By Clare Shreve
Baba ganoush, dishwashing and lattes aren't the only things you'll find Bon Appetit workers know about. Here's an introduction to three Bon Appetit employees. Brandon Whalen, Commons: Known for his killer curries and heavenly pita, Brandon Whalen, Commons chef, also kills on his electric guitar as a member of the band, Knife Talk. The band's punky new album, "Armageddon", will soon be available on iTunes for purchase. Whalen is from a small town on the Oregon coast, where he left soon after turning 18 for Portland. Portland has been good to Knife Talk, with one exception. The band played shows at Satyricon, an all-ages alternative-rock music venue. However, four months ago it had a show booked at the Hawthorne Theatre. Due to an absent drummer, the show was canceled. "We're definitely cursed", Whalen said. After going through three drummers in four months, the curse becomes more apparent. On top of working a full time job at the Commons, Whalen contributes most of his free time to the music. "It's another full-time job," Whalen said, who goes from work to practice almost every day. In addition, Whalen also runs a small recording studio. He uses it from time to time to record other bands, generally when Knife Talk needs a few extra dollars. Ariel Crary is a dishwasher and prep cook. Ariel Crary, who found the job on Craigslist.com is new to Bon Appetit this year. A Portland local, Crary worked at Portland State University, before coming to UP, where she was hired originally as a dishwasher. She ended up not washing many dishes and instead learning to cook. "If you ask the cooks what they're making, they'll almost always show you how to do it, Crary pointed out. She learned a lot about cooking from observing the chefs she worked with at PSU. Now at UP, Crary is a dishwasher/prep cook. She does a little bit of everything, and works where they need her the most, Crary said. When she first started in the food industry, Crary used to bake a pie a week, to perfect her craft. Even now, despite working around food all week, she usually spends her weekends in front of the stove. She doesn't always write down her recipes, and often ends up creating her dishes as she goes. "That's the thing about cooking, you don't necessarily write it down," Crary said. "After an almost 40-hour work week, Crary enjoys sleeping and being with her two cats, Bum Bum and Isis. Although she's new to the University of Portland, barista Mary Lopez is quite familiar with the city of Portland. Lopez grew up in Northeast Portland and she sees herself staying here for quite some time. Lopez can usually be found working as barista in the Cove's coffee area early in the morning. She begins work at 6 a.m., which can become a bit tiring after going to school the night before until 9 p.m. "You get used to it," Lopez said. And thanks to an ad on Craigslist.com Lopez found this job. In addition to working, Lopez currently is taking night classes at Portland Community College Cascade to become a paramedic. Shes enrolled in a crisis management class this semester. Taking just one class a semester, she's hoping to be out of school in three more years. With classes and a full time job, Lopez is cautious about taking too much on at once. "I know my limits," Lopez said. Although that may seem like a lot, she is also a masseuse on the side. Lopez went to the San Francisco School of Massage for nine months to master the trade. Her jobs vary as much as her tastes do. She loves to listen to Pandora, a free online music service, and she'll listen to anything from electronic to salsa. She loves the Hollywood Theatre, where she recently saw the H.P. Lovecraft Film Festival. "The H.P. Lovecraft Film Festival," according to its website, "promotes the works of H.P. Lovecraft, literary horror, and weird tales through the cinematic adaptations by professional and amateur filmmakers." And in true North Portland tradition, her favorite bridge is the St. John's Bridge. After finishing school she sees herself living in Portland, working as a paramedic.
