Over the years I’ve worked with a lot of different people in kitchens all over the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the U.K. Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao and of course Belize.

Describing all the people I met could fill a book by itself.

In one of these places I had a wonderful guy working at the room service kitchen, and his name was Oscar. As I said, Oscar was wonderful but sometimes it just wasn’t his day, and he’d forget to season the food properly.

At some point I called him into my office and had a little chat with him. I told him, “ Oscar, all the food you send out must look good and taste good. I want you to taste every dish before you send it out and make sure you like the taste. If it is good for you then it should be good for the guest too. Do you understand what I’m asking you to do?”

Oscar replied “OK chef I understand. I must taste the food that I prepare, and if I don’t like it, bring it ‘up to taste’ and then serve it.”

A couple of hours later I got a phone call from a very upset guest in the hotel, who was totally unhappy with her room service meal. I talked to the guest and apologised and promised to make things right.

After speaking with the guest, I went to Oscar and asked him what the guest had ordered and what had happened.

Oscar told me, “She ordered a vegetarian fettuccini.”

I answered, “Correct that is what the guest had told me, but why the heck did you send a fettuccini with only ham and bacon then?”

Oscar’s reply was “Well Chef, I first made a vegetarian pasta and tasted it, but I didn’t like it because I don’t like vegetables — but I do like ham and bacon…”