The Back of the House

Over a phone propped up on the crowded counter of a kitchen dorm, a daughter interviews her restaurateur Mom (who also doubled as an elementary school lunch lady). Growing up in the restaurant business, she cooks up boiling stories and tasty opinions to share.

Daughter: “For many people–myself included–our parents are our first chefs. From cooking three-course holiday dinners to plating pop-tarts, mothers have their own cooking style and skill. My mom, who I have on call with me right now, grew up in the kitchen, didn’t you mom?”

Mom: “Yes I did.”

Daughter: “What was the first meal you remember cooking?”

Mom: “I used to do the desserts and made a mean stuffed puff. And everyone loved it. I ran the grill too, so I was in charge  of the line. I would make the calls like ‘FIRE that!’ ‘FIRE that pasta!’ ‘FIRE that shrimp-’ ”

Daughter: “Woah- woah- Okay, well then what's some of the craziest stories you’ve collected?”

Mom:“Hmm the restaurant was haunted by Spencer the ghost so that’s kind of crazy. No one wanted to be in the kitchen at night after the restaurant closed! Also I would see people eat off of people’s plates-”

Daughter: “Eww tell me more about that.”

Mom:“Well there’s a lot of people [employees] who would eat off of people's plates. Especially if that person looked well- groomed or sometimes when the food came back barely touched. The employees would eat it.”

Daughter: “So it’s safe to say that you may get excited if someone sent something back.”

Mom:“Yes, I guess so! Haha.”

Daughter: “And as your daughter, I know you collected a lot of quirks from being in the kitchen all the time. Like your love of sauces-”

Mom: “Yes! So, I am what they call a sauce boss. Someone who dabbles in their own sauces. I love a good mayonnaise sauce, mushroom sauce–figuring out what sauces work with different things.”

Daughter: “That’s who I get it from too I guess haha. I’m interviewing you as a mom, but also as someone who worked-”

Mom: “As a lunch lady!” 

Daughter: “Tell me about it.”

Mom: “I was tired of packing my kids lunches and then they would come home not eaten! So I decided after volunteering at my kids [lunch] program to change the [lunch] program haha.”

Daughter: “Super cool. So what were the most popular lunch staples at a grade school?”

Mom: “Pizza! And hundreds of chocolate chip pancakes. Kids could not get enough of the sweets even if their parents didn’t like them.”

Daughter: “True! Now, let's return to way before that. When did you decide you wanted to be in the kitchen or were you always there?” 

Mom: “I was always there. I started at dishes, then cleaning tables and then into the kitchen. It was either do that or be a nurse and I don’t think I wanted to be a nurse just yet.”

Daughter: “Just yet? Mom, are you going to go to nursing school or something?”

Mom: “No no- I guess I loved helping people and being in the restaurant business is another form of service and it was the service I grew to love.”

Ly and Laura Coviello