Bread and Oil or Career Diary of a Caterer

Bread and Oil: Majorcan Culture's Last Stand

Author: Tomas Graves

Coarse bread bathed in olive oil, then rubbed with tomato or garlic and salt, is common to all the Mediterranean cultures from France to Algeria, from Morocco to Greece. On the island of Majorca, it is known as pa amb oli, bread and oil. Tomás Graves takes this healthy peasant staple as a starting point to explore not only Mediterranean cooking, agriculture, and traditions but also the historical crosscurrents that have rescued this simple dish from disappearing along with a way of life that had remained essentially unchanged since Roman times.

Pa amb oli has come to symbolize for Majorcans all that is still honest and valid in the island, which became a major tourist destination in the 1960s and has been looking for its soul ever since. Bread and Oil celebrates the Majorcan character as reflected in its eating habits-simplicity, serenity, resourcefulness, and no qualms about getting one's hands oily.

Author Biography: Tomás Graves lives in Deià, Majorca. He is a master craftsman of typographic design and letterpress printing and formerly operated the New Seizin Press with his wife, Carmen. He also plays in a rock band, contributes articles to Connoisseur magazine, and is the author of A Home in Majorca: A Practical Guide to the Traditional House and Rural Life. The son of celebrated British poet and classicist Robert Graves, he was born and raised in Majorca.

Interesting textbook: Democracy Citizenship and the Global City or Our Forests Our Future

Career Diary of a Caterer: Gardner's Guide Series

Author: Jennifer Heigl

This series examines a wide array of professions; each book goes behind the scenes and on the job with a professional in a particular field. These books provide a glimpse of some of the projects, challenges, and rewards of a job on a day-to-day basis.

 

Humor and true stories abound in this lively glimpse into the real world of catering. Each day presents a new challenges in this diary, and routine tasks are frequently interrupted by major snafus, irate customers, and last minute orders. Trained cooks who fantasize about owning a food service will quickly see that thinking on their feet and remaining confident of their skills will be important keys to success in this business.