I met Chef Kaywork the day before I began my schooling at the CIA.
My parents had surprised me with a dinner reservation at American Bounty.
From the first moment I walked in I had a special connection with the restaurant and I knew I needed to be there.
I began looking for a job when I moved onto campus. After some trial and error I was asked to help in PM Front of House American Bounty. It was so terrifying but, also amazing and enchanted . I loved it so much even though I was always nervous being so young and unexperienced.
Chef always came and talked to me. About old cook books. Or any questions I had. I loved to observe and soak in everything there in my few hours a week.
One night many students had not shown up to Back of House class. Chef and his MIT were a bit worried. I overheard and said I would be there for smiles and support. He asked if I would like to change into my whites and help in the kitchen. I was stunned and surprised I was many, many months away from that class and had no line experience. I must have looked confused he asked again. I said I would do my best. He said something like “don’t try only do”.
I have never changed clothes so fast. I was on the Garde Manger station. At that point I had no idea what that even meant. As tickets came in Chef would come and demo and help me for the first few times and the let me on my own.
Service was a rush of adrenaline I never could have imagined.
He asked at the end of the night if I would like to spend the block in the BOH.I was the most scared of anything I had ever been but said yes.
That night changed my life.
Chef Kaywork was so kind knowing I had little idea of what was going on. He explained things in extreme detail and gave me resources to study and absorb the information. He was patient when I messed up. And he would sometimes let me drown a bit and I realized I did know enough to fix my mistakes.
I went on Externship after those few weeks. But the night I returned I went back and asked when I could be in his kitchen once again. Lucky for me it was the next night and 6+ months after that.
I did so many new techniques and tasks and gained so much confidence. As well as a deeper enjoyment and understanding of the kitchen on top of my classes each day.
Chef Kaywork had a magic about him that made every day and everything extra special, exciting and intense.
There were hard nights, lots of lessons, many tears, and plenty of laughs,but most importantly countless special memories made that I will keep forever.
I did apply to be his MIT and received the position. I did not get my full time with him due to the pandemic. But, the few months I had were truly the best.
For Christmas 2020 I wanted to share something special.I made him a green and gold winter hat.
I have a matching one, as does another CIA chef.
Every-time I wore the hat I thought of him, and I will continue too.
I sent him the hat in a box with some other goodies.
It was put in his Christmas Gift closet by his wife in order to hide it from his son.
I was nervous that the box had been lost.
He found the box a few days before Christmas and sent me a picture. A picture I will forever cherish. As I have no pictures of us together.
I hope that Hayden may enjoy the hat as much as his Dad did.
Chef Kaywork was a bright light in a world filled with gray.
He believed in me when I struggled.
He presented me with opportunities that I never thought I would be ready for.
He never failed to make me smile.
And he cared so much for those that worked with him, especially the student workers.
Ensuring that after being in class all day and now at work, that we had a good meal, our homework was done, we got some good rest and that we had at least a little fun.
I will never forget him.
He was truly one of a kind.
As one of my good friends said to me” Every plate we put up in a kitchen from now on will be for him.”
Rest well Chef