I knew the griddle top was 24"x 16" & I wanted to sound confident. "I can do about 6 of them at a time."
"Great. There's gonna be 12 of us total. I'll pass around your menu & let you know which sandwiches people want," she said & studied the menu. "You guys ever julienne vegetables on your grilled cheese?"
A couple weeks later, I was able to take a Thursday off from the Best Western & had all of the ingredients ready to make their Cheezers. The plan was for me to set up our grill on the sidewalk outside of the OBMA's office on Bacon Street around noon, & make the 12 sandwiches on a list we compiled from an email they send us days before. But plans don't always go the way they are supposed to.
Kate had a high school friend coming into to town from Virginia that day & asked if I could pick her up from the airport that morning since I was off. I agreed. Lauren's flight was to land at 9:30 or so. Plenty of time before Mad Munch's first paid catering gig.
"Oh wait, there's no room in your truck for her & her luggage," Kate said. "Why don't we just switch cars that day. You can pick her up in the Escape, there's nothing in there."
"That works. I'll just pack the green cooler for the OBMA gig, the grill & the propane," I said. "Claudia said they already have plates & napkins."
"Perfect. Thanks for doing all of that. It's month end at work so I can't take off. You sure you don't need any help?"
"Oh no, it's only 12 sandwiches," I said. "I think I can handle it."
"I know you'll do great," Kate said. "Don't forget to bring some business cards."
On Thursday, I picked up Lauren at the airport on time & drove us back to our apartment. She hadn't been to San Diego in a long time & never to Ocean Beach. I helped unload her bags & recommended so local restaurants- just like my job at the hotel.
"It's so nice here. I'm gonna walk down to the beach & check out the neighborhood," she said.
I pulled up to the OBMA office about 15 minutes early to setup a TV tray & light the grill. That's when I realized the griddle top was in my truck. At Kate's work. In Miramar. About 20 minutes away.
"There he is," Claudia said. "The meetings about to start. Let me know if you need anything, babe."
"Sure, thanks. I just gotta run home & grab something real quick. I'll be back in 5 minutes." Luckily, we only lived about 5 blocks away. There I rummaged through the kitchen & grabbed a couple of frying pans, a cookie sheet & a flat griddle pan. I wouldn't be able to make 6 sandwiches at the same time but it would have to work.
I hurried back & started on the list. There were a few Tommy Applewoods, so I dedicated one frying pan to bacon & the other to heating up the turkey. The flat griddle pan was where I had to assemble the Cheezers one at a time & then let them melt on the cookie sheet.
It was tedious work before the wind began to kick up about halfway through. And, then a woman from the meeting (not included in the 12 head count) came out to place an order. "Do you guys have vegan cheese?" she asked.
"No," I tried not to snap back.
"Well, ok. Can I just do one with just vegetables, no cheese, then?" she asked.
"Sure!" I said still in a furious dash of flipping, stacking, & re-lighting the grill.
It took a lot longer than any of us expected to make lunch that afternoon, but I made it work & kept it as professional as I could. Nobody's Cheezer got burned & business cards were taken. It was a great exercise in being quick on your feet when timing is not on your side.
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