Note to Reader

All of the links offered from this page are simply supporting evidence.  Only read this if you are interested in the technical aspects of catering. 

Meal Action Sheets

It is absolutely crucial in a catering situation when I can't do everything to delegate well what I would like done.  Action sheets are my cheat sheets of what happens to make a meal go out.  (Incidentally, even if I can do everything, these are good notes to remember each step, like looking at the 'design' of a meal).  This link contains 18 different action sheets.  1 Each for Breakfast/lunch and 1 for  dinner each day for the 9 days the event runs.  I further take the "PREP" list off the action sheet and write that on a white board at the start of each shift.  This makes it possible to simply check off each major component of the meal. 

Letter to my Workers

The intention of this letter is to create clarity around job responsibilities, including shift hours, wages and generally, what to expect coming to this event. 

 

Letter to Facility Head

The intention of this letter is to create clarity as to what I expect when I arrive at the event.

All desserts

This document is a list of all the desserts that we give to camp including other ideas, volumes for feeding 220 people, gluten free and vegan options.

Overview of Growth

PROFESSIONAL

The time I put in on OP 4 has greatly increased my awareness of how I approach catering events.  This project has helped greatly for this particluar event for 2014 and in addition, I anticipate that it will improve how I approach all events.

 

PERSONAL

I am keenly aware of how I personally portray myself in work.  I hope to make my lifes work be the love that I want to give to the world.  So, designing my work to be more easeful for myself and to create clear communication with colleagues, employers and employees is essential.

 

 

Impact on the Field

There are two primary fields I think I engaged in during this OP: the GaiaU community and Caterers.  

Gaia -- I have greatly increased my awareness regarding the structure of an OP and I hope that through buddy sessions and templates that I have generated and will continue to generate that I will offer opportunities to other Gaia associates.   

Caterers -- My third mind map of key features to consider when catering events and some of the awareness toward which aspects of catering are best done in advance are very valuable to other caterers.  Templates including clear letters to employees, action sheets for meals, material data sheets to elucidate unknown equipment are all hugely valuable designs for catering events that I rarely see implemented.  The awareness around documenting during events is amazingly not practiced in many of the events I attend.  I understand that things always change but having approximations is very valuable.  I hope after NCDC 2014, there will be the start of a book of recipes and volumes for cooking for 200.  

Template to improve designs of meals

This is my first attempt at a template to ease my work for 2015 by incorporating feedback during the 2014 cycle.  It is often amazing to me how simple the feedback needs to be to make huge changes in the world. 

 

DAY __________________  MEAL _____________________

ITEM 1 _______________________
Volume _______________________
Leftover ________________________

RECIPE _________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

ITEM 2 _______________________
Volume _______________________
Leftover ________________________

RECIPE _________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

ITEM 3 _______________________
Volume _______________________
Leftover ________________________

RECIPE _________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________