Saturday, January 10, 2009

Getting back into the groove..

After two weeks of sleeping in (mean past 4:30am), this past week was a bit of a struggle as my body was revolting against me. I remember back when (look out old guy rambling!) I could get up a 4:30a after going to bed three hours earlier and suffering no ill effects - not so much so more.

Even going to bed at a semi-decent time of no later than 10:30 was tough this week. I promise this will be the last I talk about it. Getting back into the 'school groove' was a slow process but I feel that my body has caught up and it's time to rock!

One of the great things that happened is that I'm now a member of the Western Culinary Institute Culinary Competition Team. I'm a second alternate, which is fine by me I'm the least experienced member - hence the alternate but I've still got a lot of input to what's going on and I do have to learn everyone's job so that in case of an emergency I'm ready to rock and roll. I'll also be the team photographer at events and what not - I think that will help a lot when it comes to photographing food. Not to mention I'll be working on the display menu that has to be done. To say I'm excited to be a part of this venture is an understatement.

I also joined the Charcuterie Club as well and can't wait for our next meeting, I missed the first one because it fell on the same day that out Competition club met for the first time, and the meeting last almost 2 hours. And I've got a sauce club meeting next weekend as well.

A part of me is wondering if I'm going to end up spreading myself too thin, but I want to be as active as I can be at school. One thing I learned in 12 years in radio, is to learn and absorb as many things as possible - the more you know the more you can step in and do anything that's needed. I was at my strongest in radio (to use a baseball term) "Utility Man". I feel that I thrive in that kind of environment so this is really up my alley.

I've got some pictures to post, but that will come later.

Sunday, January 4, 2009

Quotes

In my locker at school hangs a piece of paper with these quotes, I also have one just inside my door of my room so that I have no choice but to look at it standing at my dresser or on the way out of my room. I plan to add more as I come across them, but right now these are the main three quotes I have.

So I figured I'd pass these on.


Everything is relative but there is a standard which must not be deviated from, especially with reference to the basic culinary preparations.


A.Escoffier
The Complete Art of Modern Cookery

“Chef’s get there.”

Chef Michael Pardus
The Making of a Chef:
Mastering the Heat of the
Culinary Institute of America

“Live to Cook..”
Chef Michael Symon