Uncategorized
Have I told you how I love working with chefs?
Published
7 years agoon
Posted By
Outlaw PartnersBy Scott Mechura EBS Food Columnist
I have written abundantly about chefs. I write about our dispositions, our philosophies, our challenges and hardships, our triumphs and failures. We can be some of the most unique individuals to simply be around, let alone work with or for.
I’m one of the easy-going ones, but that wasn’t always the case. For instance, I once lost my temper so badly in the kitchen that I put a huge dent in the oven door with my foot. That dent was curved, much like a smile, and it remained there for years laughing at me for my childish behavior every morning I turned on the lights.
But despite all that, when I need to go elbow to elbow with anyone in today’s work force, I’ll choose a chef every time.
Chefs are many things, including confident and opinionated. But two other particulars are that chefs are organized and they are collaborators.
Two weeks ago I was part of an event at Chico Hot Springs put together by the Western Sustainability Exchange. The event was WSE’s annual Harvest, which is an auction and fundraiser to help promote sustainable ranching and farming throughout our great state. It also connects chefs with these same farmers and ranchers in hopes they can help complete the circle of utilization and relationships.
Each chef in the Harvest was responsible for an appetizer or one of the dinner courses. And in the case of the main entrée, I was one of three chefs who joined forces. What could possibly be challenging about an event with a kitchen chock-full of chefs?
Walking into a kitchen packed with culinary experts, some of whom are friends, some acquaintances and some peers, laughter and smiles instantly pervade. Everyone is working diligently on their portion of the evening.
But therein lies the hypocrisy: In our own kitchens we coach our respective teams to be focused while keeping the idle chatter to a minimum. Yet when a group of chefs get together, the kitchen is anything but quiet. Make no mistake, we’re attentive to our individual projects, but our provocation would put the legendary trash talking of Magic Johnson and Larry Bird to shame.
But here’s the thing: It’s all in fun. Every bit of it. Because when its time to perform and the curtain goes up so to speak, we are the most professional, focused, respectful, supportive and organized group of men and women you will ever meet.
Our final attendance for the evening was 214, and our event went off like a Swiss watch. Yes, we are a room full of alphas and Type A personalities, but we’re also all extremely adept at recognizing our roll and contribution in the moment.
No one steps on toes and no one challenges another. We are heads down, laser-focused, and decisions are made intelligently, quickly, collectively and without questioning. When the rubber meets the road, the idle yammering instantly turns to conversation as precise as a surgeon asking for an instrument.
And here’s the coolest part: When it’s all over, and the curtain goes down, we breathe. We gather our tools. We toast our evening together with a glass of champagne. And while the jokes and trash talking immediately picks up where we left off earlier in the evening, it’s intertwined with what we could have done better, what we can do next year, and what our menu should be.
This year’s presidential candidates consist of a former lawyer and a business tycoon, and while those are both respectable backgrounds, I’m starting to wish a chef would run for president.
Scott Mechura has spent a life in the hospitality industry. He is a former certified beer judge and currently the Executive Chef at Buck’s T-4 Lodge in Big Sky.
The Outlaw Partners is a creative marketing, media and events company based in Big Sky, Montana.
Upcoming Events
april, 2024
Event Type :
All
All
Arts
Education
Music
Other
Sports
Event Details
Children turning 5 on or before 9/10/2024:
more
Event Details
Children turning 5 on or before
9/10/2024: Kindergarten
enrollment for the 2024-2025 school year can be completed by following the
registration process now.
Children
born on or after September 11, 2019: 4K enrollment is now open for
families that have a 4-year-old they would like to enroll in our program for
the 2023-2024 school year. Please complete the 4K Interest Form to
express your interest. Completing this form does not guarantee enrollment into
the 4K program. Enrollment is capped at twenty 4-year-olds currently
residing within Big Sky School District boundary full time and will be
determined by birth date in calendar order of those born on or after September
11, 2018. Interest form closes on May 30th.
Enrollment now is critical for fall preparations. Thank you!
Time
February 26 (Monday) - April 21 (Sunday)
Event Details
Saturday, March 23rd 6:00-8:00pm We will combine the heart-opening powers of cacao with the transcendental powers of breathwork and sound. Together, these practices will give us the opportunity for a deep
more
Event Details
Saturday, March 23rd 6:00-8:00pm
Time
March 23 (Saturday) 6:00 pm - April 23 (Tuesday) 8:00 pm
Location
Santosha Wellness Center
169 Snowy Mountain Circle
Event Details
We all are familiar with using a limited palette, but do you use one? Do you know how to use a
more
Event Details
We all are familiar with using a limited palette, but do you use one? Do you know how to use a limited palette to create different color combinations? Are you tired of carrying around 15-20 different tubes when you paint plein air? Have you ever wanted to create a certain “mood” in a painting but failed? Do you create a lot of mud? Do you struggle to achieve color harmony? All these problems are addressed in John’s workbook in clear and concise language!
Based on the bestselling “Limited Palatte, Unlimited Color” workbook written by John Pototschnik, the workshop is run by Maggie Shane and Annie McCoy, accomplished landscape (acrylic) and plein air (oil) artists,exhibitors at the Big Sky Artists’ Studio & Gallery and members of the Big Sky Artists Collective.
Each student will receive a copy of “Limited Palette, Unlimited Color” to keep and take home to continue your limited palette journey. We will show you how to use the color wheel and mix your own clean mixtures to successfully create a mood for your paintings.
Each day, we will create a different limited palette color chart and paint a version of a simple landscape using John’s directives. You will then be able to go home and paint more schemes using the book for guidance.
Workshop is open to painters (oil or acrylic) of any level although students must have some basic knowledge of the medium he or she uses. Students will be provided the book ($92 value), color wheel, value scale and canvas papers to complete the daily exercises.
Sundays, April 14, 21 and 28, 2024
Noon until 6PM.
$170.
Time
14 (Sunday) 12:00 pm - 28 (Sunday) 6:00 pm
Event Details
Come join us at Cowboy Coffee as we celebrate a fun night of drinks, games, and meeting others within the community. This event is from 6-8 and all are welcome
Event Details
Come join us at Cowboy Coffee as we celebrate a fun night of drinks, games, and meeting others within the community. This event is from 6-8 and all are welcome to come, if you don’t know who to bring come alone this is a great mixer event! This is an event hosted by Big Sky OUT as we work to provide queer safe spaces throughout the community.
Time
(Sunday) 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Location
Cowboy Coffee
25 Town Center Ave. Big Sky, MT 59716