November 18, 2010: Stories V
November 16, 2010: Boss Once Again
This job is not all light work with frosting and cake. There is some real heavy lifting that has to be done with all the frozen boxes. It can wear on a body over time. That is what happened to my boss. He had done too much heavy lifting and his back was bothering him. He had been to all kinds of physical therapy but now it was necessary for him to get a cortisone injection to ease his pain. He was going to be out for several days so it was now time for me to take over the ranks once again.
The full time workers were not happy that I had been put in charge considering that they technically had more status than me, but I was the only one who knew what to do in the department the way that the manager wanted it to be. There was going to be a bit more stress than usual with holiday preparations underway. One of the workers had a panic attack thinking of all that had to be done until I told her to just shut up and do the work and we would all be fine in the end. The day consisted of making fruit tarts - 9" cream shelled pastries with loads of real fruit on the top. Then it was time to break out some pies.
The pies that we had received all came in in a gigantic frozen truck that is stationed outside of the store along with all the holiday turkeys. My luck was that the pies were in the very back corner of the 25 foot trailer buried behind pallets of turkey with no jack to move them. It was time to go Indiana Jones...I climbed, I crawled, boxes crashed to the trailer floor, boxes crushed underneath me. I finally was getting close to the back of the trailer and one more surprise-the pies were directly below the refrigeration fan. The closer I got the colder I got. My eyes were tearing up from the severe blast of cold to the face. I reached down and grabbed several cases of pies and went out of the freezer. Two more sets of this exact journey and we had enough pies and I felt illness coming on. Happy early Thanksgiving everyone. Enjoy your pie and crushed turkey.
Until Next Time.
Stay Sweet,
Lil' Buddy
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Stories Part IV
November 18, 2010: Stories Part IV
November 1, 2010: Higher Ups
The store is all abuzz. The president of the company was supposed to be coming. The store manager was running around like crazy bleaching and cleaning shelves. Honestly, up until this point I had not seen him do much more than dictate work to the lowly employees.
The store was spotless by the time that the president of the company had arrived. He walked through the store quickly with such an air about him. He was being introduced to all the managers and department heads. He came to the bakery and took a look around. No smile crept across his face as he looked each of us in the eye. Manager Bob Kelly introduced him to my boss Michael Ciaramittaro. My boss came off as such a tool. "Hello, it's such a pleasure to see you sir." For some reason Mr. Kelly found it necessary to introduce me. "This is Nicholas Sloane. He is one of our part time employees that gives his all for this company. He is probably the future of this place." I forgot the president of the company was there and I laughed, "Hah God forbid not if I can help it, Bob." It was the first time I had seen the president crack a smile.
Until next time.
Stay Sweet,
Lil' Buddy
November 1, 2010: Higher Ups
The store is all abuzz. The president of the company was supposed to be coming. The store manager was running around like crazy bleaching and cleaning shelves. Honestly, up until this point I had not seen him do much more than dictate work to the lowly employees.
The store was spotless by the time that the president of the company had arrived. He walked through the store quickly with such an air about him. He was being introduced to all the managers and department heads. He came to the bakery and took a look around. No smile crept across his face as he looked each of us in the eye. Manager Bob Kelly introduced him to my boss Michael Ciaramittaro. My boss came off as such a tool. "Hello, it's such a pleasure to see you sir." For some reason Mr. Kelly found it necessary to introduce me. "This is Nicholas Sloane. He is one of our part time employees that gives his all for this company. He is probably the future of this place." I forgot the president of the company was there and I laughed, "Hah God forbid not if I can help it, Bob." It was the first time I had seen the president crack a smile.
Until next time.
Stay Sweet,
Lil' Buddy
Stories Part III
November 18, 2010: Stories
November 14, 2010: Hospital
Had a little mishap in the bakery today. It's not all sweet things and good times. There are a lot of dangerous aspects to the workplace especially when the machinery hasn't been updated in well over twenty years. There is a reason the bread slicer and large ovens read "Must Be 18 To Operate."
Anyways, I was taking an item out of the oven and did not realize that there had been a piece of plastic on the floor. I slipped and went backwards into the 400 degree rack. I received several burns on the back of both of my arms and the top of my back. Very painful indeed, but lucky for me concealable. It stung so bad and I did not think that I could work anymore. They had an ambulance come for me, but I didn't feel it was necessary. I took the ride to Massachusetts General Hospital where they did the routine check for concussion or brain injury (a check that I have had to be a part of far too many times before). They concluded that I just had low level burns and gave me an ointment to put on them. Back to work in the morning.
Until next time,
Stay Sweet,
Lil' Buddy
November 14, 2010: Hospital
Had a little mishap in the bakery today. It's not all sweet things and good times. There are a lot of dangerous aspects to the workplace especially when the machinery hasn't been updated in well over twenty years. There is a reason the bread slicer and large ovens read "Must Be 18 To Operate."
Anyways, I was taking an item out of the oven and did not realize that there had been a piece of plastic on the floor. I slipped and went backwards into the 400 degree rack. I received several burns on the back of both of my arms and the top of my back. Very painful indeed, but lucky for me concealable. It stung so bad and I did not think that I could work anymore. They had an ambulance come for me, but I didn't feel it was necessary. I took the ride to Massachusetts General Hospital where they did the routine check for concussion or brain injury (a check that I have had to be a part of far too many times before). They concluded that I just had low level burns and gave me an ointment to put on them. Back to work in the morning.
Until next time,
Stay Sweet,
Lil' Buddy
Stories Part II
November 18, 2010: Stories Part II
October 31, 2010: Halloween
Okay so maybe I am lame because I really don't participate in Halloween festivities, but the Bake Shop is one hell of a place to visit on this most ghoulish of days. I went to work that day dressed in my yellow shirt and apron. I guess I had been dressed up as a poor college student trying to pay the bills at a minimum wage job. It was by far the greatest, easiest, and cheapest costume that I had ever created.
Little ghouls, goblins, Team Jacob, and Team Edward fans alike swarmed the store. They were all hoping to get some kind of treat from the workers, but we in bake shop are different. Each child that came up received a warm cookie. They were more than satisfied.
At least we were not egged.
Until next time.
Stay Sweet,
Lil' Buddy
October 31, 2010: Halloween
Okay so maybe I am lame because I really don't participate in Halloween festivities, but the Bake Shop is one hell of a place to visit on this most ghoulish of days. I went to work that day dressed in my yellow shirt and apron. I guess I had been dressed up as a poor college student trying to pay the bills at a minimum wage job. It was by far the greatest, easiest, and cheapest costume that I had ever created.
Little ghouls, goblins, Team Jacob, and Team Edward fans alike swarmed the store. They were all hoping to get some kind of treat from the workers, but we in bake shop are different. Each child that came up received a warm cookie. They were more than satisfied.
At least we were not egged.
Until next time.
Stay Sweet,
Lil' Buddy
Stories
November 18, 2010: Stories
I have missed quite a bit of time writing to you all. There has been a lot that has happened so I figured I would share with you some of my most favorite stories from the past couple weeks.
November 7, 2010: Trouble
Sundays are always crazy in the bakery. There is a great lack of help in the morning time due to the fact that the workers are paid more for the day. Generally I work my entire Sunday shift by myself with no assistance which is a large task to take care of considering the weekend shopper load.
This Sunday seemed to be going too smoothly. I had made several dozen cookies, pies, and breads in a seemingly short span of time. I heard over the loudspeaker that our load of product had arrived so I went out back to retrieve it before it began to melt. I was gone for approximately two minutes to retrieve the pieces and when I came back I saw the evening manager walking away from the department.
Right as I was about to leave to get the second pallet a gentleman walks up to get his cake order. He had ordered a large sheet cake with pink and purple balloons that read "Happy Birthday My Sweetest Gabriella" (I knew because I was the one who made it). I went into the refrigerator to get him the cake and it was missing. I was completely puzzled as to where it could be. I looked high and low and finally decided to call the manager to see if someone had already come to pick up the cake. He said someone had taken the cake already and me, believing the worst in people, believed that this gentleman was pulling some kind of a scam. He was screaming at the top of his lungs "How could you give away a cake for Fred Ulysse? I am Fred Ulysse. How could you give away a cake to someone that is not Fred Ulysse? I am Fred Ulysse. That cake is for my daughter! Someone else doesn't have my daughter. That is my daughter."
Finally the manager came down and we discovered what the problem had been. There had been two cakes for girls named Gabriella in the refrigerator and he had given the wrong one to the other gentleman. This creates a whole new set of problems: 1) This man does not have his cake and 2) the person who has the other cake is going to call up angrily about their order.
I had to resolve both issues.
First for Mr. Ulysse I redid his entire cake in approximately 7 minutes. He was very happy with how it was handled and actually ordered another cake for the next day. He was satisfied with the fix and apologized for being so upset over a cake.
After finishing up the cake I got the call I was expecting on the phone. "Let me speak to the idiot who took my cake order because he completely (expletive)ed up my order." "Miss I was the one who took the cake order and there was just a miscommunication over cakes. My manager handed the wrong cake to your husband, but we still have your cake. If you would like I would be happy to have it delivered to your house and you can keep that other cake in addition to it." "Oh, that would be lovely. My daughter was freaking out. She wanted her Hannah Montana cake." "I completely understand and I apologize for this incident, but I promise that you will have your cake."
Both problems solved. Am I good or am I good?
Until Next Time.
Stay Sweet,
Lil' Buddy
I have missed quite a bit of time writing to you all. There has been a lot that has happened so I figured I would share with you some of my most favorite stories from the past couple weeks.
November 7, 2010: Trouble
Sundays are always crazy in the bakery. There is a great lack of help in the morning time due to the fact that the workers are paid more for the day. Generally I work my entire Sunday shift by myself with no assistance which is a large task to take care of considering the weekend shopper load.
This Sunday seemed to be going too smoothly. I had made several dozen cookies, pies, and breads in a seemingly short span of time. I heard over the loudspeaker that our load of product had arrived so I went out back to retrieve it before it began to melt. I was gone for approximately two minutes to retrieve the pieces and when I came back I saw the evening manager walking away from the department.
Right as I was about to leave to get the second pallet a gentleman walks up to get his cake order. He had ordered a large sheet cake with pink and purple balloons that read "Happy Birthday My Sweetest Gabriella" (I knew because I was the one who made it). I went into the refrigerator to get him the cake and it was missing. I was completely puzzled as to where it could be. I looked high and low and finally decided to call the manager to see if someone had already come to pick up the cake. He said someone had taken the cake already and me, believing the worst in people, believed that this gentleman was pulling some kind of a scam. He was screaming at the top of his lungs "How could you give away a cake for Fred Ulysse? I am Fred Ulysse. How could you give away a cake to someone that is not Fred Ulysse? I am Fred Ulysse. That cake is for my daughter! Someone else doesn't have my daughter. That is my daughter."
Finally the manager came down and we discovered what the problem had been. There had been two cakes for girls named Gabriella in the refrigerator and he had given the wrong one to the other gentleman. This creates a whole new set of problems: 1) This man does not have his cake and 2) the person who has the other cake is going to call up angrily about their order.
I had to resolve both issues.
First for Mr. Ulysse I redid his entire cake in approximately 7 minutes. He was very happy with how it was handled and actually ordered another cake for the next day. He was satisfied with the fix and apologized for being so upset over a cake.
After finishing up the cake I got the call I was expecting on the phone. "Let me speak to the idiot who took my cake order because he completely (expletive)ed up my order." "Miss I was the one who took the cake order and there was just a miscommunication over cakes. My manager handed the wrong cake to your husband, but we still have your cake. If you would like I would be happy to have it delivered to your house and you can keep that other cake in addition to it." "Oh, that would be lovely. My daughter was freaking out. She wanted her Hannah Montana cake." "I completely understand and I apologize for this incident, but I promise that you will have your cake."
Both problems solved. Am I good or am I good?
Until Next Time.
Stay Sweet,
Lil' Buddy
Holiday Season
November 18, 2010: Holiday Season
Sorry for the delay in posts everyone. It has been extremely hectic working lately. So we are getting toward holiday season and it is time to start getting pies prepared for the Thanksgiving holiday on November 25th. Last years numbers had us at well over $40,000 just for the week of Thanksgiving and that number includes the fact that the store is closed Thanksgiving day.
We get a bit of help with our pies for the holidays. Several pallets of frozen Table Talk pies come in to us to put out for our product. We currently have approximately 4,000 pies in stock waiting to be placed out. Our pies range from 8" to 12" and they are all under $10 to purchase. Our pie selection includes:
8" Pumpkin Pie
8" Sweet Potato Pie
8" No Sugar Added Apple Pie
8" No Sugar Added Blueberry Pie
8" Mince Pie
8" Blueberry Pie
8" Apple Pie
8" Ricotta Pie
8" Custard Pie
8" Coconut Custard Pie
8" Strawberry Rhubarb Pie
8" Cherry Pie
8" Dutch Apple Pie
10" Blueberry Pie
10" Apple Pie
10" Custard Pie
10" Mince Pie
10" Pumpkin Pie
10" Sweet Potato Pie
12" Apple Lattice Pie
12" Blueberry Lattice Pie
In addition to pies the holiday is big on other sweet goods; especially cookies. We sell so many cookies over the Thanksgiving holiday; at least 8,000 containers. Needless to say it is a busy time in the bakery, but I will be sure to keep you up to date.
Until next time,
Stay Sweet,
Lil' Buddy
Sorry for the delay in posts everyone. It has been extremely hectic working lately. So we are getting toward holiday season and it is time to start getting pies prepared for the Thanksgiving holiday on November 25th. Last years numbers had us at well over $40,000 just for the week of Thanksgiving and that number includes the fact that the store is closed Thanksgiving day.
We get a bit of help with our pies for the holidays. Several pallets of frozen Table Talk pies come in to us to put out for our product. We currently have approximately 4,000 pies in stock waiting to be placed out. Our pies range from 8" to 12" and they are all under $10 to purchase. Our pie selection includes:
8" Pumpkin Pie
8" Sweet Potato Pie
8" No Sugar Added Apple Pie
8" No Sugar Added Blueberry Pie
8" Mince Pie
8" Blueberry Pie
8" Apple Pie
8" Ricotta Pie
8" Custard Pie
8" Coconut Custard Pie
8" Strawberry Rhubarb Pie
8" Cherry Pie
8" Dutch Apple Pie
10" Blueberry Pie
10" Apple Pie
10" Custard Pie
10" Mince Pie
10" Pumpkin Pie
10" Sweet Potato Pie
12" Apple Lattice Pie
12" Blueberry Lattice Pie
In addition to pies the holiday is big on other sweet goods; especially cookies. We sell so many cookies over the Thanksgiving holiday; at least 8,000 containers. Needless to say it is a busy time in the bakery, but I will be sure to keep you up to date.
Until next time,
Stay Sweet,
Lil' Buddy
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