Anecdotes from Chef Meg
April 25th, 2025
Writer: Violeta Neuman
Editor: Liv Bennis
Every Friday from 3:30 to 6:30, I work in the kitchen of my sorority house, and it never fails to be one of the highlights of my week. Chef Meg, who cooks breakfast for us every day and dinner on Friday and Sunday, has been a constant presence in the house. I still remember moving in and her telling me, almost as if it were already decided, that I’d be working with her on Fridays. I made sure to be the one scheduled. Technically, my job involves a list of tasks—filling snacks, taking out the trash, sweeping—but in reality, those three hours are mostly filled with conversation. Meg likes to joke that my real job is “to talk to her and keep her company,” but I think it’s so much more than that. Over time, our conversations have become a steady thread in my life, grounding me when everything else feels chaotic. We talk about everything: stories about her kids, my boy problems, our plans for the weekend, life advice I didn’t even know I needed. She even reads each of my articles before I submit them, offering feedback like she’s been an editor her whole life.
Meg is proof that it is the people who quietly always show up that make the biggest impact. It's easy to overlook the people who always show up for you, without asking for recognition. Meg has shown me the importance of caring for these relationships, and how it's the subtle kindness, the kind that expects nothing in return, that means the most. Every day at breakfast, when the girls pick up the order and say “thank you,” she never fails to respond with “of course!” And I think that describes exactly the kind of person she is. Everyone living in the house would speak about Meg at the highest level. She doesn’t realize it, but she inspires me every day. She inspires me to show up, to be kind to everyone around me, and to approach life with a more positive attitude.
Working with Meg has taught me that some of the best life lessons come from the most unexpected places. When I signed up for the job, I didn’t expect my sorority kitchen to be where I learned about patience, resilience, and the importance of showing up–but that’s exactly what happened. I think we can all learn a little bit from Meg, from the way she greets everyone with warmth, to the way she listens with intention, and to the way she exudes joy and kindness like no other. Her kindness is never performative, never something done for recognition; it's just who she is. And being able to witness the effect it has had on me and the girls has been magical. People always say be kind to everyone because you never know what someone is going through, and becoming close with Meg has made me truly realize the truth behind that statement. The power in the small everyday gestures– the kind that don’t ask for anything in return- are the ones with the lasting impact. At the end of the day, these Friday afternoons are ones I will never forget, just sitting and talking to Meg, realizing that some of the most meaningful connections in life come from the simplest moments. Years from now, I may forget the specific conversations, but I’ll always remember the feeling of those Friday afternoons—the warmth, the laughter, and the quiet lessons Meg taught me just by being herself.
