MCJ 300 Final

This video feature an interview with Evan Curry, kitchen manager of Keg and Barrel, which is a local craft beer bar and restaurant located on Hardy Street.  The food has been nominated for several FestivalSouth awards and recently won “Best Comfort Food” for the chicken and waffles.  The current kitchen manager is largely responsible for the quality of food and the recent notoriety received within the state.

            My line of questioning begins with how Evan started working for Keg and Barrel and how he eventually became manager.  Then, he discusses his thought process in terms of what he could do to separate Keg and Barrel’s food menu from other restaurants in Hattiesburg.  Lastly, he discusses where the future of the restaurant lies and what role he will play in it.  The interview takes place in the Neal House which acts as the front half of the kitchen and also operates as a catering service.

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Relationships

Since I've been blogging about relationships the whole semester, I've given it more thought than I ever have in terms of what works, what doesn't, the different types etc. etc.  Relationships are kind of this all-encompassing entity when you think about it.  You have a relationship with everything and everyone you encounter and you can analyze all the little parts to it.  Knowing what makes a relationship work can enrich your life so much.

I think the first thing that is essential to relationships is accepting yourself for who you are, the good and bad.  If you can't do that there's no way you can accept anyone else for who they are.  That's the best thing about relationships is that you can exchange your insecurities without worrying someone will judge you.  Whether it's personal or professional, being able to be who you are by expressing your strengths and your weaknesses will only help you grow.

Step-brother

My dad recently had a son within the last year or so which was really weird.  I kind of resented him for it at first because he was in no position for that and he is irresponsible as it is.  You start to reflect back on your own childhood and upbringing and envision if that's gonna be the same scenario for someone else.  I hated the idea at first, and I'm still not crazy about it, but as time has gone by and I've been able to observe how things are going I'm warming up to it.

Now, I know I'm at a point where I need to develop a relationship with him even though he's away.  He needs siblings that love him and are willing to help him through whatever hardships head his way as he gets older.  The whole situation is weird and foreign, but I think the more I expose myself to it the better it will get.

New Family

After my parents divorce, both my mom and dad have been seeing other people which is really strange considering you spend your whole life with the same people.  My dad married a woman with a younger daughter, plus they just had child, and my mom is now with a man who has two sons.  At first, it's really uncomfortable developing relationships with total strangers who are now your family, but once you realize that they feel the same way then it's actually very rewarding.

It's also a great way to open yourself up in general.  Once you go through something like that and you know that it can be beneficial in the long run, you're not as hesitant to experience totally foreign things.  I hated the idea of everything at first, but now that I'm comfortable with it and my parents are happy it's turn out to be great.

Hattiesburg

My relationship with Hattiesburg has become so much more positive since I started interning at the Hattiesburg Convention Center.  Everyone that works there really takes a tremendous amount of pride in what they are doing for the city.  It's so refreshing to see so much optimism coming from these people considering some of the negativity that has come out of Hattiesburg recently.  I've always grown up around Hattiesburg so it is kind of easy to get caught in the trap of negativity especially when others are doing the same thing.

It's so easy to feed off other people's emotions and perspectives when you're around them enough.  The people who work for the city take their job very seriously and have a deep roots in Hattiesburg that has made them focus on the good and making the bad better.  I never really considered working for a community but it's on the table now because, assuming the people are right, it's very enjoyable.