by Adele Thompson
 

Sadly, the kvetch has run out of things upon which to comment.

April Fools.

Our new focus on sanitizing strikes a familiar note for this old nurse. Anyone working in the kitchen should begin by washing their hands (I love the new grammar). Even if you are only preparing food for yourself, if you will open a drawer for silverware or take a plate from the shelves, use the refrigerator or the microwave, you will be touching common surfaces. Washing protects you from the drek you have acquired and reduces its transmission to the next person.

Before corona we were all pretty casual but now the theme is an Abundance of Caution - "AC" - and these classic infection control practices should be remembered and used religiously.

About washing: soap and water are always available in the kitchen, cheaper and more appealing than smelly hand sanitizers.

Examining kitchen surfaces, we find counters and the big table usually look clean but the top of the garbage can, right at the end of the table, is not as reliable and is not a good place for resting food. From observations, the top shelves of the wheeled carts are more likely to be cleaned than the lower shelves. And because the drainboard does not actually drain, items laid there often lay in water which gets slimy in the corners. (I've been saving that detail for some time.) Please minimize using this area for long-term storage, i.e., put stuff away.

The current infection awareness offers the kitchen committee an opportunity to champion use of the dishwasher. Items can be cleaned of food residue then collected in a rack. When the rack is full or the day is done it can be run. The potential dilemma, how to distinguish the washed from the unwashed, will be solved when the person who runs the dishwasher always empties it. Please wear gloves when unloading. Among the several advantages are more consistent dish sanitizing, more efficient use of water, and more people acquainted with the dishwasher, a silver lining to this corona cloud. A trial of this procedure was begun by an especially eager congregant as this article is being written. We hope you will join her.

Finally, in the service of transparency, we are excited to announce that Steering is considering adding a new cluster. The kvetch cluster will join Limud, Makom, et al in our governance structure. The mission of the kvetch is apparent--to offer commentary with particular focus on Havurah's kitchen. It will be self-funded (talk is cheap after all) and very inclusive. Join us when you feel moved and watch this column for further developments.

April Fools!