farewell storrs!

Well the last week has finally come and I can't believe it is here. I feel like the return home is going to be a long one and a smack in the face to start living in "the real world". I have learned and done so much this summer I don't even know where to begin.

working in the kitchen as chefs
barista's
baking
dishwashers
customer service
event planning
catering
tours- fox woods, Fresh Point, Omar
health inspectors
assistant managers
managers
bee charmers (this wed!)
visits to surrounding areas (Newport, Providence, Boston,Cape cod, New Haven, Hartford)
six flags
cookouts
Hikes and lakes

I feel like we took this internship to its very limits and did everything we could possible. What made it so great wasn't just what we did but the people involved in the program. The staff and the other two interns are what really made the summer. I am so glad we got to experience all that we did and meet all the wonderful people that made this summer so exciting. If you are interested in doing this internship please apply. Its been one of the coolest experiences of my life ;).


Meg

The Last Week

This week is going to be or last week at UCONN. It is going to be rather slow mainly consisting of finishing up projects and my last shift at south dinning hall. Although I have plenty of work to do on my projects we have finally made a date to work with the campus bees. It is going to be exciting to work with these incest. I have never had the chance to do something like that before and I am looking forward to it.

Derrick

Lasts

Exactly seven weeks ago, I wrote an entry entitled "Firsts." I had no idea what to expect from this internship, Connecticut, or my summer.

Exactly six weeks ago, I was in Northwest's kitchen. I wore a green chef coat and made french toast on the griddle, but had yet to recognize how much work chefs have to go through.

Exactly five weeks ago, I was planning and inputting a menu into FoodPro. It looked promising, but I had no idea our luncheon would turn out to be such a success.

Exactly four weeks ago, I was sitting in an office and had my first taste of management. I learned the importance of forecasting, discipline, and communicating with employees.

Exactly three weeks ago, I was clearing plates post-catering event. Though similar to jobs I have had before, I was still amazed at how creative their department gets to be.

Exactly two weeks ago, I was walking around South dining hall. There for a health inspection, I learned how critical temperatures, times, and sanitation are to a foodservice operation.

Exactly one week ago, I was observing kitchen assistant interviews. I realized just how critical a role HR plays in the grand scheme of things, and what to look for in an employee.

 

Today, I find myself looking back. The lessons learned, the relationships formed, and the memories made have all woven together to represent my time here - and the thought of leaving strikes an oh-so-bittersweet blow to my heart.

This summer has certainly been the most informative of my life. 

It may even, perhaps, be the best.

Either way, I'll never forget it.

summer's endin'

Well we are finally upon our last week working on campus (the last week we are working on projects and hopefully working with the bees!). This week we have been at Northwest dining hall working as managers. The manager we are working with does a great job training and spends a lot of time explaining things. I didn't realize all the duties dining services managers had to accomplish. There is a lot of ordering and recording that are very important to finishing the job. We have learned everything from forecasting, invoicing, inventory control, adding recipes, disciplinary actions, and payroll. I have seen the numbers that come through during summer and that's not even half the volume of people they get during the school year. I definitely give them credit for all they have to handle. Having a little management experience myself has taught me how to work hard and get the job done the right way. The managers that we have been able to work with have expressed hard work and dedication even more so then I have seen. I think I just enjoy listening to them and hearing about past experiences the most. It gives me another perspective to look at and compare what I would do in that situation. I am excited for the rest of the week and am going to try to take in as much as possible. I already can't believe all of the things I've seen and have turned into a possible situations I know I am going to deal with someday. 2 days :(

Meg

Week 7

This week I was given the chance to work as the PM assistant manager at south dining hall. Although the counts where very low this week it gave me a chance to practice my employee management skills. It is often harder to manage down time then the busy times of the day. During the course of the week we worked on straitening up and cleaning the dining hall this included the all the serving areas and seating areas as well as the kitchen. On a lighter note it is crazy to think that we are almost done, it is amazing how time can fly when you are busy and having fun.

Derrick

When I Grow Up...

...I want to have a house in Cape Cod. 

Thank you to everyone who encouraged us to visit the Cape, because it was the definition of quaint! It might be strange coming from the girl from Hawaii, but it's the classic, Victorian-style "snow globe" homes that I adore. Perhaps it's because we just don't have them at home, or because I associate them with summer getaways, comfortable lifestyles, and tradition. Either way, all I can say is that it's no wonder why the Cape is such a high-demand vacation locale.

...or I could just open a bakery there?

We went to an adorable cupcake shop in Falmouth, and they seem to be doing quite well...so maybe there's hope? You know, just a little place with bread, cakes, coffee. We'll see. 

'Til then, I'll just focus on the university foodservice. But a girl can dream, right?

-Casey

Boston

Well the rest of the week was fantastic once again. Casey and I are still learning manager duties and rules. This weekend was my favorite weekend yet because Casey and I got to go to Boston/Cape Cod. I have been to Boston once before but Casey goes to school there so it was like having my own tour guide! :) We went all around campus and did some shopping of coarse! I got some great things.

When you go to a city you HAVE to try the food there and that's what we did. A delicious list of blueberry pancakes, bacon, coffee, chicken quesadilla with red pepper aioli, and blackberry yogurt! We spent the night in Boston and the next day we headed to Cape Cod. It was a very cute town and we got to try some great fried clams! It's going to be so weird when next week hits and I don't see Casey and Derrick anymore. We have gotten quite close in the past two months. I think we all will stay in touch( we better! :).


Meg