world.

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The Role of Discomfort in Development

March 9, 2019March 9, 2019 / The Black Hat Baker / Leave a comment

Good evening, friends and neighbors.

I get to work these days before dawn. As I walk in, the first order of business is checking the oven to make sure the settings are right.

Next, the days first load of croissants- waiting patiently in the proof box since the night before. They need to be in the oven in 30 minutes.

They aren’t ready. Small and sticky still. Crap… that’s not right.

A quick look at the control panel on the box confirms my fears. They’re gonna be late.

Right- time for Plan B. The cookies have time to go in.

Wait… that doesn’t look right. Why is the oven temperature tanking? Ugh… ok. Back on track, make up the time later.

The new wholesale management system is messed up. No one to call to check numbers for retail. Dammit… ok, just fudge the numbers. Wholesale is accounted for, I can bake more for the store later if needed.

The piping tip I need is missing. Use a similar one and change technique to compensate.

Not enough sheet pans- the other stores haven’t been sending them back. Rummage around and condense. There’s gotta be stuff to layer.

It’s cool. I’ll figure it out. It’s fine.

“Totally fine… I’ve got this. I’ve got this…”

“At least I’m learning some interesting tricks…”

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Young And Hungry- The Millennial Cook

March 2, 2019February 28, 2019 / The Black Hat Baker / Leave a comment

Good afternoon, friends and neighbors.

I am a cook. More specifically, I am a baker- or pastry cook, as one of my previous job titles went.

I am also, by virtue of being born in the late 80s, a member of that currently-most-accursed of demographics… a millennial.

And things are getting real out here, folks.

“… Millennial!”

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Our People, Our Thing

February 23, 2019February 21, 2019 / The Black Hat Baker / Leave a comment

Good evening, friends and neighbors.

We cooks exist outside of our natural habitat, you know.

We can breathe atmospheric air, are generally harmless unless provoked, and can even function in polite society.

Not necessarily that we LIKE it, of course… but we can.

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A Day at the Beach, and a Sense of Perspective

January 20, 2019January 20, 2019 / The Black Hat Baker

Good morning, friends and neighbors.

It had been a very long time since Em and I had gotten out of the city. We went back to Philadelphia in July, but the last 6 months have been especially trying (to say the least,) and the immediate future promised to be even more interesting.

Back when I lived in New Jersey, walking on the beach near my house offered more than good exercise and an enjoyable afternoon. It offered perspective- a quiet if a not-so-subtle reminder of my size and place in this world, as well as the size and place of my problems.

Even the biggest things are not so big at all, compared to the view from Cannon Beach.