I know that there are many decades of Camp Alleghany Alumni who will join me in acknowledging that for over 30 years we were spoiled with the wonderous Dining Hall stylings of Ms. Hazel.
Ms. Hazel, Ms. Hazel, we know you’re nearing 80 but why, oh, why, did you have to retire?
Okay, question here for the fact checkers: Was that the single most selfish thing I have ever written in over four years of blogging?
Of course Ms. Hazel had to retire — she cooked for us from the mid 1980s until the middle of this decade and YES, when you’re in your 70s it is right and good to hang up your oven mitt and wooden spoon and call it a day!
But we were so sorry to see her go after her last summer with us in 2012! And it certainly hasn’t been easy trying to fill her shoes.
Not only did Ms. Hazel set the bar so high that Chef Jamie Oliver himself would barely be able to cross it, but like anything at camp, including trying new cooks and food services, we sometimes just have to take that “taste” to see if we are making the right choice, finding the right “fit.”
And try we have.
New recipes
After Ms. Hazel we used one of her assistants, Alene, in 2013, which worked well, but Alene’s other job at home changed and didn’t allow for summers off to work for us.
Then we tried a new hire for Summer 2014, and a turn-key camp-oriented cooking service — KANDLE — for Summer 2015. All allowed us to try or to meet new people, try new food, and explore new styles.
So I guess you can say that we’ve had a “serving” here and a “tasting” there of different cooks and kitchens.
But to use the old school language of camp from long ago, some of it turned out to be a “no thank you” helping.
It’s not that anyone did anything wrong. No!
But when you’re hungry you’re looking for just the right meal for you. We did try getting Alene back for Summer 2016 but she’s still not free to return for the summer.
And so you have to work with what you’ve got. We have to pull up our sleeves, put on the apron, pre-heat the oven, and take out the cookbook again to try something that we hope this time will “wow them!”
Home skillet
I’m sure you know that if there was a clone for Ms. Hazel, we would want her.
Ms. Hazel, Ms. Hazel, we know you’re nearing 80 but why, oh, why, did you have to retire?
We are looking!
And that’s my announcement today.
We are actively seeking a Head Cook for the summer of 2016. We’re also interested in Prep Cooks, and we may look into hiring internationally for some of the prep cooks as well.
We are still “tasting.”
Indeed, we are committed to a quality of down home food that would make Ms. Hazel proud.
So we’re asking you to not only be patient with us, but to work with us, too — maybe you have a person in mind? A reference to add? A suggestion to make? A direction to look?
And keep this in mind — today’s families look for a cook who understands food allergies and dietary restrictions.
Job opening
We ask you to please share the details on that job opening eitherfrom our Website or from a posting we listed on the American Camp Associations (ACA) website.
If you have any questions you can also call Garrett at (304) 667-2851or e-mail him.
So there you have it.
We have the highest hope for finding that “perfect fit,” that “perfect taste” — and maybe you are just the person to help us make that connection!
I remain confident that Summer 2016 will be full of good taste — foods from the past to stir our memories, foods from recent years to nourish and fulfill us, and foods into the future to keep us connected to our roots.
In the meantime, let’s take a bite of Carrie’s Yeast Rolls and keep on keeping on!
— Elizabeth Dawson Shreckhise, Assistant Director, Camp Alleghany for Girls
