Well, our last run through Chef Chad's Bake Shop is now over. We finished our last week with the ovens off as we first went soft, then got hard with some cool and cold desserts. Soft day was centered around Chocolate Mousse, Parfait, and Bavarian Cream. Then on our last day (the week being cut short for Thanksgiving and all) we took our test, had our notebooks graded, and then enjoyed some Kiwi Sorbet and Vanilla Bean Ice Cream, both of which were excellent. Although it's a bit of a downer for me that our time with Chef Chad is over, I know that Sandy and Jessica are very relieved to move on to our last phase in the course, Hot Kitchen II with the thus-far unknown quantity: Chef Shane.
I haven't mentioned Enju as she has been absent for over a week with a hurt back, and there is apparently some doubt as to whether she will be able to graduate with us in three weeks. I sure hope so, it just wouldn't be the same without the four of us together at the end. Van was gone a few days this week, too so I'm not sure about his grad status either. I guess we'll just have to wait and see.
Had a few laughs this week when we discussed what I've decided to call:
The Case of the Moving Mise en Place!
When starting a project, the first step is to gather all the ingredients and equipment needed to complete the task. Jessica got a variety of containers together for her ingredients when making chocolate mousse. After scaling something, she returned to the table only to find that her containers were gone. This is actually a pretty common occurrence, as Chef Chad CAN NOT STAND to see something not in it's place, so he will often start to put things away before we've even used them. So when he saw the empty containers on the work area, he just HAD to put them away. Jessica got them back and kept an eye on them as she finished her scaling and measuring. Okay, this project has to be done in a very specific sequence so she lines up her 5 or 6 ingredients in the order they are to be used, turns to plug in the mixer, and when she turns back...I kid you not, it was at most 5 seconds...Chef Chad has gone back and picked it all up and placed it on a tray so it would be "together". Jessica was obviously frustrated, but it was good for a laugh, and really it may have been karma at work...Chef has a set of weights for scaling in 1, 2, 4, and 8 pounds. He keeps these in a straight line and in order all the time. Jessica admitted that she has occasionally moved them around and swapped their places just to mess with Chef Chad. I won't even mention what she did with his clean-up towel. Despite his almost manic orderliness, I'll say here that Chef Chad is absolutely determined to provide the best and most thorough instruction possible and I'm really glad that I had the opportunity to train under his guidance.
Yesterday was Thanksgiving Day. Like probably more than a few of you out there I ate a little too much and enjoyed it thoroughly. People emailed and texted me "What are you making?" and "Are you doing the cooking?" Alas, my contribution to what was a great feast was to whip out my trusty Wusthof 10" fingernail clipper and dice two bunches of celery and 3 onions. I was also asked to carve the ham, which I sorta butchered. Moms, Grandmas, and Wives have certain favorite foods, specialities, and traditions that they don't want you messing with, so if you get a chance to cut the celery, mix biscuit dough, or just put up the folding table you do it with a smile on your face knowing that you helped make the Holiday special.
I had a very nice chat yesterday with an "Auntie" that started with some complaints about the traffic here in Honolulu and ended with her telling me about growing up here (she's 71) back when it was mostly sugar cane and being raised on the plantation. I wish I could have seen it then.
Nothing to do with school, but I saw these movies:
(I know, I see a lot of movies.)
Happy Feet 2 - Fun movie for kids, the thrill was Bill and Will, the Krill.
Puss in Boots - Also a good kid movie, but adults will like it too.
Immortals - I didn't pay for the 3D version, but found the movie to be better than I expected.
Descendants - Very well acted film, George Cloony is excellent, very realistic filming here in Hawaii.
Hugo - Beautifully filmed, good 3D effects, heartwarming. I liked it a lot.
J. Edgar - Leo won't get an oscar for this boring biopic. The old age special effects were terrific.
Muppets - Great movie. Takes you back. Tame one-liners that are still funny. The voices are off, though.
Tower Heist - This one was fun, although it got a little silly toward the end.
Yes, I'm ashamed to say that I went to:
Jack and Jill - Typical Adam Sandler crap, and worse than most of them. But not as bad as:
The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part I - Terrible: Acting, Direction, Cinematography, Special Effects, Story, Script, Characters, and I would be willing to bet that the food sucked at Craft Services.
[Breadbaking is] one of those almost hypnotic businesses, like a dance from some ancient ceremony. It leaves you filled with one of the world's sweetest smells... there is no chiropractic treatment, no Yoga exercise, no hour of meditation in a music-throbbing chapel, that will leave you emptier of bad thoughts than this homely ceremony of making bread. ~M.F.K. Fisher
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