Night supervisor Albert Gamiochipi received the order of a lifetime when members of Al Gore’s entourage called in a dinner order last Tuesday for the visiting former Vice-president before his talk at the Flint Center.
Gamiochipi prepared the meal for Gore with the other members of his team Maria Calderon from Mexico, Seng Kaing from Cambodia and Annie Tran from Vietnam. The team was invited to deliver the meal in person to Gore in the Flint Center’s Green Room.
When the team brought the meal Gore stood up from his laptop and introduced himself. He was very friendly and spoke to them in their own languages, Gamiochipi said.
Maria Calderon said she was very happy to speak to Gore and that he addressed her in her native Spanish.
Gamiochipi and his team prepared organic sirloin steaks with an organic whole wheat pasta and grilled organic vegetables. The team also brought a sampling of the biodegradable utensils and containers used in the cafeteria as well as literature about De Anza’s locally grown organic salad bar.
Patrick Gannon, director of food services for the cafeteria said Gore “couldn’t understand the level of cuisine from a cafeteria.” Gore ordered from the Hinson Cafeteria again Thursday night before his talk at the Flint.
“It was a real honor. I shook his hand and the next day he won the Nobel Prize,” said Gamiochipi laughing. “Want to shake my hand?”