Have you ever found yourself unexpectedly cooking for a large crowd? Last Labor Day, I attended a cookout organized by my community association, only to discover that two of the regular cooks were under the weather. The head of our association turned to me and asked if I could step in at the last minute.
Now, I’m not typically an anxious person, but I could feel the pressure building as a sea of curious faces turned toward me, eager for my response.
Of course, I said yes—after all, I’m a new member of this Sarasota, Florida community! The moment I agreed, I felt a rush of responsibility wash over me: “Alright, Damian, time to get cooking!”
Once I settled in behind two grills, I was handed trays overflowing with chicken, burgers, and hot dogs. The humidity was intense, and I was sweating buckets as I prepared the evening’s meal. I decided on a strategy of grilling each side for five minutes. Well, it was more of a guess since I had never used these grills before!
Can you relate to being thrown into a situation you never expected? To complicate things even further, I was met with a chorus of requests: “Make mine well done!” “Don’t overcook mine!” “I want mine medium rare!”
Amidst all the chaos, my only focus was on ensuring the meat was cooked just right and didn’t slip off the grill. 😂
I’m sure the cookout was a success !!