Day thirty-six: Last day on the grill; can you guess what I am tomorrow?
June 3, 2010
You know, I liked doing grill. I liked using the grill and the gas fireplace. I liked it when we were busy and I had to mumble “one pork, two chicken, six rib, one rib extra salad” to myself so I would remember what proteins to pull. And I really liked getting the grill marks just right.
But that’s over with. Because, tomorrow, we rotate again. And you’ll never guess what job I have now. Read more
Day thirty-five: The day started badly and ended badly
June 1, 2010
In fact, the only thing that did go right today was cooking on the line. Even though there was damn little of it to do.
Let me tell you about it. Read more
Recipe for blueberry yogurt cakes and recipe for raspberry lemonade
May 27, 2010
So what does a culinary school student do when she has time on her hands? Well, she bakes!
And I’ve got the recipes to prove it. Read more
Day thirty-four: My first day on grill and …
May 24, 2010
If you read yesterday’s post, you know I was pretty nervous about being on grill. See, it is a lot at once. And, on top of that, I have always been really concerned about feeding people raw food; supremely nasty.
So, you know, grill had me nervous.
Wanna know how I did? Read more
Cooking nightmares from readers and TWO of my own cooking nightmares!
May 20, 2010
Yep. Below are the last of the kitchen disasters sent in by readers. And, for fun, there are also two of my own kitchen disasters.
Don’t laugh; it happens to the best of us.
And the rest of us, too! Read more
Day thirty-three: Can you guess what station I am working next?
May 17, 2010
There are only two stations left I have not worked: Waitstaff and grill.
One scares me. One exhausts me.
Can you guess which one I am doing next? Read more
More cooking disasters
May 13, 2010
Yes, the kitchen is a dangerous place.
And not just for culinary school students as the readers who sent in these kitchen disaster stories can readily attest! Read more
Day thirty-two: I am your pantry cook
May 10, 2010
Some people order grill. Some people order saute. But everyone, everyone, orders a salad.
And who makes those salads? Why it is the pantry cook.
I pick though your arugula, segment your orange, and crush your Marcona almonds. I hand pick every ingredient on your plate, from the greens to the garnish, toss them with my own two hands, and place them lovingly, beautifully, and with as much height as possible on your plate.
And I do the same for the person to the right of you, the person to the left of you, and, in fact, every person in the place.
Today, I am your pantry cook. Read more
Ten kitchen disasters
May 6, 2010
Readers sent me their worst kitchen disasters and I am posting them, here, for your education and amusement.
And educating and amusing they are.
Sometimes unwittingly so! Read more
Day thirty-one: My first day as pantry cook
May 3, 2010
All day long I kept thinking of the adage: “Measure twice, cut once.”
That, to me, sums up pantry.
See, pantry, more than any other kitchen job, is about preparation and break down.
Sure, all the cooks have prep and break down. But while grill and saute get to cook on the line, all pantry gets to do is combine. Meaning those ingredients better be good.
No. They better be great.
And, today, the responsibility for those ingredients was mine.
