Every day students go through the Ames High lunchline to stop by to grab lunch. Many go through the line, not knowing the hard work that’s put in for students to enjoy these warm meals. The staff that works toward creating these meals is overlooked by many. Jessica King, the executive chef who works at various schools, explains the importance of making sure the chefs make the best quality meals for Ames High students while clearing up misconceptions and talking through her typical day. 

What does a typical day look like for you as an executive chef?

Well, usually I come in and I see what product came in – what hasn’t come in – If there’s anybody that needs stuff for the day, and if there’s anybody gone for the day that I have to fill in spots for, or myself fill in spots, check emails, order trucks or deliveries, order product, and then usually help somewhere with lunch, depending on where I’m at, either at any elementary or middle school or the high school, then I come back, check more emails, get caught up on paperwork, and then go home. 

How long have you been working in this role? 

I’ve been working a year, and like since April, so a couple of months. 

Are there any aspects of your job that are rewarding? 

I think all of it, yeah, especially feeding kids good food, and seeing when they really enjoy something or when they do not, and figuring out ways to make food better. That’s always really fun. 

What are some challenges you face in your role? 

When somebody’s gone or we’re missing a product or an item or something’s wrong. Usually, we have to kind of overcome those challenges of, what are we going to do instead? How can we fix the problem? So that’s usually an everyday challenge.

What are some misconceptions that people have about your job?

I think a lot of times a lot of people think that, like the chefs are always cooking and doing that kind of stuff, which, in reality, it’s not. Most of it is paperwork, office work, doing managerial stuff. The behind-the-scenes, [the chefs], the ones that do most of the cooking of the food production, I just oversee it. So I think that’s a common thing. It’s like, “Oh, you’re a chef. You cook.” Yes, I know how to cook, but I have to make sure they also know how to cook to make meals for students.

What do you enjoy most about your job? 

Being able to serve the kids good food and being able to provide them with the best quality food that we could make. So making sure the kids are fed and happy.