The tips of my fingers are sore from minature cuts. My feet feel like blocks of stone. And my back, oy, my back. Don't you love the holidays?

Actually, whining aside, this year's season of turning out the party food was easier then in the past, considering I've been at my current kitchen longer then any other job in my career as a chef. Perhaps I'm operating on automatic pilot. But at least the pilot light stays on, despite working at an establishment that is a morph of Fawlty Towers and Upstairs Downstairs – with plenty of characters to go around, high to low.

Most of us do the best we can. Others do all they can to do absolutely the least they can! And it's always a catch up game: organise, think and act like your a skater with wings.

Happy Holidays to all you readers and god bless all good chefs, cooks and bakers. Oh yeah pastry chefs too… And remember, the customers are always right!