Facing the challenge in New York – part 17

‘After Hoventa I flew back to the States and my family was waiting for me at JFK. I did not have much time for acclimatisation as the following afternoon I was already working in La Panetier. My fears materialised: somebody was there in the morning, Jacques and Dean showed him around. The following day Jacques called me to his office and told me he had found a consulting chef, so I have two weeks to find a new job. I keep working as hard as I can; in the meantime the new pastry chef threw the towel in after two weeks. The new chef did not arrive when he was supposed to – it seems that Jacques will have no chef at all. I keep calling friends and when I sit down to talk with Arik, the chef in Napa he asks me to be his deputy from the middle of November. In the meantime Marty calls me from Martel and offers me a chance to return. I would earn more than now in Le Panetier and could work more freely as there would be no other chef, just him, Eric and me. His offer is much better than the one Napa gave me and the family council decides in favour of Martel. I am leaving Le Panetier before Thanksgiving and Jacques is desperate as he has no chef because Dean is on holiday. Since Martel is closed that day I agree to work one more day, for USD 300.’