| Start | October 6, 1997 |
| End | April 1998 |
| Address | Ruby Tuesday 5801 Duke Street Suite E-100 (Landmark Mall) Alexandra, VA 22304 United States of America |
| Position | Cook / Prep-cook |
| Hours/week | Part-time, ~25 |
| Pay | $6.50 per hour |
| Supervisor | Glen Berry |
| Phone | 1-(703)-354-5983 |
As a Prep Cook at Ruby Tuesday, I played a vital role in food preparation and kitchen operations. My responsibilities included ensuring the timely and accurate preparation of ingredients, adhering to recipes, and portion sizes. I maintained cleanliness and organization in the kitchen, contributing to a safe, efficient work environment. Additionally, I collaborated closely with the culinary team to uphold quality standards and customer satisfaction.
The Lead
I was working alongside my brother’s wife at the time as a Burger King cashier. She later went over to the opposite end of the mall to work as a Waitress at Ruby Tuesday’s. I was getting tired of Burger King as well, and Ruby Tuesday’s seemed like a step up. I got a job as a prep cook. I rarely saw my sister-in-law, as she worked the front desk during the day.
The Work
It involved lots of work, baking potatoes, taking the prior day’s baked potatoes and preparing them as potato skins, making onion rings, taco salad shells, tortilla chips, fries, mozzarella sticks, salads, ice cream deserts, French onion soup, and more. My focus was to prepare all the sides for a dish. I would also have to prepare ingredients, such as chopping chives, for the loaded baked potatoes.
I closed each night, which meant I had to drain the oil from the fryers and do a lot of equipment cleaning. I also had to mop floors, take out the trash, and put away the food. Some parts of the bicycle path were lit up, while others were not. However, I seemed to make it home just fine every night.
Commute
I would ride my bicycle on a bike trail near my brother’s apartment over to the Landmark Mall. There was one part where the water rose close to the path that crossed a river and overflowed when the water was high after a rain. After that, I would go up a hill through a large storm drain to reach the mall. There was a large hallway behind the restaurant, and I would park my bicycle along the wall to keep it safe. Eventually, I was asked to have it outside at a bike rack instead.
