LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Restaurants across the Commonwealth are getting ready for Thanksgiving. That means cooking up a whole lot of food. Inside the Goose Creek Diner, a transformation is about to happen.
Shae Tucker has a hand, and a knife, in turning raw ingredients into Thanksgiving meals
“There’s a lot of hard work that goes into cooking these meals for everyone and there are a lot of good people behind cooking these meals.” Shae Tucker, the front of house manager at Louisville’s Goose Creek Diner explained to Spectrum News 1.
Tucker is one of the people in charge of managing Thanksgiving meal making at Goose Creek Diner. Tucker’s worked here for the last 10 years making the meals. She moved to Louisville at 18, and knew she wanted to work in food service. She said she came to work here as a server and quickly moved up.
“I love that I can feel like I’ve helped someone today.” Tucker explained as she sorted through kitchen paperwork.
Tucker told Spectrum News 1 that she has always wanted to be a pastry chef since she was young. The way she sees it, you can communicate with food. She loves the science behind cooking, and the transformation. In fact, her grandfather taught her how to cook when she was young.
“I wish he could see me now.” Tucker explained. “He was a big deal to us. Every time I cook, I always think about I wish he could’ve tasted the food that I made. I wish he could’ve seen where I work and what I get to do and how I make people laugh.”
But now, many people get to taste what she makes. The restaurant expects to cook more than 300 Thanksgiving family meals which will be boxed and sold to customers. Included is Tucker’s own pineapple chutney from her own recipe.
“It feels really good because I love to create and I love to learn.” Tucker explained.
Owner, Chris Mike said he hopes the meals bring families together. He said supply chain issues made him worry.
“We were very concerned. So, we got a little bit ahead of it. Made sure our suppliers had enough of the turkeys.” Chris Mike, the Goose Creek Diner owner explained to Spectrum News 1. ” I actually placed the order today for a lot of the other foods. We’re comfortable with the thought that we’re going to be able to have everything for everybody."
Like customer Scott Russell who ordered a Thanksgiving meal for his family.
“I’d rather not be in the kitchen, nor have my significant other do the same thing.” Roussell said with a laugh. “My kids love it. That’s all that matters.”
Tucker’s got some advice for people cooking for Turkey Day.
“Everybody seasons things differently, especially according to taste. But, especially where turkey is concerned, I would say season it with your usual’s. Salt, pepper. I always love garlic, onion powder I like my herbs with my turkey.” Tucker explained as she sliced and chopped vegetables in the restaurant’s kitchen.
At the end of the day, Tucker and Mike just hope to make people happy
“I hope people understand that family is everything.” Owner Mike explained.
Because, as Mike said, appreciate every day, every bite, and the moments with each other.
