That one time we broke down on the freeway....

I had to short the title because "that one time we were helping catering a wedding and broke down in the restaurant's truck with all the food in it" wouldn't fit.

So.... remember how 'Mr. Sprinkles and Glitter' and I met at a restaurant we both worked at? Neither of us technically 'work' there anymore, but we still help out if they're ever busy and we always work Valentine's Day!!

Yeah, well, that same restaurant had a wedding to cater on a Thursday, and the owner and his wife were invited as guests. Their daughter was also IN the wedding and their son was invited as a guest as well (he works at the restaurant). So, they called us and asked if we wanted to cater the wedding. Sure, why not? What else did we have going on a Thursday and who doesn't love a good wedding?!

They told us to be at the restaurant at 5:15 to leave at 5:30. We got there, and the kitchen was behind with getting everything ready for us to take. We finally got in the truck at about 5:50... 20 minutes later than we should have. No biggie- we had plenty of time.

We started driving and realized that the AC wasn't working... keep in mind its 5:40pm in Arizona, in the middle of July. It was ridiculously hot! So we rolled down the windows and made the best of it.

We got about 2 miles down the road and 'Mr. Sprinkles and Glitter' said that we had no gas. I asked if we needed to stop and he said no, since we were already running late- we would stop after. Okay, cool, no problem.

I was looking over the directions and fanning myself with the extra piece of paper when 'Mr. Sprinkles and Glitter' says 'uh-oh...' I asked 'what' as I continued reading over the directions. We were on the on a one-lane on ramp merging from one freeway in a large catering truck. He began stomping on the gas peddle saying 'it's not going...' Thinking we for sure ran out of gas, I told him to pull over (before we headed down the steep on-ramp onto the freeway). The brakes weren't working either! Lovely! So we pulled over and he pulled the emergency break HARD- like really, really hard!

He called the owner and told him what happened (keep in mind, they are on the way to this wedding as guests!) and they said they would come get us.

While we were waiting, he tried undoing the emergency break and we couldn't get it to go back in. Then the owner went to the wrong freeway on-ramp.

They finally got there and we were able to undo the emergency break. This is where it becomes a shit show. Remember how we were on the side of a one-lane- freeway on-ramp? There were were trying to transfer the salads and appetizers from the catering truck into his truck while cars flew by up at 65mph. AND they were dressed to the nines! She was running back and fourth in HEELS! it was ridiculous! We finally got the salads and apps and took off in his truck and left him to wait for the mechanic.

At this point, we were running EXTREMELY behind and trying to make up as much time as possible. (On the positive side- his truck had AC!)

We finally got there and LAWDHAVEMERCY--- it was an outside wedding.... with an outside reception!!!!!! Who does this?! Who? Remember how it was the middle of July in Arizona?? I'm not joking when I say it was at least 107 degrees!
We immediately started setting up with a ton of hungry guest watching our every move, asking when it was going to be ready. We finally got through salads and appetizers and set up the entrees. Oh. my. goodness!! Anything and everything that could have gone wrong- went wrong. We ran out of appetizer plates and napkins and when I went to ask the wedding planner for more (they were in charge of supplying them) she locked herself in her office!

We finally- and I mean finally- got through dinner service, with just as many problems as we had during the apps and salads. It was hands-down the most difficult catering job I've ever done. Luckily, we've done this before and were able to get everything handled smoothly.

We got everything packed up and headed back to the restaurant (way later than we thought we would finish) and ended up staying and having drinks with the owners after we unloaded the truck and laughing about how ridiculous the evening was!
P.S. they got the truck fixed (on the side of the freeway!) it was the fuel pump!

*Have you ever broke down before? 

*What's your favorite part of a wedding?