Grimm...Yeah Baby!!!!!

I was on another episode of Grimm and guess who was on set…the man, my friend, and the greatest drummer to have ever lived…Mr. Jerome Baraquio (aka Officer Oster on the hit TV show Grimm). 

It shouldn’t be a surprise…I mean Jerome already had the best hair, is an established musician…so why not add future Emmy Award winner to his resume. Right?

So watch Grimm (new episodes…old episodes) to see homies like Jerome Baraquio, DJ Cowboy, Jerry Bell Jr., Todd Robinson, Jonni Armani, and other great folks. Don’t just stop on Grimm though because they are all doing so so so much more.

Better yet don’t blink when you watch Grimm (seriously don’t blink it goes quick) and you may just see me on a couple of the episodes.

 

http://chrisallreddesign.com/

 

Fast Food Restaurants Siphon Oil in Minutes

Have you ever wondered how and when restaurants change out the oil that they fry in? Me either! In fact the only time I ever think about it when I am watching one of those cooking shows that show the behind the scenes of some nasty ass restaurant kitchen that I wouldn’t be eating at if I knew the truth.

How do they change the oil though? I could imagine someone going to one of those big mega stores and buying shopping carts full of vegetable oil, and leaving nothing for the rest of us. I could also imagine 55 gallon drums filled with new and used oil out behind the restaurant. Of course the job of changing out the oil would fall onto the lowest paid employee. Their clothes would be ruined, soaked in grease as they tried to use a 5 gallon bucket to transfer oil to and from the 55 gallon barrels. Cold oil splashing on the floor as they tried semi-successfully to transfer the oil (with about half of the oil making the trip). The bucket would be dripping all down the sides, onto the floor as the employee slips and slides. They could get smart (restaurant employees are paid by the hour) and ladle the oil from the barrel to the bucket. Of course this would turn a 20 minute job into a 4 hour job. It is probably safer, definitely cleaner, and what the hell customers don’t really need fries (that is blasphemy).

The other day I ran into this guy who absolutely loves his job, and so I took it upon myself to inquire and learn. What his company does is switch out the cooking oil in a number of locations for some restaurant chains.

Basically his truck if filled with oil. There are different containers that hold gallons upon gallons (see numbers going up the side of photo) of specific oils for specific customers.

The process of sucking out the used oil and pumping in the new oil happens simultaneously, all within a matter of a few minutes. The old oil is processed and turned into biofuel so your vehicle smells like French fries (I like French fries…a lot).

Great concept, great way to change out the cooking oil, and it is safer; not as funny to watch as in the 55 gallon drum scenario, but safer for sure.

Moral of the story…eat more fries.

 

http://chrisallreddesign.com/

Thank You to the Sponsors

Thank you to all of the people and businesses who have helped in sponsoring my Lemon Cake Initiative. Because of your help through time and/or money, we have been able to reach the point that we are today.

It means so much to me that people have come together for a cause that has helped shape my life. The Lemon Cake Initiative started as a gimmick, but has grown into its own thing that I am excited about continuing beyond my original plan. I have met and worked with so many great people since I started down this path, and because of you, we have a chance to grow and expand that vision in 2015.

YOU ARE AMAZING…you absolutely are. I couldn’t have done any of this without each and every one of you…I wouldn’t want to.

Let’s keep the momentum going. If you want to help, or know someone who might want to help, please reach out to me.

Reminder for those few folks that have made a commitment but haven’t followed through yet; I haven’t forgotten about you, so please don’t forget about me…everything truly does help.

Thank you for helping me, helping this initiative, but most importantly thank you for being you.

See who else is supporting the lemon cake initiative:

http://chrisallreddesign.com/sponsorship

 

 

Stories overheard in a North Portland store...Part 2

1. A mom and her 4-5 year old daughter, who was named Robbie, shopping the marked down Christmas sales.
Mom: “Hey Robbie, remember when you wanted to find dad the perfect gift? I think I found it, come here.”
Robbie walks over and proclaims, “Fu** yeah!”
Mom: “Robbie, remember what your dad and I ask for Christmas? We asked for you to stop using that language.”
Robbie: “Christmas is over.”
The two continue shopping.
Robbie: “I want Taco Bell.”
Mom: “You know Taco Bell gives me the sh*ts.”
The two continue to look around.
Mom: “I think I found you the perfect gift. Better than that sh** your dad bought you.”

 

2. A very large woman walks up the counter and is looking to return an item.

Woman: “I need to return this bra.”
Cashier (who is female): “What bra?”
The lady pulls down the front of her shirt.
Cashier: “The bra you’re wearing? Sorry, but we don’t sell bras.”
Woman: “I need to return this. My stupid idiot of a man bought this for me and it makes me look fat.”
Cashier: “I’m sorry but we can’t return items that we don’t sell.”
Woman: “Get me the manager.”
The manager (who is male) comes over to help.
Manager: “How can I help you?”
Woman: “I need to return this bra right here.” She unbuttons part of her shirt, which looks to fluster the manager.
Manager: “We don’t sell bras, and so there would be no way for us to return it.”
Woman: “Look! My dumbass of a man bough me this and it doesn’t fit me right. It pushes everything out making me look fat. Now I need to return it.”
Manager: “Can you call and ask your husband where he bought it?”
Woman: “Sh**, he ain’t my husband. He don’t shop nowhere else.”
The lady calls and puts the phone on speaker. The guys on the other end answers.
Woman: “They ain’t letting me return this stupid ass bra. Where you buy it?”
Guy: “At the mall.”
Woman: “Where in the mall?”
Guy: “At the lingerie store.”
Woman: “You know my big ass t*tt*es ain’t fitting in no Victoria Secret.”
Guy: “I didn’t get it at Victoria Secret.”
Woman: “Where did you get it then?”
Guy: “At the big lady store.”
Woman: “Bit**, where did you get the fu**ing money to be shopping at the mall? Sh**!” She hangs up the phone. She returns talking the store employees, “Can I return this or what?”
Manager: “We don’t sell bras, and so there would be no way for us to return it.”
Woman: “Mutha fu**ing Walmart returns things that weren’t bought there.”
Manager: “Sorry ma’am.”
Woman: “I’m calling corporate on y’all’s asses.” She storms out of the store mumbling loudly, but undecipherable.

Stories overheard in a North Portland store...Part 1

1. A man is shopping with his 3-4 year old daughter:
Daughter: “I know where the slippers are. Do you want me to show you?”
Dad: “You do?”
Daughter: “Me and Mommy came her yesterday to buy some.”

2. A guy, with his wife/girlfriend, talking on a cellphone to his drug supplier (I could only hear one side of the conversation):
“Is Ricky there?”
“Put him on right quick.”
“Hey do you have that weed I need?”
“How much can I get right now?”
“Do you have that other sh** cut.”
“Me and “T” are at the store right now, but we’ll be there right quick.”

3. A guy comes in to use the bathroom (the bathrooms are key coded):
Guy: “Can I use the bathroom?”
Employee: “Are you a customer?”
Guy: “No!”
Employee: “The…”
Guy: “If it was dark out I wouldn’t be in here asking if you know what I mean.”
The employee showed him back to the restroom area.

Tres Shannon of Voodoo Doughnut Joins Chris Allred’s Lemon Cake Initiative

Tres Shannon, co-founder and owner of Voodoo Doughnut, is by all definitions his own person. Everything he does is because he wants to do it, which honestly is something that all of dream about (maybe even talk about), but never have what it takes to make it happen. Tres is a person that others should envy (Note: don’t envy anyone…be happy with who you are and what you have).

I met with Tres a couple of times, and the 2nd time was to get him on camera eating my lemon cake. Was I nervous having the doughnut king eat my lemon cake? Not at all, because I know that they’ll stand up to any scrutiny.

The truth is he ate all of what I brought, which is and will always be the biggest of all compliments. Thank you sir!!!

Tres really is fantastic, but don’t try to use social media or pretty much anything internet related to reach out to him because he is purposely old school and doesn’t use all of that. Why…because he’s Tres Shannon and he actually does what he wants because he can.

See who else is supporting the lemon cake initiative:
http://chrisallreddesign.com/sponsorship
 

Jason “Jay” Mewes Joins Chris Allred’s Lemon Cake Initiative

I swear that Jay doesn’t change, except for the facial hair and being…well…older. Not old, but older than when Jay and Silent Bob found their way into everyone’s homes.

Jason Mewes is as real as they come. Before I got him on camera he came out to meet us while zipping up his pants (just came out of the restroom). I was told that he makes working on the set interesting, like his ability to fart during filming (I tried to get him to do it during our filming but he said he doesn’t do it on cue…oh well).

All around great guy, and I can say that because he’s not a huge sweets fan and doesn’t really like lemon (true or not?); nevertheless he straight up endorsed my lemon cake as if it was the best thing ever. Now that’s an actor!!!!

Check out Jason Mewes as Jay as you’re waiting for the release of “Deet N Bax Save the World”.

See who else is supporting the lemon cake initiative:

http://chrisallreddesign.com/sponsorship