A day in the life: Firemasters

So I'm sitting on the set of Fire Masters and I'm having a moment of grateful reflection.  Reflection of my journey in the Food Industry, the things I’ve done, how far I’ve come and how many dreams I’ve already realized in my 5 short years as a Chef and business owner.

THIS IS: SEASON 3

I’ve been fortunate enough to film all 3 seasons of this awesome show. My role; Sous Chef.  I’m here for the last round, the very end of the show. It’s Competitor vs Judge in a 45 minute cook off where they must each create 4 dishes with a central theme. Everything being cooked on fire, grills or smoke.  

It's a freaking rush!!  Being in the area with these Chefs is like running a 45 minute marathon of cooking.  So many elements and flavours and on-the-spot judgement calls to try to create the best Feast of Fire to potentially win $10,000. I'm here to support them in any way possible.

Now here’s where things get a little crazy...we’re still in the middle of a pandemic. So that means lots of rapid Covid tests, masks on until we’re on set, all the sanitization, sitting in a warehouse with no A/C on a day that has a heat warning with temps currently coming in at 41 degrees with the humidex.  That’s before we jump on set surrounded by 2 massive grills at full temperature, a smoker, metal barrels with flames and the ultimate Fire Pit with adjustable grills to cook on. That baby gets HOT!  I'm talking ‘melt your mascara and burn your arm hairs off’ hot. It’s no joke.  

We also run around for 45 minutes like crazy people.  Fighting for ingredients to create the perfect dishes. Trying to find equipment and plates that will best suit our execution.  Using all of our training, techniques and passion to try and create the most amazing dishes with precision and speed.  We’re trying to ‘Reign Supreme’ 

PLOT TWIST AHEAD

But this friends, this is the kicker...I’m also 21 weeks pregnant.

Ya, you read that right.  I know you’re probably thinking “what the hell is she doing filming multiple episodes of a cooking competition TV show in this heat, with that level of pressure while growing a human??”

I was talking to my GF this morning and she asked me exactly that.  I had to think about it for a minute, shake my head and wonder if my family and friends, Raph and fellow Sous Chef’s were right. Am I crazy for doing this? What provoked me to say yes?

Here’s the truth… I LOVE overcoming a challenge! 

I’ve never been into sports but I reckon this is like my psuedo version of what it would be like to win a game.  I like pushing myself to see what I can accomplish, how far I can go and what I can achieve in any given situation.  It's a freaking rush, a high even.  When I do it, and I succeed I get a feeling of pride.  It’s an internal dialogue of ‘Fuck Ya you did, Erica! You showed up, gave it your best and you did it.’  Then I'm almost immediately onto “what’s next?  How are you going to show up, get out of your comfort zone and grow?”

I’ve got a crazy 2021 catering season, a complete rebrand and relaunch of the business and likely my biggest challenge yet, the title of Momma to Baby Cruz.

Let me know your thoughts.  What's the craziest thing you’ve done and what did you learn from the experience?