#culinary sanitizer

[iguesswhatimtryingtosayis]

Screaming, crying, throwing up

(the person washing dishes in culinary today didn't rinse the soap off before putting them in the sanitizer)

[lifewouldbebetteronmars]

I’m sensing some judgement….

My OCD, emetophobic, salmonella fearing ass cannot handle people cracking eggs on counters and sinks-

It’s literally so unsanitary in my mind, like I’ve done it, but it drives me crazy because you don’t know what was on the counter last, or the sink’s edge

Or the last time any of that was cleaned, even if it’s in your own house

And not everyone cleans up the bits of egg on the counter and sink

So while I’m not judging as normal, regular Riley, I am judging as completely insane about kitchen etiquette and general cleanliness Riley

[joongtreasure]

Cupcakes and Kisses

Mingi x Fem Reader (ft. ATEEZ members) Word count: 6.6k Genre: high school au, jock Mingi, kissing booth au Note/s: Based on the film Kissing Booth (2018). This was in my drafts since 2021? + Mention of Changbin of Stray Kids <3 hehe Photo credits: 1, 2, 3

High school—it's the period for the most embarrassing moments of your life. Not only was it the time for raging hormones and puberty, but also a time for wrong decisions.

And today was no exception.

Today was the last day of the pitch for the spring carnival at KQ Prep. The student council required every club in the school to set up a booth for the event. Or else, no extra funding for club activities.

You were the vice president of the culinary and baking club, or as others would like to call it, the foodies. It's not that bad or insulting, to be honest (depending on you if you take it to heart). It is certainly not for your best friend, Jung Wooyoung, who was also the president of the club.

You and Wooyoung were like a tandem, a buy-one-get-one-free deal. In many ways, you and Wooyoung fill each other up: you were the shy and patient one, while Wooyoung was the confident and loud one. There was never a boring moment with him, but that doesn't mean all moments with him were good. Like right now...

Wooyoung, with a firm grip on your school blazer sleeve, dragged you across the hallway, whining, "It's a good idea!"

You, on the other hand, tried to pull away, saying, "No, it's not!"

Wooyoung grumbled. "The water sports are doing a toss and dunk booth! We have to beat their sorry asses!"

"You just want to beat Changbin!" You tried to pull away again but Wooyoung's grip was so firm that your school shoes were starting to skid against the school floor. "How is a kissing booth by us any better?!"

"It will be a hit!"

"It spreads germs!"

"We'll provide sanitation and mints!"

"We could be sued for public indecency!"

Wooyoung sighed and let go of your hand. "Oh, come on, live a little, Y/N."

You shrugged. "Can't we just make a bunch of food for the carnival? I know everyone will be hungry."

Wooyoung gave you a pointed look. "Everyone is going to sell food and trinkets at the carnival."

"Well," you jutted your chin out in confidence, "we could do, uh, well, an apple bobbing competition?"

Wooyoung scowled at you. "That's boring." He sighed. "Look, the majority of the officers already agreed to the kissing booth, Y/N. Except you."

"That's because you implied that San will be in the lineup of kissers," you stated. "Even though you haven't even asked him yet."

"That's because he and I think alike. Trust me, he would agree."

You pouted. "And trust me, the food will sell."

Wooyoung smiled and patted your head. "Oh, sure, you do that," he said before turning around and scurrying towards the student council's office.

You sighed.

-----

You slumped on the empty front steps of the school, sporting a frown on your face. Wooyoung was taking so long in the meeting. You hoped the kissing booth was rejected by the student council.

The doors of the school opened, the sound of the creaking metal startling you out of your thoughts. You looked back to see Song Mingi, the star of KQ Prep's basketball team, exiting the building and looking fresh out of a shower. He probably just finished practice.

You looked away before he could catch you staring. Mingi was one of those guys who looked straight out of a movie—tall, handsome, athletic, always wears a varsity jacket, drives a Jeep, and center of the school's attention. But it would be foolish to think that he's arrogant and proud like the trope. He's one of the sweetest and nicest people you ever met. 

You had a few classes with him. You could say that the interaction between the two of you is funny. He could be playful yet gentle and respectful at the same time. And in time, you also found yourself liking him like the entire student body.

Unbeknownst to you, as soon as Mingi saw you alone on the steps, he smiled and slightly hurried down. "Hey, Y/N," Mingi greeted, plopping beside you on the warm pavement.

You internally freaked when you saw Mingi next to you. The loose shirt, the sweet scent of his shampoo, and the dopey grin were too much for your poor heart. 

"You had a club meeting today?" Mingi asked.

"Not really," you responded. "I'm waiting for Wooyoung to finish his pitch for the spring carnival."

Mingi nodded. "And what will your club be doing?"

You groaned. "Don't remind me. It's embarrassing."

Mingi chuckled. "Why? It can't be that bad."

You sighed before muttering, "it's a kissing booth."

Mingi's eyes widened in surprise. "That's... interesting."

"It's all Wooyoung's idea," you shrugged. "Nothing better than to capitalize on teen hormones, right?"

"Right," Mingi said monotonously.

Seeing his somewhat dry response, you slumped. "I told you it was an embarrassing idea."

"No, I mean, yes—I mean," Mingi stuttered a response. "It was just unexpected, that's all." Mingi somewhat looked conflicted, but he still smiled softly at you. "Is it alright for me to ask if," he paused.

"If what?"

"If you—I mean, would you be joining?" Mingi asked.

You blinked in thought. "What do you mean?"

Mingi studied your confused expression before shaking his head. "Nevermind," he said, standing up.

You groaned. "Great, now you got me curious."

"It's nothing." Mingi laughed. "But, hey, if teen hormones bring you the money, then, why not?" He said, making you laugh as well. "Got a ride home?"

"Yeah," you smiled, "I'm riding with Wooyoung."

Mingi nodded. "Alright, I'll see you around then, Y/N."

You blushed. "Yeah, see you," you said as Mingi continued his way down the steps.

"Hey," he turned to you one last time, flashing you his oh-so-perfect smile. "You look cute as always, Y/N," he said before heading towards the parking lot. You swore you could've melted right on the front steps that day.

-----

It was no surprise the council approved the kissing booth idea. You totally blame Wooyoung. The boy could probably smooth talk himself out of jail if the situation calls for it.

Your club already started building the podium and mini stage for the booth in the school courtyard because there wasn't room in the Home Economics classroom. The weather was too perfect to ignore by anyone who had free period at the time.

"I'm going to get more paint," Wooyoung said to you before jogging towards the doors and into the building.

You were left alone with a few of your members, who were engaged in a hushed conversation while you minded your own business. 

You took a peak at the guys playing at the basketball court. It's no surprise that Mingi and his friends were playing. They always do during free period. They must really love the sport. 

It is also no surprise that they have a few spectators as well. It's the only time you would ever find Mingi and his friends setting their blazers aside, donning only their school shirts that accentuated their build so heavenly. Not that you were staring…

Speaking of, Yunho and Mingi laughed among themselves as Yunho tried to shoot the ball. Mingi effectively blocked him with his hand, however the ball bounced out of the court. It bounced until it was rolling over the pavement and stopped right where you were painting. You were able to grab the ball before it could barrel into the newly painted podium.

Seeing where the ball ended, Mingi ran towards you. "Hey," he greeted as he picked up the ball and crouched down next to you, "it's looking great. What's it for?" He asked, referring to the podium.

"It's for this week's carnival," you answered with a sigh.

"Right," Mingi chuckled awkwardly. "Umm," he paused, "so what will you be doing while," he drifted off, evidently conflicted as he pondered over his words carefully.

You looked at him funny. "While...?"

"While, you know," Mingi shrugged, "while people are kissing."

"I'll just man the booth," you said nonchalantly. "I'll leave it to Wooyoung and the others to facilitate the germ spreading."

Mingi laughed, looking somewhat happy and relieved at the same time. "Still haven't warmed up to the idea, I see."

"Never."

Mingi grinned. His face morphed into embarrassment as Yunho called for him from a few meters away. "Are we going to play, or are you too busy mingling, Mingi?"

Mingi rolled his eyes before smiling at you. "I gotta go. I'll see you around, Y/N."

You waved at him as he stood up and went back to his friends. You chuckled at the sight of Yunho giving Mingi a headlock and basically hauling him back to court. The boys laughed between themselves before returning to their game with their other friends.

You were feeling blissful, like how you always felt whenever you and Mingi talked to each other. You truly liked the guy. However, the blissful feeling was short-lived as a wild Wooyoung plopped down next to you. "What was that?!" He asked.

You blinked curiously at him. "What was what?" You looked at the spot you were previously painting. "I'm almost done. I didn't miss a spot as far as I could tell."

Wooyoung rolled his eyes. "I wasn't referring to the podium. I was referring to you and Mingi!" He exclaimed.

You looked at him funny. "It was just a friendly conversation."

"Friendly?" Wooyoung sighed exasperatedly. "Oh no no no, honey, you didn't see what I see. The guy is into you!"

"Don't be ridiculous, Wooyoung," you shook your head. "We have always talked like that. He's just super nice—"

"Na-ah! Again, you didn't see what I see," Wooyoung replied. All of a sudden, Wooyoung's face broke into excitement. He started slapping your arm, making you groan not in pain but in annoyance. "I just thought of the most brilliant idea EVER."

You frowned, not liking where this was going. "What?"

-----

"This is worse than you pitching the kissing booth idea to the council."

"Oh, come on," Wooyoung said as he kept pushing you towards the gym where the basketball team was training. "I will be of service to you forever if you manage to get him."

It was already past class hours when Wooyoung dragged you into putting his idea into action. He said you guys should have a meeting about the spring carnival after class. But alas, he deceived you again. That sly fox, you thought.

Wooyoung faced you towards him. "Alright, your uniform is clean, no evidence of your lunch anywhere," you rolled your eyes as Wooyoung checked you up and down. Wooyoung scrutinized your face before smiling triumphantly. "No booger or drool in sight too," he said.

"You—!" You exclaimed, but Wooyoung turned you around again and shoved you closer toward the gym doors. Sighing, you walked toward it, and right when you were directly in front of the entrance, you looked back at him. "How is this the most brilliant idea you ever had, again?"

Wooyoung shrugged. "The plan here is simple: talk to Mingi and his friends into joining our lineup of kissers so we can get more people to come to our booth."

"I don't want to use him, Woo."

"The man's too soft for you," Wooyoung smiled. "He will do whatever you want, I guarantee."

You gave him the most innocent look you could ever muster in an attempt to change his mind. But Wooyoung just shooed you with his hand and raised his eyebrows pointedly. With a defeated sigh, you opened the doors and entered.

The basketball team was in the midst of a practice game. You immediately spotted Mingi, running while dribbling the ball across the court. When he managed to outrun his opponent, he immediately made his shot, the ball flying through the air and into the hoop. You stared at him, awed as he was in his element. 

A bunch of squeals echoed in the gym. There was an audience watching with excited grins and squeals near the team's benches. It was an open practice after all. Sighing, you sat awkwardly at the side.

The coach blew his whistle, signaling that training was over. The players rejoiced and immediately jogged to their bags scattered on the benches. There were a few girls who called for Mingi, but he only smiled sheepishly and went to his gym bag. 

"Hey, Mingi," Yeosang, his friend and teammate, spoke between his breaths. "Isn't that your friend?" 

Mingi looked at wherever Yeosang was pointing. And true enough, you were there at the edge of the bleachers, awkwardly twiddling with your fingers.

"Yeah," Mingi said, dumbfounded at the thought of you watching their training.

"I think she's looking for you," Yunho, Mingi's best friend, said. He shook his head in amusement, eyeing Yeosang knowingly as Mingi started wiping his sweat and combing his hair deliberately to the back. Mingi hastily gathered his things before approaching you.

"Hey," he greeted with a smile.

You stood up awkwardly. There was something about a wet-haired Mingi in a basketball jersey that had you tongue-tied for a moment. "Uhh, hi, umm, Mingi."

"Were you waiting for me?"

"Umm, yeah, can I talk to you about something?"

"Sure, have a seat," Mingi said as he sat a bleacher apart from you, not wanting you to smell his sweaty state. "What's up?"

"Well, our club is hosting a kissing booth for the spring carnival," you slightly frowned at your awkward self. "Umm, but I think you already knew that."

Mingi chuckled and nodded amusingly. "Yeah, you might have mentioned it once or twice," he joked.

You let out a small laugh. "Yeah, I did, didn't I? But, well, you see, Wooyoung asked me to ask you about something."

Mingi nodded again, urging you to go on.

You sighed nervously. "Can you," you cleared your throat, "can you be—wait, I must emphasize that it was Wooyoung's idea."

"It was Wooyoung's idea," Mingi repeated. "Got it. Crystal clear. Now, what's up with Wooyoung's idea?"

You sighed defeatedly. Well, here goes nothing, you thought. "Can you be one of the kissers for our kissing booth?"

Mingi's eyes turned wide. "What?"

Your lips formed a thin line. "Umm, can you be one of the kissers for our kissing booth?" You repeated, less confident this time.

Mingi blinked unbelievably. "Why me?"

You sighed. "Well, Wooyoung was hoping your friends too. He said that having the players of the basketball team would bring revenue to the booth."

"Oh."

You frowned. "I'm sorry, I told Wooyoung you might be uncomfortable with it, but he insisted that I should still ask you."

"Why would I be uncomfortable with it?"

"I don't know," you shrugged. You were busy playing with the ends of your school blazer as the conversation pursued. "I guess, I didn't pin you to be the type to openly kiss strangers, or show public displays of affection."

"Maybe," Mingi side-smiled, "maybe not. Or, maybe it depends on the person."

"Oh," you muttered, "sorry. I didn't know."

Mingi then leaned on his knees, getting a better view of your slightly flustered face. "Do you want me to be a kisser?"

"What?" You stared at him blankly.  "Well, Wooyoung said—"

"I mean, do YOU want me to be a kisser?" Mingi emphasized, "You as in Y/N L/N, and not Jung Wooyoung?"

You didn't reply immediately, pondering over what his question meant. "Why are you asking me?"

"I don't know," Mingi said. "I feel like I should listen to you."

Why, though? This conversation was going nowhere and it was making you more nervous than before. Not to mention Mingi's inquisitive gaze that had you looking anywhere but him. 

Do you actually want him to, though? I mean, the kissing booth opens so many opportunities, but you were uncomfortable with the thought of him... the thought of him kissing...

"No," you said.

Mingi smiled, nodding at your answer, which confused you. "Then I won't," he sat properly again against the bleacher, letting his intense gaze turn into a soft one. "I won't join then."

"What? Why?" You were dumbfounded. 

"Just tell Wooyoung I'm busy or something," he said. "But I will try to talk to my friends, though. Emphasis on the word 'try.'"

"W-Would you have joined if I said yes?" You probed, but Mingi already stood up as if the conversation was already over, smirking at your confused look.

"Do you have a ride home?" He asked.

"Umm, yeah, Wooyoung's right outside," you answered.

"Well, then, I'll see you around." Mingi smiled at you for the last time before exiting the gym.

You sat back on the bleachers. Though your stance was already relaxed due to the conversation being over, your mind still couldn't wrap around what just happened in the conversation. Would he have agreed if I said yes?

The doors of the gym creaked as someone entered. It was Mingi again. He approached you with a different glint in his eye this time. What now?

"Hey," Mingi greeted. "Could you hold this for a moment?" Before you could ask, he put the object he was referring to in your hand. It was a set of keys—car keys, in particular. "Don't lose it, okay? I'll be quick, I swear." And just like that, he left again.

You stared at the keys in your palm. You really like Mingi, but he was seriously giving you a whiplash at the moment.

Your phone buzzed in your blazer pocket, indicating that you received a text message. You pulled it out to see a text from Wooyoung.

There's an emergency at home. Had to pick up Kyungmin from our grandma's house. Go get your man!

-----

You walked back and forth in the hallway, in front of the boy's locker room. You didn't know why Mingi left these keys with you, but you figured you had to return them to him before you leave for the bus stop. You couldn't just leave it somewhere and message him about it. Someone could steal it. Or worse, someone could steal his car.

Just in time, Mingi exited the locker room, fresh out of the shower and now sporting a big hoodie and sweats. "Hey," Mingi smiled.

"Hey, you gave these to me for some reason," you jiggled the car keys before placing them on his palm.

"Right," Mingi chuckled. "Shall we?"

You stared at him. "Shall we what?"

"Wooyoung already left, didn't he?"

"How did you know?"

Mingi chuckled. "The hallway was empty when I left," he shrugged, putting his hands in the pockets of his hoodie, "I figured he went somewhere."

"Ah, yeah, he said he had an emergency at home," you responded, following Mingi outside the school. 

Truth be told, Mingi met Wooyoung in the hallway.

---

Mingi smiled as he saw Wooyoung in the hallway. "Hey," he greeted. "Sorry, I don't think I can join. I think I have to visit my grandma that day."

Wooyoung slumped. "Oh, okay. Where's Y/N?"

"She'll be right out, I guess," Mingi replied. "See ya—"

"You like her, don't you?" Wooyoung asked.

"Uhh," Mingi blushed. "I-well, I, umm—"

"Yup, you like her," Wooyoung smirked. "Why won't you ask her out then?"

Mingi sighed. "I don't think she's interested in me in that way."

Wooyoung scoffed. "Believe me, she does." He started walking away. "I'll be taking my leave. Hope you get the guts to ask her out."

Mingi sighed again when suddenly he remembered, "Hey, aren't you her ride home?"

Wooyoung turned around and started walking backward with a smirk. "Am I?" He waggled his eyebrows before disappearing in the hallway.

Mingi grinned and shook his head in amusement before rushing back inside the gym to leave you his car keys.

-----

Mingi glanced momentarily at you with a smile. He would have to apologize in the future for using your kindness like that. But he hoped that doing this would drive him to ask you confidently out on a date.

Mingi opened the school doors wide enough for the both of you and waited until you were completely outside before closing it. 

"Come on, I'll give you a ride," Mingi offered.

"Oh, no thank you," you hastily refused, "I'll take the bus."

Mingi shook his head. "I'm not taking no for an answer. We live a few blocks away, anyway, so it's really convenient."

"But I don't want to impose," you sighed.

"You're not, Y/N," Mingi said. "And you won't. Like ever."

You sighed again. "But—"

Mingi shook his head then snatched your school bag. "If you ever want to see this bag again, you're going to have to catch me," and with that, Mingi ran towards the parking lot.

"Hey, no fair!" You followed him, pouting as the distance between the two of you widened. Damn his athletic build.

You chased after him, groaning in annoyance when Mingi reached his car and wiggled your bag as if to spite you. But you both found yourselves laughing as soon as you almost barreled into him and he caught you before you both could barrel into his jeep.

"Come on, Y/N, it's really not a bother," Mingi said, opening the passenger door.

You sighed. "Fine," you huffed as you grabbed your bag and settled in his passenger seat. "Just this once," you told him.

"Oh, don't count on it," Mingi said, winking at you before closing your door. You swore he would be the death of you.

As Mingi drove his jeep out of the school lot, you both fell into a casual conversation. "So why don't you want me to be a kisser?" Mingu asked.

You narrowed your eyes at his teasing expression. "Oh, stop smiling. I don't want anyone to be part of that"

"I guess, you didn't have much say on the idea?"

You slumped against the car seat with a soft 'yeah.'

Mingi looked at you momentarily before focusing on the road. "What was your idea?"

"Nothing special." You smiled. "I was thinking of just baking cupcakes or pastries."

"I think that's a great idea."

"Yeah, right," you muttered sarcastically.

"No, I swear. I think your baking's great," Mingi stressed.

"How would you know?"

"Because I bought and ate a lot from last year's fundraiser." Mingi smiled and chuckled, almost as if he could smell and taste your fresh batch just by thinking about it. "Especially those cupcakes. I swear, they're good."

"Huh, no wonder the cupcakes sold out easily," you chuckled. "We had an influencer."

"Or," Mingi drawled, "your baking is just that good." He smiled, switching his gaze back and forth between the road and you.

"Said no one ever," you shot back teasingly.

"I just said like seconds ago that they're good." Mingi shook his head in disbelief. "You don't take compliments very well."

"Maybe because I don't usually get them," you retorted.

"Ahh, all the reason for me to compliment you more then."

You looked at him before turning away upon seeing his smirk. "Oh, stop it," you said jokingly, but your heart felt like it was ramming against the seatbelt of his car.

The car slowed down to a stop just right in front of your house. You were about to thank him when Mingi suddenly exited the car. He rushed to your side before opening the car door.

"Thanks for the ride," you said. "You didn't have to do that." 

"I don't mind," he replied, following you to the front door.

"And you didn't have to walk me to the door." You chuckled. "It's literally like a few steps away from the fence."

"But I want to, though." Mingi shrugged and put his hands inside the pockets of his hoodie.

You both arrived at the front door. You were too busy finding your keys to notice that he was lingering to stay with you longer. As you opened your front door, you finally noticed his awkward stature. "D-Do you want to have dinner with us?"

"Oh," Mingi snapped out of it. "Uhh, maybe next time. My mom's waiting for me at home."

You nodded in understanding. 

"Y/N," Mingi sighed. "Do you want to...?"

"What?"

"I mean, umm," Mingi scratched his head awkwardly. "Do you—do you have any of those cupcakes lying around?"

"Oh, could you wait here for a minute?" You smiled before disappearing into your home.

Mingi palmed his face in frustration, muttering 'stupid' and 'dumbass' to himself. He pulled himself together when he heard your footsteps nearing.

You came out again with a small box in hand. "I baked them last night but they're still good," you said, handing out the box of cupcakes to Mingi.

"Thanks," Mingi grinned sheepishly nonetheless. "I'll give some to my mom."

"You better," you smiled.

"Thanks again, Y/N. I'll see you at school," Mingi started walking backward with a soft smile.

"See you," you waved at him. "Thanks for the ride."

Mingi winked at you before hopping into his jeep. As soon as Mingi's jeep disappeared into the night, you slumped against your front door and tried to calm your blushing self.

-----

It was the day of the dreaded carnival. The field where your school held the said carnival was almost in full swing, the lights and excitement gradually increasing as time passed by.

Your club has been there since early morning to finalize everything for the booth. Despite your judgment against the club's concept, you still had to do it for the sake of the team. 

Although, you had convinced Wooyoung to sell baked goods nonetheless. Your point was to remind the audience that you were still the culinary and baking club of the school. Thankfully, he agreed.

So, here you were, setting up a separate table for different baked goods beside the registration.

Wooyoung surprised you with an arm around your shoulder and a big grin. "I can already feel wads of money in our laps." He dramatically inhaled for effect. "I mean, look at our lineup so far."

You begrudgingly looked at the people readying themselves on the mini-stage. 

Leave it to Wooyoung to invite people from the top of the high school food chain. Everybody likes Wooyoung anyway. At least there were a few friendly faces—school mascot San, street dancer Seonghwa, up-and-coming celebrity Jongho, and... student council president Hongjoong?

"How did you get him?" You almost giggled at Hongjoong's icy demeanor just standing in the middle of the lineup.

"Oh, he owes me," Wooyoung said nonchalantly. When you gave him a look, he just replied, "Don't ask."

You shook your head as if to shake the idea of Hongjoong in Wooyoung's debt. It's an amusing sight, though.

"So where's your pretty boy's friends?"

You shrugged. "I don't know. I haven't seen them ever since."

You knew it was too good to be true. Your moment with Mingi lasted only a day as you haven't seen him for the rest of the week. Not even on free period. And when you had a class together, he looked like he was about to doze off and fall from his desk. You didn't want to be a bother.

"Oh, wait, nevermind. Here they come."

You immediately glanced up to see Mingi, Yunho, and Yeosang walking toward your booth. You could feel the crowd starting to buzz upon seeing the star players approach the kissing booth. Your gaze landed on Mingi who sported a plain oversized shirt and ripped jeans. So simple yet so handsome.

"Hey," Mingi greeted with a smile, never looking away from your gaze.

"H-Hey, how have you been?" You tried to keep your blush at bay.

"Well—"

"We're so glad to be here, Y/N. Mingi really convinced us to be here," Yeosang smiled in a—teasing?—manner, which you responded to with an awkward chuckle. 

"Yeah," Yunho chimed in. "Mingi really, really wanted us to join your kissing booth." Yunho smiled widely at Mingi, who only rolled his eyes.

"That's great, great news!" Wooyoung rejoiced. He quickly winked at you before ushering Mingi's friends to the lineup.

When you and Mingi were the only ones left, you smiled sheepishly. "I hope it wasn't much of a trouble convincing your friends."

"Don't worry, Y/N, it wasn't." Lie(-ish). Yunho and Yeosang complained a lot and made Mingi do whatever they liked for the past few days. From doing their homework to washing their cars, they were relentless. He hadn't gotten any proper sleep because of it. But, it wasn't really much of a trouble since he was doing it for you. Well, your club. But mostly for you.

Mingi stared at the table of baked goods in front of you. "I see you convinced Wooyoung to continue with your idea." He smiled.

"He still listens anyway." You chuckled. "Do you want one?"

"Definitely. I'll take a—" 

Before Mingi could finish, Wooyoung appeared and dragged you away from Mingi. "Sorry, Mingi! We're about to start now!" He yelled, but not before freezing on the spot as an idea popped into his head.

Wooyoung went back to Mingi with you in tow. "Actually, can you do us a favor and man the table? I need Y/N for the register."

You clicked your tongue and were about to protest when Mingi immediately said, "Sure."

You looked at him curiously. "Really?"

"I don't see why not," Mingi smiled.

Deep inside, Wooyoung was popping confetti. Wooyoung thanked Mingi before going to the center of the mini-stage. You placed yourself at the registration table as Wooyoung shouted, "And the kissing booth is officially open!"

----

You thought you could handle the smooch-fest behind you. But... you thought wrong. The amount of kissing and hooting was too much for your poor heart. Thank the heavens the registration continued to pile up and you had to put your sole focus there. Well, not entirely.

You would sometimes peek at Mingi who had his own long line to attend to. Mingi manning the food table seemed to generate a longer line than the kissing booth, which made you chuckle softly before turning your attention back to the registration.

It wasn't long before Mingi managed to sell everything on the table and he approached you with the funds he generated. You dumbfoundedly accepted and stared at the small lunchbox where he put the money. 

"I hope I did well, Ms. Y/N." Mingi smiled.

"You did, Mingi," you replied. "Thank you so much for helping us."

Mingi shrugged. "It was no problem." He looked at his watch. "Well, I have to do something for the time being. Will you still be here later?"

You nodded. "I'm here 'til it closes."

"I'll see you then." Mingi winked before disappearing into the carnival crowd.

-----

If you were being honest, the rest of the afternoon felt slow despite the buzz around your booth. With Mingi gone, it suddenly felt boring. You didn't show it though. You still wanted to be presentable to the carnival-goers. 

As night rolled in, the excitement started to die down. The crowd dissipated until only a few people were passing by the booths. The kissing booth was more successful than you thought, thanks to Wooyoung and his lineup of volunteers. 

As Wooyoung set aside the podiums, you counted all the money you had raised from the kissing booth and food table. You were halfway done when Wooyoung finished packing up and stood beside you. "So, how much did we earn?" He asked.

"I'm not done counting," you said. "But, we already have enough to win the student council's favor and have some extra funds for our own," you happily gleamed.

"Yes! Let's get drunk and party!" Wooyoung cheered.

You glared at him. "You're joking, right?"

Wooyoung forced a smile and patted your head. "Of course, I'm joking," he said, though his tone didn't sound as sincere as you had hoped.

You tutted before turning back to the money in your hands. For a moment, Wooyoung was quietly watching you count the bills. Then, all of a sudden, he spoke, "Oh, would you look at the time, it's getting late. Gottagohomenowbye," before scurrying away.

You looked up confused, your eyes following his seemingly excited figure before landing on a tall one that was walking towards the booth. You tried to hide your fluster as Song Mingi stopped in front of the registration counter with a smile. "Hey," he said.

"Hey," you smiled sheepishly. You can't help but notice the oversized windbreaker that he is now sporting. "Umm, we've closed already."

"I know," Mingi said, "I just came here again to talk to you."

"Oh, what about?"

Mingi scratched the side of his head. "Uhh," he mustered, "nothing in particular. What are you doing?"

"I'm just counting all our earnings," you referred to the bills in your hand. "Thanks again to you and your friends. I think you were the ones who attracted the crowd, Yunho and Yeosang especially."

Mingi scoffed. "If the crowd knew how weird they are, they wouldn't be lining up at all."

"And you're not?" You teased.

Mingi raised an eyebrow. "Who wanted me to join your lineup again?"

You rolled your eyes. "That was Wooyoung, not me."

"Sure, okay," Mingi shrugged with a smirk. 

You shook your head, wanting to wipe that smirk off his pretty face. You turned back to your money and jotted down the numbers under the last person to register. "Weren't you interested in our lineup of kissers? I can't thank you enough for helping us and being here and all."

Mingi leaned over the counter and crossed his arms. "No, not at all," he answered as he watched you work.

You looked at him and chuckled. "So you just came to watch your friends make out with a bunch of people, then?" 

"Well, I did to maybe get some material for blackmail," Mingi chuckled then cleared his throat, "but I was also waiting for someone."

"Oh," you said. You sounded so dry that you wanted to beat yourself up for seeming affected. "Who?"

"For you, actually," Mingi answered without a hitch, making you blush madly. "I—uh—also got you something." He placed a small chick plushie on the counter. 

You smiled uncontrollably as you grabbed and squeezed its fluffy material. "Where did you get this?" You happily asked.

"The claw machines rented by the robotics club," Mingi sighed. "My talent is limited to basketball I guess, since I only got one."

"It's cute," you chuckled. "What is this for anyway?"

"I figured a gift is better than $5 for a..." Mingi trailed off, unsure of how you would react.

Your face morphed from happy to surprise upon realizing what he meant. You looked him in the eyes to see whether he was joking or not, but eventually, you avoided his intense gaze. And you suddenly realized how close he was as he continued to lean over the counter, waiting for your response. "Stop that," you mumbled, "please."

"Stop what?"

"That," you said, not looking at him as you pushed him gently away from the counter. "Stop messing with me." 

Mingi sighed as he stood properly, shoving his hands in his jeans pockets. "I'm not messing with you, Y/N. I," he paused, plucking up the courage, "I want to kiss you—no, I want to ask you out first because I like you a lot."

You bit your lip anxiously. He wouldn't mess with you, right? You continued to stare at your feet. You can't bear to see if he was joking or not.

Mingi leaned over the counter again in an attempt to see your face. "I can see that you're holding yourself back. What's stopping you?"

You sighed, meeting his eyes for a moment before looking back down. "You're Song Mingi—"

"Nope, don't start. I don't wanna hear that bullshit. Give me a logical one like, I don't know, you don't like me back?" Mingi said sternly. His deep voice made the hairs on your nape stand. "I can date whomever I want. And that's you, Y/N. I like you for who you are. You're sweet and kind to everyone. You're one of the smartest people I know. You even stand up to your best friend for what you think is right."

You bit your lip again in a fluster, still too shy to make your move.

Mingi sighed. "If you don't like me back, it's alright, Y/N. I'm not going to be mad." He smiled softly. "I'm sorry for bombarding you with these things. You don't have to answer when you're uncomfortable." He moved to walk away, but you instantly grabbed the lining of his jacket to stop him.

"No, I—" you gripped the material nervously. "I like you too, Mingi. I—" You paused again, not knowing how to say your problem.

Mingi's eyes widened in surprise but waited for you to finish.

"I like you, Mingi. I—" you gulped. "And I also want to kiss you."

"But?" Mingi asked. "I feel like there's going to be a 'but' there."

You looked down at the counter. "But, I don't know how."

"I'm sorry." He smiled apologetically. "We don't have to kiss right now. We can just have dinner for now—"

"But I want to," you blurted out, which you immediately apologized for nonstop.

For a moment, you thought Mingi was going to laugh at you. You guessed that most of the people your age had already gotten their first kiss. Heck, your club's booth was a testament to that. So you were utterly embarrassed by your confession. 

However, Mingi did no such thing. "Move over," he said. You didn't know what he meant until he climbed over the counter. You almost tripped backward when he jumped down right in front of you. He caught you just when you were about to stumble.

"What are you doing?" You mused.

"Can't you tell?" Mingi teased as he held your face tenderly. "I'm trying to kiss you properly."

You shook your head in disbelief and amusement. This guy is really sleek. 

"C-Can I kiss you, Y/N?" Mingi asked. He rubbed his thumb against your cheek, comforting you.

You were extremely flustered by the warmth, not to mention the anticipation of what he was about to do, so all you could do at the moment was nod silently at his question.

Mingi smiled. You thought your heart was going to explode as Mingi came closer. You thought he was going to kiss you on the lips right away, but he planted a soft kiss on your forehead first. Then on your nose. You had to refrain from giggling, given the soft moment. Then he slowly came closer to your lips. You closed your eyes when you felt it against yours.

You couldn't explain it, but you felt warm and fuzzy inside despite your heartbeat ramming against your chest. The air felt soft yet exciting at the same time. It was definitely more than what you had imagined it to be. 

You slid your hand against his chest and rested it behind his neck. His hands softly slid against your waist and pulled you closer. You could faintly hear Mingi humming in delight. And a few moments later, you both stopped to gaze at each other.

Although, you still had trouble maintaining eye contact with his intense ones. And Mingi just chuckled lightly at the sight. "You still don't want me to be a kisser?"

"No, I—" you pouted and Mingi just laughed.

"Don't worry, you're the only one I want to kiss," he murmured before kissing your forehead. "Dinner?"

[icycoldninja]

FLUFFCEMBER DAY#30: (Nero x Reader)

I made soup

Nero knew you worked hard all day, all week, 365 (and sometimes 6) days a year. You helped him kill demons, vanquish beasts, and occasionally seal portals, all while maintaining a day job--you were truly a force to be reckoned with, and so the noble young man decided he would do something nice for you. He would make a comfort food staple: chicken noodle soup.

While Nero's culinary skills left much to be desired, he was confident he could complete this mission like he completed all the others, the only difference was that instead of killing, he was cooking, and instead of slicing up demon flesh, he was cutting chicken. Rather than roasting demons alive with his sword, he would be boiling broth. Yes, this would be easy.

After pulling up a simple recipe on a website he saw you looking at once, Nero began to collect his ingredients. Carrots, celery, onions, chicken, of course, egg noodles, and chicken stock, all of which could be found lying around in the pantry. After locating some seasoning, Nero pulled out his sword, which he sanitized earlier, and began awkwardly slicing the chicken into small cubes. Sure, the counter and cabinets got scratched a little, but who would notice?

Once he was finished chopping up the counter top, cutting board, and the vegetables, he added the latter items to the pot and began to cook them, growing more and more impatient by the second. You would be home in around 20 minutes, and the vegetables weren't even close to being done yet. He would have to speed this up artificially if he wanted to be done by the time you got home. Naturally, the most efficient way to do this is through his sword, Red Queen, and it's ability to extrude fire from the handle. Nero placed the metal monstrosity right in front of the burner, revved the "engine", and superheated the pot, allowing for the vegetables to cook quicker. He also ended up setting part of the oven on fire, but managed to put it out before too much harm could be done.

Next came the broth and water, which was promptly poured into the pot. The excessive heat from Red Queen caused the broth to sizzle and steam; the steam filled the kitchen, setting off the smoke alarm and obscuring Nero's vision. Thankfully, he managed to blindly grope his way over to the nearest window, fling it open, and watch as the steam slowly exited the house, billowing into the air and dispersing harmlessly in the evening sky. Quite pleased with his culinary prowess and quick thinking, Nero shut the window and resumed his cooking.

You returned from an exhausting day of sedentary labor about 15 minutes later, only to find your kitchen absolutely demolished, broth and water all over the floor, deep gashes in most of the furniture, and bits of crushed egg noodle all over the countertops.

"Oh my God!" You shrieked, placing your hands on your head and surveying the damage in pure astonishment. "Nero, what did you do?! Was there a demon attack or something?!"

"Course not," Nero told you indignantly, spinning around with a big steaming bowl in his hands. "I made soup."

[the-most-humble-blog]

Grimdark Hive City “Seafood” Market:

Where Everything Crawls Before It’s Cooked

“If It’s Moving, It’s Fresh. If It’s Screaming, It’s Special.”

Welcome to the Underhive’s finest seafood market, where the air is thick with rot, the vendors have more missing fingers than full ones, and the ‘catch of the day’ might still be alive and pissed off when it hits your plate.

You didn’t come here for safety, sanitation, or common sense. You came here because your gut is either brave or suicidal.

MENU: Fresh (?) From the Toxic Depths

🐙 WRITHING WRETCH TENTACLES – “You Kill It, You Eat It”

Served raw, twitching, and occasionally venomous

Warning: The suckers WILL latch onto your throat if not chewed thoroughly.

Chef Special: Served in a spicy rad-lamp broth—if the heat doesn’t kill it, the toxins might.

🦐 NECROTIC CRAWLERS – “If It Glows, It Goes”

Deep-fried mutant shrimp, harvested from sewer runoff and industrial waste pits.

Still moving? That’s the flavor.

Fun Fact: Legally, we can’t call them shrimp anymore. The last guy who tried to classify them turned black, swelled up, and exploded.

🐟 THREE-EYED DEATH TROUT – “The Eye Contact is Part of the Experience”

A feral predator fish, known for eating smaller predators and occasionally fishermen.

Served whole, grilled, and aggressively judgmental.

Best paired with: A stimulant cocktail, because it’s been known to cause hallucinations before digestion fully kicks in.

🦑 “UNIDENTIFIED SWARM CHOWDER” – “Hope You Weren’t Too Attached to Your Stomach Lining”

A bubbling, foul-smelling soup made of whatever washes up near the chem-processing docks.

Guaranteed to contain: At least three species that don’t officially exist.

Tastes like: Pain and bad decisions.

🦀 MUTANT “HELLCRAB” LEGS – “Don’t Let It See Your Face”

Massive sewer-dwelling crabs, known for eating raw meat—usually whatever’s unlucky enough to fall into their nest.

Served with a mallet, a knife, and an apology.

Warning: If it wasn’t cooked thoroughly, it may try to reassemble itself in your stomach.

DRINKS: Because You’ll Need Something to Forget

☢ “TIDEWASH” BREW – “Half Booze, Half Bioweapon”

Distilled from unknown sea sludge, questionable fungi, and desperation.

Side Effects: Mild hallucinations, extreme confidence, and possible short-term brain damage.

Perfect Pairing With: Regret.

🔥 “BURNING BLUE” – “The Only Thing That Can Kill What You Just Ate”

A hyper-fermented concoction served with a fire extinguisher instead of a garnish.

Toxicity Level: Illegal in three districts.

Side Effects: Temporary blindness, involuntary muscle spasms, and extreme philosophical insights.

“IF IT HASN’T KILLED ANYONE RECENTLY, IT’S NOT FRESH”

Our chefs are ex-convicts, our ingredients are banned in most civilized places, and our customers don’t ask questions if they want to leave with their intestines intact.

So come on down to the Hive’s Finest Seafood Market. If you survive, your taste buds will never be the same.

🔥 REBLOG If you want more! 🍳

💬 COMMENT If You Think You Could Survive This Meal. 🚀 FOLLOW For More Degenerate Culinary Experiences.

[nomsfaultau]

SBI SCP Cooking

Philza has so many recipes from so many cultures over all of human history. Since the history of human’s control of fire is greatly tied to cooking, it’s pretty important to him and it’s one of the ways he shows love. Has a massive variety in the meals he prepares…though at times accidentally mixes up recipes since he knows so many. Never once burned a meal thanks to his control over his fire powers. Everything is always the perfect temperature. He’s a master of improv and can turn whatever random food gets foraged by the group into something tasty, and it always seems extra delicious to his loved ones.

The Blade is a lazy cook, but does like doing it on occasion. Lots of earthy stuff, truffles and potatoes and katniss and the like. Also game he’s hunted. He prefers stuff like stews where you can just put stuff in a pot and forget about it for a few hours, especially since if the adhd gets to him and he doesn’t remember it the food is usually fine. Bottomless appetite.

Wilbur regularly eats food out of the dumpster so we’re going to just skip him. Ok I lied, getting food for people is a huge part of his love language since Wilbur grew up in severe food insecurity + massive sign of respect in devouring void culture. Still an absolutely awful cook since he’s incapable of getting food poisoning and doesn’t understand what is and isn’t edible to most people. Prefers to scarf down raw food before it can be taken from him.

Tommy was a teen before the Foundation that mostly relied on his mum for cooking. That said he has a couple of recipes up his sleeve, though is hesitant to cook anything because of the huge chance of Red contamination. He gets regulated to sanitizing for the most part. Dish duty for life.

Tubbo has a wide range of stuff. They have a number of classic bakery items from their (Rhodes’) wife, stuff like homemade bread and jams and rustic stuff. Adores making chocolate cake since that’s the foundation of their relationship with Rhodes. Plus some Mexican cuisine from Rosalind. Also their honey is so incredibly delicious, especially with their sopaipillas. Unfortunately life on the run doesn’t have an oven, so most of Tubbos’ culinary offerings are severely limited.

[sol-consort]

I am once again throwing my mass effect thoughts at you

Feeding people is one of humans many love languages. The first thing we often share from our cultures with each other is our food because we all need to eat, we all love things that taste good, and food can say a lot about a culture. So when humans made it to the Citadel and started mingling with galactic society they’d basically be handing out our snacks and bringing containers of our dishes to work and gatherings to share with anyone and everyone. After a while they’d realize the turians aren’t taking any, when offered it’s rejected, and at first maybe the humans think it’s because turians are still bitter from First Contact but humans still offer anyways. Takes them a bit to figure out it’s because turians can’t eat levo food. Queue humans spending days/weeks painstakingly researching how to adapt their food with dextro substitutes and how to prepare them (and how to keep everything sanitized for the quarians). Next time the human brings a treat to share with their alien co-workers they’ve got two tins of chocolate chip cookies and one of them is dextro. We like feeding our community and peers, making them happy by giving them something sweet, and when the human is present EVERYBODY is getting something to eat.

I still think about that one salarian during the Garrus loyality mission in ME2 who said he loves human food, despite being at an anti-human turian political street speech.

Because if humans are considered diverse, can you imagine how much our culinary dishes are even more diverse? There are different from culture to culture and use so many different ingredients.

We have things for every taste, the complex dishes that mixes so many flavours together, the simple seeming ones that actually require professional level chefs to get it right.

We even cook and make dishes we can't eat, just for our pets because we love them so much. Pet food is a huge market with a lot of science and testing involved in it just to find out which flavours the animals end up liking more. The whole concept of treats was invented because we wanted to share our snacks and chocolate treats with our pets but couldn't since it harms them.

There isn't a field or a craft that a human somewhere isn't passionate about, no matter how nichie or unique. I bet you there are already culinary schools for humans that began having special branches and classes for dextro food and non-hydrating food.

Hanar who are usually reclusive and take centuries to warm up to a species, immediately falling in love with human sea food dishes and the many hydrating fruits we have. Ironically enough, I see them liking any desserts that use gelatine like creme caramel or pudding.

In the Andromeda culture exchange room, at the end of the human introduction VI, they mention to ask a human about ice cream if you ever meet them.

Meaning that aliens don't have ice cream! It's a pure human invention oh my god. A turian in the bar also mentions how the cocktails and drinks were boring and limited before the humans made contact and shared their menus.

How were the aliens even living?? Boring food with boring drinks and no dessert? Fuck yeah we will share our food with them, cooking has always been one of the fundamental traits we associate with our species.

Not only that, it's even a whole love language in humans.

A human can love you so much that they start making you food for lunch and dinner just to make sure you're eating well! Because it makes us happy seeing someone eat something we made, we poured our heart into. Love being the most important ingredient in cooking is the one rule that unites all humans no matter what culture or dish they're making. You can taste the love in food even if it was cooked in a hurry or by someone with no experience, we still eat our loved ones burnt food because we see the effort. Be it the burn marks on their fingers or the dirty dishes piling in the sink, we see clearly how much they tried just to make us something and we smile through the bittertaste and tell them it's good.

Because everyone started at this point, when our food taste horrible and a loved one was subjected to eating it. Or maybe we had to swallow it down. And if we didn't see the love, the potential, we wouldn't have continued on or improved.

Cooking is many things, it's cathartic in nature. It represents family and safety sometimes, luxury and fun other times, resilient and survival and even new beginnings or love confessions.

So many of our holidays centre around food. It goes hand in hand with celebrations.

When it's our birthday, we share a sweet cake with everyone else. When it's an achievement we invite people for a dinner. When it's an average night with friends we go out for drinks.

We bring people snacks when we go out on errands, we keep treats for stray cats or dogs in our pockets, we gift homemade dishes to our new neighbours.

Of course a human is going to accommodate for a turian or a quarian diet. We already accommodate for our friends and their diet limits, be it medical, religious believes or simple taste preference.

I see it happening a lot in C-Sec where turians and humans are common coworkers. Eventually the humans bringing food from home to eat on their lunch break will offer some to their favourite turian coworker. Maybe it's a nervous new guy at work, or maybe it's their grumpy boss with a heart of gold.

Then they realise oh, they can't eat it. So they go back home and the subject gets brought up during dinner with their family when asked about their day at work.

The next day, to their surprise, their spouce packed up a smaller container next to their normal lunch one, labeled "Dextro"

Imagine how surprised the turian is by it when their friendly human co-worker brings it to them saying how their spouce thought of them. The day after it, the humans kid tells their parent they found a snack that's safe for turians and they wanted to share a piece with the turian coworker their parent mentioned before.

The human family inviting the turian to dinner, asking them to bring their family too if they want and sharing a meal together. Making sure the foods are well separated and won't contaminate each other.

Or imagine bringing your turian friend home one day, and your grandma is visiting and she makes a comment on how your friend is as thin as bones and they need to eat more before they leave.

You try to explain how this is how turians normally look but she is having none of it as she searched for a dextro recipe online and tries to whip something up real quick for your friend before they leave.

On another note, think of how funny it is if they could eat earth bird food. Like you're feeding pigeons at the park and a turian comes up and is like "hey I'm feeling a bit squimish...mind if I grab a bit?"

Or you have a pet bird home and go shopping for bird food and your turian friend asks why you're buying so many turian junk food, and that those are overpriced awful tasting brands.

Salarians who never paid cooking or food much mind. Their species dishes are basically those high nutrition cubes and pills we see in future dystopian cartoons. Their lifespan is too short, so they mostly focused on science and technological development.

So the humans with their many different cultures are a literal godsent angels to them. I see them developing a codependent relationship with human culture.

In which salarians relay on human inventions for their luxury and entertainment. Be it our music, movies, food, snacks and videogames. Human dishes become widely popular and a lot of salarian ships start employing human chefs and cooks.

> be a salarian

> culture only focused on technology development

> food tastes like drywall paint

> can't party must study

> speedrun spacetravel

> top of the species in terms of intellectualism but most depressed

> brain had to literally hardwire fast emotion processing to not become too depressed

> must grind for a qt3.14 asari gf

> what are those apes the turians are picking a fight with?

> convince turians to let the apes live

> apes share their cultures

> wtf their food is actually so good

> wtf their music sounds amazing

> wtf now I have a waifu anime gf

> mfw life is suddenly good

[smoreboi]

meanwhile, I vv enjoyed ortho’s culinary crucible vignette. only complaint was probably just a translation error or a rookie mistake, they called what would be a chiffonade cut a julienne (when ortho was cutting the cabbage). And also don’t use just water to clean your knives between productions, you gotta have the red bucket of sanitizer or the government can steal your food license. And also also now my career is being threatened by fictional automation that can dice to proper size every time with precision to a tenth of a millimeter, which is a crazy fucking threat man

[efficientcleaning]

In the heart of downtown, a bustling restaurant known for its mouthwatering dishes had a kitchen in dire need of deep cleaning. The grease-coated stoves, grime-encrusted floors, and stacks of unwashed dishes were out of control. Recognizing the need for professional help, the owner called Efficient Cleaning Services.

The cleaning crew arrived early, armed with industrial-strength cleaners, gloves, and an array of tools. With military precision, they divided the tasks. One team tackled the stoves, using powerful degreasers to cut through the layers of built-up grease. Another team focused on the floors, scrubbing away years of grime until the tiles gleamed.

The dishwashing team worked like a well-oiled machine, sanitizing every plate, pot, and pan. The fridges were emptied, disinfected, and reorganized. Every surface, from countertops to the tiniest nooks and crannies, was meticulously cleaned and polished.

In just a few hours, the transformation was remarkable. The kitchen, once a chaotic mess, now sparkled with cleanliness. The restaurant staff were in awe of the difference. Thanks to Efficient Cleaning Services, the kitchen was not only spotless but also a safer, more efficient place to work.

With their professional touch, the restaurant thrived, serving dishes from a kitchen that was truly a culinary haven. If you have any other questions or need help with something specific, just let me know!

WWW.EFFICIENTCLEANING.COM. 414-305-3074 MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN

[caterinamkt]

Elevate Your Culinary Business with the Best Commercial Kitchen Equipment in Kenya

In the world of hospitality, the kitchen is the heart of any operation. From restaurants and hotels to catering businesses, the quality of your commercial kitchen equipment can make or break your culinary success. In Kenya, where the food industry is booming, having reliable, efficient, and high-performing equipment is essential to meet customer expectations and stay ahead of the competition.

At Caterina, we specialize in providing top-notch commercial kitchen equipment designed to elevate your business to new heights.

Why Invest in Quality Commercial Kitchen Equipment?

Efficiency and Speed: Modern equipment speeds up preparation and cooking, helping you serve more customers in less time.

Consistency in Quality: Professional-grade appliances ensure uniform results, enhancing customer satisfaction.

Durability: Built to withstand the demands of a busy kitchen, commercial equipment offers long-term reliability.

Cost Savings: High-quality tools reduce waste, energy consumption, and maintenance costs over time.

Must-Have Commercial Kitchen Equipment in Kenya

1. Commercial Ovens

An essential for any professional kitchen, Caterina’s range of ovens includes:

Convection Ovens: Ideal for baking, roasting, and cooking multiple dishes at once.

Deck Ovens: Perfect for pizzas and artisan bread.

Combi Ovens: Versatile tools combining steam and convection cooking for precise results.

2. Refrigeration Units

Keep ingredients fresh with our top-of-the-line refrigeration solutions:

Reach-In Refrigerators and Freezers: For bulk storage.

Prep Tables with Refrigeration: Keep ingredients handy while preparing dishes.

Blast Freezers: For quick cooling and food preservation.

3. Commercial Cooktops and Ranges

Whether you run a small café or a large hotel kitchen, Caterina offers cooktops that cater to all needs:

Gas and electric ranges.

Induction cookers for energy-efficient operations.

Griddles and fryers for specialized cooking.

4. Food Preparation Equipment

Efficient preparation tools make the process faster and easier:

Mixers: Ideal for dough and batter preparation.

Food Processors: For chopping, slicing, and blending.

Meat Grinders: Essential for butcheries and meat-heavy menus.

5. Cleaning Equipment

Hygiene is non-negotiable in a commercial kitchen. Caterina provides cleaning solutions like:

Dishwashers: For fast and efficient cleaning of plates, glasses, and utensils.

High-Pressure Washers: Perfect for deep-cleaning floors and equipment.

Sanitizers: Ensuring health and safety standards are maintained.

Why Choose Caterina for Your Kitchen Equipment in Kenya?

1. Wide Range of Products

From ovens to dishwashers, Caterina offers a comprehensive selection of restaurant kitchen equipment and hotel kitchen appliances tailored to different business needs.

2. Trusted Brands

Caterina works with top kitchen appliance brands to ensure you get reliable and high-performing tools.

3. Expert Support

Our team of experts provides guidance on choosing the right equipment and offers after-sales support, including installation, training, and maintenance.

4. Competitive Pricing

We cater to businesses of all sizes with affordable solutions that deliver excellent value for money.

Who Can Benefit from Caterina’s Equipment?

Restaurants: Streamline your operations and enhance food quality.

Hotels: Equip your kitchen to meet the demands of high-volume cooking.

Catering Businesses: Optimize efficiency and expand your offerings.

Cafes and Bakeries: Perfect for artisanal and small-batch cooking.

How to Get Started

Looking for a trusted restaurant kitchen equipment supplier in Kenya? Visit Caterina.co.ke to explore our range of commercial kitchen equipment. From sourcing the right tools to installation and maintenance, we’re here to support your culinary journey.

Conclusion

Success in the food and hospitality industry depends on more than just recipes — it starts with the right tools. By choosing Caterina’s premium hotel kitchen equipment and commercial appliances, you can ensure efficiency, consistency, and long-term profitability.

Don’t settle for less when you can equip your kitchen for success with Caterina! Reach out today and take the first step toward elevating your business.

[whiskey-tango-matcha]

A Cup of Tea and Paracetamol pt 2/?

I’m back with part 2! Sorry for the delay, last weekend was wildly busy. This part features a staunchly miserable Elijah, so I hope you guys enjoy that. Unedited, basically unread by me until I look at it later and hate myself for a random spelling/grammar mistake. Part one can be found here, if you’re interested in reading that/understanding what’s going on in this part lmao. I’m thinking this is going to be 3 parts, and the final one should be up later this week (hopefully. No promises lol). 

OH ALSO I am very much so not from England, I’ve never been outside the US so I’m sorry if I say something that sounds super weird or wrong about England. Just go ahead and pre-suspend your disbelief that basically no cold medication can be found in London while you’re at it. This is fiction and it’s at the mercy of what makes my characters the most miserable lmao. 

Enjoy!

cw: male sneezing, colds, contagion is mentioned but not explicitly in this part

A Cup of Tea and Paracetamol (pt 2)

“Stop laughing.”

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m not laughing, I’m getting it together,” Greyson took a deep breath slowly, but it came out once again as a squawk of a laugh. Elijah elbowed him hard in the arm before snatching his bag off of the moving carousel.

“You’re an ass,” Elijah grumbled, moving towards the exit.

“Boss, hey, I’m sorry, man,” Greyson said jogging a bit to keep up with Elijah. “But I mean, come on. It is kind of funny.”

“I literally cannot think of anything less funny,” Elijah said, pulling his hand sanitizer out of his pocket for the millionth time that day and squirting the last of it on his hands. “That was a fucking nightmare.” The sick man Elijah had been sitting next to literally couldn’t have done a worse job of keeping his germs to himself; he had basically sneezed and coughed for the entire seven hours, minus maybe thirty minutes of snoring with his open mouth facing Elijah. Greyson hailed a cab as Elijah shuddered; at least it was over.

“We’re gonna have to find an English CVS or something,” Greyson mused. “Do they have Emergen-C here?”

“I have no idea,” Elijah said, massaging his temples before opening the cab door. “Let’s just get away from this godforsaken airport.”

The ride to the hotel was thankfully quick, and by some miracle, the gift shop in the lobby did stock Emergen-C. Greyson and Elijah loaded up, dropped their things in the room, and headed out to dinner. Their first day was completely blown because of the flight and the time difference, so over their meals Elijah was busy texting the contact for the event.

“What’d she say about the product we ordered?” Greyson asked, his leg bouncing nervously under the table. Elijah gave him a pointed look and showed the chef his text stream with the contact – a woman named Samantha.

“She said she has it all,” he said as Greyson read through their texts. “Stop worrying so much.”

Greyson snorted. “That’s rich coming from you,” he said, taking a bite of his sandwich. “The king of fuckin worrying.”

“It’s a festival event, Grey. We’ve done a thousand of them. It’s not like we’re doing it in Mumbai and we don’t speak the language.” Greyson shrugged and Elijah sent off another text.

“Okay,” Elijah said, clapping his hands together. “Tomorrow: prep. It’s 1,000 portions, if we get to the kitchen at seven, it’ll probably take us ten hours to get everything done.”

“Seven?!” Greyson asked, incredulous. “Isn’t that like three in the morning our time?”

Elijah shrugged. “We have to get it done, Grey. We don’t have the team help us; I think the event provides a couple of culinary students, but that’s it. It’s gonna be a long one.”

Greyson groaned and put his head in his hands. “Fine,” he said after a moment of mourning his sleep. “But I’m gonna complain the whole time.”

Elijah chuckled as he flagged the server. “I’d expect no less.”

***

Greyson peeled his eyes open at the ass-crack of dawn to see that the bathroom light was on and the shower was running. Jesus christ, he thought, does Elijah ever fucking sleep?

The chef rolled unceremoniously out of bed and grudgingly shoved his legs into jeans and his arms into his chef coat. It was so goddamn early. He was so goddamn tired. While buttoning his chef coat, Greyson fantasized about running away, skipping the event and just enjoying London like it was a vacation; beer and fish and chips in a dark pub, strolling through museums with no schedule, taking a long ass hotel nap and then going to a Michelin-starred restaurant for dinner. Yeah… now that sounded like a trip.

Just as he was about to pound on the bathroom door and ask if Elijah had fallen in, Greyson heard his boss’s breath hitch.

“hehh...huhNGTSH-uh!”

Oh, mother fucker.

“Lij…?” Greyson called into the bathroom. When he didn’t get an answer, he knocked tentatively. “Y’okay in there?”

Greyson heard nothing for a moment, the a sudden – “HGTSHH-ue!” Greyson set his jaw in anticipation, and just as he was about to knock again, Elijah opened the door.

“I’m good,” he said, his voice slightly lower than it usually was. “You ready?”

“Uh, yeah,” Greyson said, motioning to his getup. “Are you sure you’re alright? I heard you, uh… sneezing.”

“I’m fine, Grey, just steam from the shower. C’mon, we need to meet Samantha in the lobby in five minutes.”

Greyson followed Elijah silently to the elevator, and continued his silence as they descended to the lobby. He couldn’t lie; he was worried. Worried about his boss, a bit, but mostly worried about the event - if Elijah was sick, who was going to work the booth with him tomorrow? He couldn’t do it himself, he knew that much for sure, but, to be frank, he was fairly scared of invoking Elijah’s wrath by asking if he was sick, or even offering to get him medicine. Instead, while Elijah went through the finer details of the event with Samantha, Greyson snuck off to the giftshop, bought two bottles of water, and filled them both with Emergen-C. Before Elijah could notice he’d left, Greyson breezed back to the lobby and placed a bottle in his boss’s hand.

“What’s this?” Elijah asked as he waved goodbye to Samantha. Greyson shrugged.

“Emergen-C. Long flight, long couple days; better to be safe than sorry.”

Elijah gave Greyson a pointed look, but didn’t say anything. Instead, he unscrewed the cap of his water bottle and chugged half of it.

“Right,” he said, screwing the cap back on. “Let’s go check out the kitchen.”

***

Not to be dramatic, but Elijah really wasn’t sure how he was going to make it through the weekend.

It was about seven hours into prepping the short rib nacho they were serving for tomorrow’s event, and Elijah’s eyes were drooping at even the thought of another seven hours. He’d definitely been entirely too optimistic about his and Greyson’s abilities to get this knocked out in ten hours; the culinary students he’d assumed would be helping them prep were, as it turned out, scheduled to help run the booth tomorrow, not cook with them today. Elijah and Greyson were balls-deep in chopping, searing, frying, and basting with no end in sight. And it really didn’t help that Elijah couldn’t seem to get one little thing under control.

“hehhNGTHSH-uh! HGSTH-oo!” Elijah sneezed into his elbow for what felt like the billionth time that day and sniffed as hard as he could before returning to slicing potatoes on the mandolin.

“Careful,” Greyson said, also for the billionth time. “Do you want me to take those over, boss? We really can’t have you slicing your finger off.”

“Ndo,” Elijah said, wincing at how his own voice sounded. “I’mb good.”

Whatever monster of a cold the man on the plane had had yesterday, it certainly traveled quickly. Elijah had woken up that morning with a scratchy throat and slightly runny nose, and now at just after noon he was fairly sure he was dying. “HETSSHCHH-ue!”

“Bless,” Greyson said, curt. At the beginning of the day, Greyson had been sympathetic – almost overly sympathetic, bordering on neurotic. He’d offered to buy Elijah medicine in the gift shop, which Elijah had staunchly declined until about ten am. After the third offer, Elijah had broken down and given up on the ‘I’m-not-sick-I’m-totally-fine’ charade. “Fine, yes, find me what they have.”

But Greyson had come back empty-handed, with exception of the mystery drug the man on the plane had requested yesterday – paracetamol. After a quick google search, they found out it was pretty much just tylenol.

“Tylenol??” Elijah had asked, dumbstruck. “That’s really all they have?”

Greyson had nodded. “I asked the woman at the front if there was, like, a drug store somewhere that sells dayquil and she had no idea what I was talking about.”

“You have got to be fucking shitting – HGTSHH-oo! Huhh...hehESTCHHH-ue! Snf.” Elijah wiped his face on his sleeve, defeated. “Shittigg mbe.”

He was not. A call to a local drugstore confirmed that dayquil and nyquil weren’t available in the UK, and their best bet was going to be the paracetamol. Elijah had tried to stifle a groan, and Greyson had offered his sympathy.

“I’m sorry, boss,” he said as he browned the short ribs in a huge tilt skillet. “I can ask the front desk to make you some tea?”

After Elijah had grumbled something about hating tea, Greyson had sighed and seemingly given up on the niceties. Now, several hours later, he had taken to not even mentioning Elijah’s condition.

“HRETSSHHOO!” This one caught Elijah off-guard, and he ended up doubled over his legs with his arms over his head to keep from contaminating the food. “Mbother fucker,” he mumbled, moving towards the hand washing station to blow his nose. From across the kitchen, Elijah heard Greyson sigh.

“Boss,” he called as Elijah threw away a handful of paper towels. “Go take a break.”

“Grey, we have so mbuch left to do. I’mb not leaving you.”

“Lij, please. Just go lay down for an hour or something, I literally am standing here with my stomach in my asshole freaking out that you’re not going to be able to do the event tomorrow, so please please just go and take a nap with some tea. Please.”

Elijah raised an eyebrow at Greyson and coughed lightly into his fist. “What the fugck are you talkigg about?” he asked, walking closer to the chef.

Greyson ran a nervous hand through his hair, then, noticing what he’d done, snapped the gloves off his hands and threw them in the trash with much more force than was necessary. “I’m just worried, dude, like you look like fucking hell. You look like you’re going to fuckin keel over, and I literally cannot do this event by myself. I can’t, Lij.”

Elijah huffed out a laugh that turned into a dry cough. “Greysond,” he said, as gently as he could muster, “I don’t care if I have two brokend arms and two brokend legs. I’mb going to be at the event. Okay? It’s a cold. I’mb fuckigg miserable, but it’s a cold. It’s gonna be fine.” He placed a careful hand on the chef’s shoulder and shook him lightly. “Okay?”

Greyson let out a shaky sigh. “Okay,” he said. “Good,” Elijah said, giving his friend’s shoulder a squeeze. “But you’re right about onde thing: we ndeed a break. And I think I mbight take you up ond – HGSTHH-oo! HRSHH-uh! Huhh…hhNGSTHH-ue!” Elijah groaned into the sleeve of his shirt and took the paper towel Greyson held out to him. “Ond the fuckigg tea.”

[denvrestequip36]

Denver Restaurant Equipment

Denver Restaurant Equipment: The Essential Guide for Aspiring Restaurateurs

Introduction

Denver, Colorado, known for its vibrant culture, scenic beauty, and booming culinary scene, is an ideal city for aspiring restaurateurs. However, the journey from dream to reality involves many intricate details, one of the most crucial being the acquisition of the right restaurant equipment. Whether you're opening a cozy café, a bustling bistro, or a high-end dining establishment, understanding the landscape of Denver restaurant equipment is vital. This guide delves into the nuances of choosing, purchasing, and maintaining restaurant equipment in Denver, offering insights and tips to help you navigate this essential aspect of your culinary venture.

Understanding the Importance of Quality Restaurant Equipment

Before diving into the specifics, it's important to comprehend why quality equipment is fundamental to any restaurant's success. High-quality restaurant equipment ensures efficiency, consistency, and safety in your kitchen operations. It can significantly affect the speed of service, the quality of food, and overall customer satisfaction. Investing in reliable equipment minimizes downtime due to breakdowns and reduces long-term maintenance costs. Moreover, it adheres to health and safety regulations, which is crucial for maintaining a reputable business.

Types of Essential Restaurant Equipment

Cooking Equipment

Ovens and Ranges: The backbone of any kitchen, ovens and ranges come in various types, including convection ovens, deck ovens, and combi ovens. Each type serves different cooking needs, from baking and roasting to steaming and grilling.

Grills and Griddles: Ideal for preparing a variety of dishes, from steaks to pancakes, grills and griddles are essential for any kitchen aiming to offer a diverse menu.

Fryers: Essential for any establishment that serves fried foods, fryers come in countertop and floor models, with options for gas or electric power.

Refrigeration Equipment

Walk-in Coolers and Freezers: These provide ample storage for perishable items, ensuring they remain fresh and safe to use.

Reach-in Refrigerators and Freezers: Convenient for quick access to frequently used ingredients, these units come in various sizes and configurations.

Undercounter Refrigeration: Perfect for smaller kitchens or specific stations, undercounter units save space and provide efficient cooling right where it's needed.

Food Preparation Equipment

Mixers and Blenders: From dough mixers to high-speed blenders, these tools are vital for preparing a wide range of dishes and beverages.

Food Processors: These versatile machines can chop, slice, and puree ingredients, speeding up prep work and ensuring consistency.

Slicers: Essential for delis and sandwich shops, slicers provide uniform cuts for meats, cheeses, and vegetables.

Storage and Shelving

Dry Storage Shelving: Proper shelving is crucial for keeping dry goods organized and accessible. Stainless steel shelves are durable and easy to clean.

Pantries and Cabinets: Secure storage for utensils, cookware, and ingredients helps maintain an efficient and clutter-free kitchen.

Cleaning and Sanitation

Dishwashers: From undercounter models to large conveyor dishwashers, these machines ensure your dishes, glasses, and utensils are clean and sanitized.

Sinks and Faucets: Multiple compartment sinks and pre-rinse faucets are essential for washing produce, pots, pans, and other kitchen tools.

Sanitizing Stations: Essential for maintaining health standards, these stations include handwashing sinks and sanitizer dispensers.

Smallwares and Utensils

Pots and Pans: A variety of sizes and types, including non-stick, stainless steel, and cast iron, are necessary for different cooking methods.

Cutlery: Quality knives and cutting tools are essential for efficient and safe food preparation.

Utensils and Gadgets: From spatulas and ladles to thermometers and measuring cups, having the right tools can make a significant difference in kitchen operations.

Choosing the Right Equipment Supplier in Denver

Selecting a reliable equipment supplier is crucial for getting quality products and excellent customer service. Here are some factors to consider when choosing a supplier in Denver:

Reputation and Reviews: Look for suppliers with positive reviews and a good reputation in the industry. Word-of-mouth recommendations from fellow restaurateurs can also be valuable.

Product Range: Ensure the supplier offers a wide range of equipment from reputable brands. This variety allows you to compare and choose the best options for your needs.

Service and Support: A good supplier should provide comprehensive support, including delivery, installation, and maintenance services. Check if they offer warranties and after-sales support.

Price and Financing Options: Compare prices from different suppliers to get the best deals. Additionally, inquire about financing options if you need to manage your budget more effectively.

Local Expertise: Suppliers with local knowledge can offer insights into Denver's market trends and regulations, helping you make informed decisions.

Navigating Health and Safety Regulations

Compliance with health and safety regulations is non-negotiable in the restaurant industry. In Denver, the Department of Public Health and Environment oversees these regulations. Key areas to focus on include:

Food Handling and Storage: Ensure your equipment supports proper food handling and storage practices to prevent contamination and spoilage.

Sanitation Standards: Equip your kitchen with the necessary tools for maintaining hygiene, such as commercial dishwashers, handwashing stations, and sanitizers.

Fire Safety: Install fire suppression systems, smoke detectors, and fire extinguishers as required by local regulations. Regular maintenance of cooking equipment can also prevent fire hazards.

Ventilation and Air Quality: Proper ventilation systems are essential for maintaining air quality and preventing the buildup of smoke and grease.

Accessibility: Ensure your establishment complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by providing accessible facilities and equipment.

Sustainable and Energy-Efficient Equipment

With increasing awareness of environmental issues, many restaurateurs are opting for sustainable and energy-efficient equipment. Benefits include reduced utility bills, a smaller carbon footprint, and positive customer perception. Here are some tips for choosing eco-friendly equipment:

Energy Star Ratings: Look for equipment with Energy Star certification, which indicates high energy efficiency.

Eco-Friendly Materials: Choose equipment made from sustainable materials, such as stainless steel, which is durable and recyclable.

Water Efficiency: Opt for water-efficient dishwashers and faucets to reduce water consumption and waste.

Waste Management: Implement waste management practices, such as composting and recycling, and choose equipment that supports these efforts.

Local Sourcing: Whenever possible, source equipment and ingredients locally to reduce transportation emissions and support the local economy.

Financing Your Restaurant Equipment

Purchasing restaurant equipment can be a significant investment. Fortunately, several financing options are available to help manage costs:

Leasing: Leasing equipment allows you to conserve capital and upgrade to newer models as needed. It also includes maintenance and repair services.

Loans and Credit Lines: Business loans and lines of credit from banks or other financial institutions can provide the necessary funds for purchasing equipment.

Vendor Financing: Some suppliers offer financing options directly, which can be convenient and tailored to your purchase.

Government Grants and Programs: Explore local and federal programs that offer grants or low-interest loans for small businesses, particularly those promoting sustainability.

Maintaining and Repairing Your Equipment

Proper maintenance is key to extending the lifespan of your equipment and ensuring it operates efficiently. Here are some maintenance tips:

Regular Cleaning: Follow manufacturer guidelines for cleaning and sanitizing equipment. Regular cleaning prevents buildup and reduces wear and tear.

Scheduled Inspections: Conduct routine inspections to identify potential issues before they become major problems. This includes checking for leaks, unusual noises, and performance issues.

Professional Servicing: Hire professional technicians for regular servicing and repairs. They have the expertise to handle complex equipment and ensure it operates safely and efficiently.

Employee Training: Train your staff on the proper use and care of equipment. Misuse can lead to damage and increased maintenance costs.

Record Keeping: Maintain detailed records of maintenance and repairs. This helps track the history of each piece of equipment and plan for future replacements or upgrades.

Conclusion

Starting a restaurant in Denver is an exciting venture, filled with potential for creativity and success. However, the foundation of any successful restaurant lies in its equipment. From selecting the right ovens and refrigerators to navigating health regulations and financing options, every decision plays a critical role in your establishment's operational efficiency and customer satisfaction. By investing in quality equipment, choosing reliable suppliers, and committing to proper maintenance, you can build a robust kitchen that supports your culinary vision and stands the test of time. Denver's dynamic culinary scene offers endless opportunities, and with the right tools and knowledge, you can carve out your own niche in this vibrant market. Remember, the journey of a thousand dishes begins with a single piece of equipment. Choose wisely, maintain diligently, and watch your culinary dreams come to life in the Mile-High City.

[disease-danger-darkness-silence]

I'm rereading the Meet Death Sitting series by @bomberqueen17 because I never read the side stories and, let me tell you, it is surreal remembering that a lot of these were written during the early days of the 2020 part of the COVID pandemic. It took me back. I was so scared during those days, and angry.

When the lockdown went into effect (and Nevada was one of the first ones to implement it), my sister was in prison for a nonviolent, first-time offense: embezzling from a multi-billion dollar international gaming company. So... Unjustifiably, imo. I think theft crimes should be weighted by who you stole from and how much it effected them. And frankly, they weren't paying her enough to survive on, and she supervised TWO sports books.

She got sentenced in January and for some reason couldn't appeal, and then lockdown happened in March.

They were doing NOTHING for the prisoners.

She was in the Las Vegas prison doing hard labor in 125°+ weather and they weren't even providing a decent amount of calories to eat each day, let alone masks and hand sanitizer. She lost 100 lbs in prison, in a deeply unhealthy way.

A woman with a mental instability smuggled in a razor blade that she would hold in her cheek, next to her teeth, and when Ashley reported it, they did nothing. Ashley got transferred to a different bloc at some point because she was going to be doing food service work (she has a culinary education), but someone did get hurt by that woman. No consequences came for any of the COs (correction officers) or the warden.

Oh, and then they yanked Ash out of food prep and into heavy labor. Not sure why, because we got her records and there's no citations or anything on there. They just did it. I'm PERSONALLY assuming it's because I was calling daily demanding to talk to the warden or the supervisor on duty to demand better treatment. FFS, they were feeding them grade B, not fit for human consumption food. I was calling everyone I could think of and generally making a nuisance of myself, during a global pandemic, and while advocating for Ashley I also began advocating for her fellow prisoners. I wrote to the governor. I wrote to the Nevada Department of Corrections. I spent 8 hours a day harassing state officials (and politely talking to state workers who don't get paid enough for this shit), and I'm pretty sure her getting hard labor was punishment for her daring to have someone on the outside willing to make life a living hell for themselves and others for her.

We all nearly bankrupted ourselves keeping money on her books so she could buy extra food and special soap because she has a skin condition and they just give you harsh lye soap (no shampoo, no conditioner) at the Florence McClure Women's Correctional Center. She has an IUD that stops her periods so luckily she didn't need tampons the whole time she was there, because they ration them and if you need more, you'd better have some money to buy shitty dollar store ones at Target prices! (IIRC Ashley took her allotment and shared them around.)

We illegalized private prisons in Nevada a few years back but they acted like they still were one. You had to work or you couldn't apply for parole. They sold dollar store products at a massive markup. They didn't give her medical care for all but the last month or two she was there, and that meant she didn't have her ANTIDEPRESSANTS for most of the time. She was suicidal and depressed and anxious and most of all, she missed her daughter - my niece, who got displaced to live with my sister's ex-husband, who is an alcoholic, abusive bastard who supports Trump and used to make Ashley set an alarm on her phone so he'd remember when to beat her. That's who my niece had to go live with. He was mostly sober by then, but she was clearly miserable and every time she came to stay with Mom for visitation, she didn't want to go back.

Ashley spent 10 months in there before getting parole in mid October of 2020 - for a first-time embezzling offense that was the equivalent of stealing $5 or $10 from someone in the middle class. (Also adding, the Gaming Board DID NOT ASK for imprisonment, they wanted her on probation so she could get a job and do restitution. The guy who talked her into it? The abuser who found a domestic violence victim and manipulated her? He got probation, and it was his fourth gaming offense.)

The entire time, I was organizing book drives and fundraisers and harassing state officials to do something - some of you remember this, because some of you helped by sending her books and money, and I still cannot thank you enough. To this day, I go to bed every night thankful for you all.

But I was spending my daylight hours, and a lot of my nighttime hours, trying to fight for her. Her voice wasn't being heard so I would damn well amplify it.

A lot of the women there shouldn't have been. Nonviolent drug offenses that clearly needed psychiatric care and not imprisonment. A woman who killed her husband in self defense, caught on tape, but still imprisoned. Another woman who's boyfriend was dealing meth and she got the guilt by association thing - never came up dirty, complied in every way, and they threw the book at her. Prison should be for 1st and 2nd degree murderers, rapists, violent abusers, torturers, organized criminals, people who molest and groom children. Not these women. It was heartbreaking. I knew it was bad, but now I had secondhand experience and I would never wish that on anyone but the most heinous of human beings.

I had nightmares almost every night that Ashley would catch COVID and die, or that she'd figure out a way to kill herself. I didn't wake Raven (my partner, for those who may have forgotten) when I had them. I just read a little bit of fic, and then cried myself back to sleep.

_____________

I don't know that I ever thanked @bomberqueen17. She's been through a lot the last few years (including something I can empathize with - a parent death. I miss my dad terribly. It's been 7 and a half years and I still feel his loss). But... I never thanked her for getting me through 2020 in mostly one piece.

It was her fics that I read when I woke up after a nightmare. It was her fics that I read in the mornings as I woke up, drank coffee or an energy drink, and got my day started to begin campaigning against Nevada's DOC. It was her fics that calmed me down in between calls and it was her fics I read to keep from crying when my sister called me. I'd read excerpts to her (she hadn't seen the Witcher yet but she still laughed at the right spots) and I'd try to keep her cheered up by telling her about fandom stuff.

Like yes, I read other fics and authors. But it was her fics that made a difference and, I think, are the reason Ashley and I were fortified enough to fight for her rights.

So.... A very belated thank you, @bomberqueen17. I don't know that I could have survived that, in addition to everything else 2020 threw at us, without your writing.

Also thank you for this very succinct explanation of why significant age gaps can sometimes present a problem, in a way that isn't denigrating to those with youth. I've been trying to explain it to my 23-year-old for years, and others, but now I will just use this.

You're the best. I can't wait to read the rest of the series.

[purpleavenuesong]

Unraveling the Importance of FSSAI License in the Food Industry

Introduction: In the bustling world of culinary delights, where flavors mingle and aromas dance, lies a critical cornerstone often overlooked by many – the FSSAI license. While food enthusiasts indulge in the sensory experiences offered by diverse cuisines, it's imperative to acknowledge the pivotal role played by regulatory bodies in ensuring food safety and quality standards. Among these, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) stands as a beacon, safeguarding public health and fostering consumer trust. Let's delve deeper into the significance of the FSSAI license in the food industry.

Ensuring Food Safety: At the heart of FSSAI's mission lies the assurance of food safety. The FSSAI license acts as a testament to a food business's compliance with stringent safety regulations, encompassing aspects like hygiene, sanitation, packaging, and labeling. By adhering to these standards, businesses mitigate the risks associated with foodborne illnesses and uphold the integrity of their products.

Legal Compliance and Accountability: Obtaining an FSSAI license isn't merely a formality but a legal obligation for food businesses operating in India. Whether it's a small-scale eatery or a large food processing unit, every entity involved in food production, distribution, or sale must acquire the requisite license. This not only fosters accountability but also instills confidence among consumers regarding the legitimacy of the products they consume.

Consumer Trust and Brand Reputation: In an era where consumer choices are shaped by concerns about health and wellness, holding an FSSAI license serves as a badge of credibility for food businesses. It signifies a commitment to quality and safety, thereby bolstering consumer trust. Moreover, a robust compliance framework enhances brand reputation, positioning the business as a responsible player in the industry and paving the way for long-term success.

Market Access and Expansion Opportunities: The FSSAI license isn't just a regulatory hurdle but also a gateway to broader market access and expansion opportunities. Many retail chains, e-commerce platforms, and export markets mandate FSSAI compliance as a prerequisite for product listing or export clearance. By securing the license, businesses unlock avenues for growth, both domestically and internationally, tapping into new markets and diversifying revenue streams.

Facilitating Innovation and Industry Growth: While regulatory compliance may seem burdensome at times, it also fosters a culture of innovation and continuous improvement within the food industry. By setting clear standards and guidelines, FSSAI encourages businesses to invest in research and development, adopt best practices, and explore novel technologies. This, in turn, fuels industry growth, spurring innovation in food production, packaging, and distribution.

[gajameatkoreanbutcher]

From farm to table: Exploring the role of butchers in the food chain

Are you looking for a butcher near me? When we sit down to enjoy a perfectly cooked steak or savor a delicious roast chicken, we often don't think about the journey that piece of meat took to reach our plate. This journey is a fascinating one, and it involves a key player in the food chain: the butcher. Butchers play a crucial role in bringing meat from the farm to our tables, and their expertise and craftsmanship are vital in ensuring that we have access to high-quality, safe, and delicious meat products.

Sourcing and selection

The journey of meat begins at the farm, where animals are raised for their meat. Butchers are not typically involved in the rearing of animals, but their role comes into play when it's time to select and source the animals for processing. Butchers work closely with farmers and suppliers to ensure that the animals meet the necessary quality and safety standards. They evaluate factors such as the animal's age, size, and overall health to determine if it's suitable for processing into meat products.

Cutting and processing

Once the animals are selected, the next step in the process is cutting and processing. This is where the butcher's skills and knowledge truly shine. Butchers are experts in meat anatomy, understanding the different cuts and how to extract them from the animal carcass. They use specialized knives and tools to separate the meat into various cuts, such as steaks, chops, and roasts, according to customer preferences and culinary needs.

Quality control

Quality control is a paramount concern in the meat industry, and butchers are at the forefront of ensuring that the meat products meet the highest standards. They inspect each cut of meat for freshness, color, marbling, and any signs of spoilage. Butchers also play a crucial role in maintaining the cold chain, ensuring that the meat is stored and transported at the proper temperatures to prevent bacterial growth and maintain its quality.

Customization and customer service

One of the unique aspects of the butcher's role is the ability to customize meat cuts according to customer preferences. Whether you want a thicker steak, bone-in chicken thighs, or a specific portion of a roast, butchers are there to accommodate your requests. They provide personalized customer service, offering advice on cooking techniques, recipes, and the best cuts for specific dishes.

Waste reduction and sustainability

Butchers also contribute to reducing food waste in the food chain. They are skilled at using as much of the animal as possible, creatively repurposing less common cuts into sausages, ground meat, or other products. This not only minimizes waste but also maximizes the value of each animal, contributing to a more sustainable and eco-friendly food system.

Safety and hygiene

Ensuring food safety is a top priority for butchers. They follow strict hygiene and sanitation protocols to prevent contamination and the spread of foodborne illnesses. This includes regular cleaning of equipment and workspaces, proper handwashing, and the use of food-safe chemicals and sanitizers.

Local and artisanal butcheries

In recent years, there has been a resurgence of interest in local and artisanal butcheries. These smaller, specialized shops focus on sourcing meat from local farmers, often with an emphasis on organic and sustainable practices. Local butchers often have a closer connection to their community, providing customers with a direct link to the source of their meat.

In conclusion, butchers are unsung heroes in the food chain, bridging the gap between the farm and our tables. Their expertise, dedication to quality, and commitment to sustainability make them essential players in ensuring that we have access to safe, delicious, and responsibly sourced meat. So, the next time you enjoy a sumptuous meat dish, take a moment to appreciate the vital role that butchers play in bringing that meal to your table.

Gaja Meat - Korean Butcher Shop 2/8-12 Kerrs Rd, Lidcombe, NSW, 2141 (02) 9643 7007

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National Culinarians Day 

Today we honor culinarians! They are cooks or chefs who are experts in cooking, preparing, presenting, and serving food. Today we celebrate and thank them for the many ways they use food to satisfy us!

While professional culinarians tend to work in restaurants or commercial kitchens, the culinary arts have a much humbler beginning. It is believed that the roots of culinary arts sprouted when someone either threw a piece of meat on a fire or found an animal that had been cooked by a forest fire. From there, advancements in agriculture, the expansion of culinary techniques, the domestication of livestock, and the introduction of earthenware and stoneware all helped with culinary development.

Chefs were first employed by kings, aristocrats, and priests. In contrast, the lower classes cooked for their own families. The distinct approaches to cooking by different classes helped nurture the development of many different types of cuisine. Jean Anthelme had a great hand in getting culinary arts started in Europe. Others expanded on his work through the study of food science and gastronomy. In Asia, a similar path of study and advancement took place.

Culinary arts in the Western world began expanding at the end of the Renaissance. There was a shift from chefs working exclusively for nobility, to them also working in inns and hotels. It was at this time that the studying of culinary arts as its own field also began. At first, studying happened by apprenticeship, with students accompanying professional cooks. In 1879, Boston Cooking School opened, becoming the first cooking school to open in the United States. Today there are thousands of culinary arts schools around the world, and many colleges and universities offer culinary arts degrees as well.

Cooks and chefs are both involved in the culinary arts. Although a cook is sometimes referred to as a chef, this is not necessarily the correct term for them in the culinary world. Cooks prepare food, help chefs, and manage food stations. They may have names related to the food stations they work at, such as broiler cook, fry cook, and sauce cook. In the United States, one doesn't need to achieve a certain set of accomplishments to become a cook. Some cooks study for two to four years, learning sanitation, food safety, hospitality, and advanced cooking. Others participate in culinary apprenticeships that last about a year, where they receive on-the-job training.

A chef is a type of trained and professional cook. They have knowledge of food science, nutrition, diet, and of preparing and presenting meals. Although they are knowledgeable in all types of food preparation, they often focus on a particular cuisine. They may be formally trained at an institution, or they may learn their craft by being an apprentice of an experienced chef. They work in restaurants, but also in delicatessens, as well as in somewhat large institutions such as hotels and hospitals. They wear a toque blanche hat, neckerchief, double-breasted jacket, and an apron.

There are different types of chefs, and there is a system called a kitchen brigade by which the hierarchy of chefs are classified. The chef de cuisine is sometimes also known as an executive chef, master chef, or head chef. They are in charge of the kitchen and may be in charge of the menu, managing the kitchen staff, and ordering inventory, among other things. The sous-chef is second-in-command and fulfills various duties to keep the kitchen running smoothly. They may fill in for the chef de cuisine, and also may help the chef-de-parties when needed. A chef-de-partie is known as a line cook or station chef. They take care of a specific area of production. They may have their own hierarchy, such as "first cook," "second cook," and so forth. If they work in a large kitchen, they may have assistants; range chefs may work under them as well. There are many other titles in the brigade system. No matter if someone is a cook or one of the many kinds of chefs, today we celebrate them for all the culinary joy they bring us!

How to Observe Culinarians Day

Celebrate the day by presenting a cook or chef with a gift or simply some words of thanks. You could do this for a culinarian you know, or for one at a restaurant or at another place that you eat today. You could even prepare a meal for a chef or cook today, to give them a little break from their everyday work. If someone usually cooks meals for you at your home, you could also consider cooking for them today.

If you are a chef or cook, or are looking to become one, you could become involved with the American Culinary Federation. You could also enroll in a culinary arts program or look into how to become an apprentice. This is also a good day to watch famous television chefs, or to read a book on professional cooking and culinary arts, or a book recommended by the American Culinary Federation. You could also visit the Culinary Arts Museum or another museum related to food.

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