Showing posts with label English. Show all posts
Showing posts with label English. Show all posts

Monday, February 5, 2024

Informative Essay: How to Clean Your Kitchen Like a Pro

Hello all,

    The informative essay is a tool used to simply educated an audience on a subject, without providing opinion or attempting to persuade the reader. It's what you should think of when you consider a news report. Believe it or not, there was a time of truly unbiased reporting. Sure, it may exist today but, it is certainly not as common. I digress. 

    I wrote this paper a few years ago, while completing an English course. I wrote it in the form of a "How-To." Most of my young professional life, I worked in kitchens. So, I decided to approach this assignment as something of a tutorial for creating and applying a plan toward effectively cleaning a kitchen. It is based on my real world experience. Quite frankly, it is still a strategy that I use for cleaning any kitchen I find myself in. 

This is: How to Clean Your Kitchen Like a Pro

Generic products, sponges, baking soda, vinegar, on a kitchen counter
    The job of kitchen steward is often overlooked. Being a Chef, a cook, or a waiter is usually the most glamorous position in food service, but a quality cleaning staff is vital to a successful restaurant. While it does not require much technical skill, without a plan, the amount of work to be done at the end of a shift can be overwhelming. There is much to be learned about organization, preparation, cleanliness, and even the culinary arts from this position. To do it well can be valuable, fulfilling, and relaxing. 

Over the course of several years, I have learned several techniques to be as efficient as possible closing a kitchen. In this essay, I will explain the process that I continue to use at home, including the preparation, dry cleaning, and wet cleaning stages. Whether you are starting a new position in large restaurant or it is just your turn to clean up after a family gathering, this approach will ensure that you are efficient and not overwhelmed by the task. If you do it right, you might find the experience cathartic and may even learn to enjoy yourself. At the very least, having a clean kitchen is something any good cook can appreciate.

Preparation

Before doing anything, stepping back, and taking a good look around is a smart idea. Taking a minute or two to analyze the situation and form a plan will avoid any surprises, such as finding loose dishes or forgetting about the dirty pan in the oven after you have already finished. Round up anything that needs to be cleaned and make sure all the tools you will need are readily available. Ensure that the dish rack is empty, collect a few towels, check that you have cleaning products, a broom, a dustpan, and a mop. It is also a great idea to locate a stereo or some headphones. Listening to your favorite music can really motivate you and make the job fun.

Dry Clean

    The same way that a muddy floor is harder to clean than a dusty one, a kitchen mess is always easier to clean in a dry state. Make a dry pass across all surfaces to remove any crumbs. Since this plan includes cleaning the floor, you can just sweep everything right onto the floor. Ideally, you will have some help putting away any left-over food. If not, removing all the food from pots, pans and serving dishes is an important step. Scraping as much food waste into the trash as possible will ensure that your dishwater stays cleaner for longer. Once all the food waste is removed and the surfaces are clear of crumbs, sweep the floor so it is ready to be mopped. Trying to mop an un-swept floor can be extremely inefficient, so pick up anything that will go into a dustpan.

Wet Clean

Before filling the sink with dishwater, rinse the dirtiest dishes and remove any food from the sink to ensure the cleanest water possible. Nobody likes swirling their hands under the water only to be surprised by an unidentified object. For burnt, stained or otherwise difficult dishes baking soda can have softening properties when added to water. Either pre-soaking these dishes or adding a pinch of baking soda to the sink can help release stubborn areas. A splash of bleach will improve sterilization when dealing with raw meat and egg products. Starting with ceramic, glass and plastic dishes can preserve the cleanliness of the water as cookware tends be the dirtiest. Save the worst for last. 

    Provided the water is still warm and clean when the dishes are finished, soaking a wet sponge or cloth in it is great way to deep clean the counters and appliances. This is the time to put some elbow grease into the dried sauces or burnt food on the stove that did not come off in the dry clean stage. You may also use an all-purpose cleaner if the dishwater is not clean enough. Use a clean, dry cloth to finish the counters and appliances to help them dry faster. 

    At this point, you have probably dropped some water on the floor. Luckily, it has already been swept and is prepared to be mopped. When mopping the floor, it is a good idea to plan an exit strategy. You may need to leave the kitchen to empty the mop bucket. Starting in a far corner and working backwards towards the exit will keep you from stepping on your clean, wet floor. A fan can be set up to expedite the drying process. This is also an opportunity to throw out the garbage or take a break while everything dries. You earned it.

Conclusion

    Most of my working career has been in a kitchen, from fast-food establishments to fine dining. Most of what I know about cooking was learned as a dishwasher. I gained invaluable experience handling pots, pans, and knives all day. Knowing the weight of a pan full of water is not much different than if it was full of food and spending so much time with culinary professionals gave me an appreciation for the dedication that goes into creating a delicious plate. 

Assessing the situation, forming a plan, organizing the area, and using resources efficiently can take any task from intimidating to finished. Separating the process into dry and wet stages will keep you from making an even bigger mess. Removing as much food waste as possible before starting dishwater can make it last longer. Finally, establishing a mopping route that will allow you to leave the kitchen without walking on a wet floor will make sure it dries clean and prevent any slip and fall. Cleaning the kitchen may be an unpopular task, but it can still be done well and provide value to any restaurant or home kitchen.

Joshua Lucero

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This document should provide you with an example of my ability write informatively, while exemplifying my ability to organize and accomplish tasks. It may also show humility, as a proud former dishwasher, who can take responsibliity for simple tasks seriously. This piece should also show you an example of document formatting and the use of proper English principles.

To this day, I truly enjoy cleaning the kitchen. I cook at home so, it's quite necessary most of the time but, it has never been a chore to me. It was not uncommon to spend nearly 8-10 hours mindlessly scrubbing, rinsing, processing, and storing various dishware and kitchen utilities. It was the long, slow, uneventful mornings that were usually the most taxing. I still prefer to clean a large kitchen, as opposed to a single dish and cup every now and again. Look at me, I'm almost tempted to write some more about the zen-like state one could find in the kitchen. Maybe some other time.

For more what an Informative Essay is, and how to write your own, check out Purdue University's Global resource, here: https://purdueglobalwriting.center/writing-an-informative-essay/

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Sincerely yours,
Joshua Lucero
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Saturday, February 3, 2024

Modern American ESL Tutor for Hire

 Hey! How’s your English?

  • Do you understand most of it but, have some trouble fine tuning it? 
  • Have you mastered the spelling and grammar but, find yourself confused by some phrases?
  • Are you still noticing awkward faces when you're sure that you've used the right vocabulary?

    Most tutors will provide a “professional” or “college paper” level of English, and that’s great! However, even if you get perfect marks in those departments, you may still struggle with “slang” or niche phrases that can make communicating with native speakers a bit tricky. That’s ok, too! Most of us understand you well enough to carry on but, if you would like to speak more like a casual American, I believe I can help you to express your ideas with a little panache.

    I am a college graduate, who excelled in English classes throughout all of my education. I enjoy reading and writing for my own pleasure. Even when writing texts, emails, and social media posts, I just can’t help but to use proper grammar and spelling. It’s just a habit that has stayed with me but, I can also appreciate the fun ways we can turn phrases and manipulate spellings to create fun new ways to interact, like, “Dats kewl, bro!” Or, “Yo. Wassup, gurl?” These kinds of greetings would anger your teacher but, to some average Americans, this is an acceptable way to chat.

    I have also spent significant time learning other languages, so much so, that I can often understand “broken English” quite effectively. Not only do I know what you were trying to communicate but, I often know why you chose the words you did and how you can learn to choose a more accurate phrase, because I understand how your language pieces words together. For instance, the way Spanish sentences are formed is entirely different from English. So, a direct, word for word translation might be accurate enough but, some native speakers will be confused.

"Yo tengo hambre."

    In Spanish, this basically means that "I am hungry." However, to translate it precisely, it might read, "I have hunger." Most Americans would understand but, some verbs that indicate a form of possession, like "having hunger," in English are actually used to explain a state of being that one is "participating in." These slight nuances exist across many different languages. That's why simply using an automatic translation tool doesn't always work perfectly. Even some British to American English translations can leave native speakers baffled!

    I grew up in the Southwestern United States. While I am not fluent, I do have an understanding of Spanish and that has also helped me to wrap my head around French, German, and some Portuguese. Along with that, I am intent on learning more about the ESL (English as a Second Language) program but, if you're looking for me, you probably already have that sorted out. I imagine myself as someone that you can bring your questions to about specific instances. Maybe I can read your document, email, or social media posts and check them for readability. 

    I DO NOT have an ESL accreditation, but, I am confident that I can help you polish your vocabulary so that native speakers may not even notice that English is your second language. I am also available to help students with English assignments, such as grammar, spelling, and punctuation, even if you are a native speaker. 

    For a free consultation, send me a quick message about yourself, what your goals are, and how committed you are to mastering English. We may be able to work exclusively via email for a reasonable fee, or we can negotiate a more substantial agreement working with video meetings.I am not a “professional.” I don’t work for a company. I am just an independent writer who is looking to coach motivated individuals and make an honest living. 

    Let's begin by opening up the comment section. Share something that you're confused about and we'll see if we can figure it out, together. If you find my help useful, then you can consider tipping me. If you feel that you need more help, then we can discuss a traditional tutoring session via email, Zoom, or in person. 


Sincerely yours,
Joshua Lucero

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