Learning More and More

Yesterday at work, I was put in charge of making some baked goods all by myself! Now I must say I am starting to become a fan of the baking, sous chef Jane always yells at me when I say that! ;) haha
So anyways I was first assigned to make carrot cake...alright can't be that hard...never made one before but just use the same cake method I learned in school. I was given a recipe and well yea just have to follow it. So I did and sure enough it turned out awesome! All of the staff were eating the trimmings and one of them even said it was the best that she's tasted at the restaurant! =) so that was definitely a high note!
Also during lunch service I did a lot more cooking and plating from the lunch menu. Made the club sandwich, open prawn sandwich, and other appetizers. I took pics of everything only to realize my phone was out of space and not saving them! So that was a bummer!
Then for dinner service I made scones all by myself and those turned out awesome! I'm on a baking roll! I also cooked and plated some dessert items...which were totally awesome! Filled with bright colors...of course phone was still full! =/
At the end of the night, sous chef Jane said that she can see a difference in me just in a few days! Still nervous but not nearly as much, I'm slowly building my confidence and she said she is really impressed with me! =)

Sunday Night Poker!!

So after my break, I went back to work for dinner service. There was a good amount of tables, however I was assigned to make more delicious chocolates and did so all by myself! Katie also showed me a lot more of the dessert station which was pretty cool.
After  dinner service everyone was talking about how each sunday, the village goes and plays poker up at one of the local bars. I figure sure why not...its only 5 pound buy-in...($7-8)...it'll be fun!
So I get there and they have two tables going with no empty spots yet. So why not grab a pint, and me and my buddy Adam start a quick game of pool to pass the time. Pretty much like 5 minutes later there's space for us at the table, so we ditch the pool and pull up a chair. We all start playing and it's all fun! I mean common, I'm no professional poker player...the occasional game with family at bbqs and block parties and that's it!
As the night goes on I start realizing I'm still in this game! Then we merge tables and its like damn I have a good shot at this! Fast forward and it comes down to me and this guy Gordon...awesome dude! I move around the table so I'm facing him and next thing I know, one of the locals who I knocked out of the game sits next to me and takes my side sayin "yea I'm on your side." Shook his hand said thanks for the support and lets do this! Turns out that dude's name was Ryan...a local here who is actually leaving for Denver this weekend to coach a soccer team for 3months!!! haha ironic???...he's also a wrestling fan so I had a good time talking about that and showing him wrestling pics on my facebook!
So with all the eyes in the bar now on me and the table and Gordon, I start thinkin holy crap these guys probably think I'm some shark from freakin Vegas!!
So the game goes on with the head-to-head playing and there comes a point when ur in that situation where you just say Hey it's late...lets just see what happens...and you play on anything! So of course that's what I did...got a low pair and went all in..got 2 pair on the river and boom! Win won one Lady Liberty! =)
The place went crazy and then all the comments and nicknames for me next week started flying around, but honestly these people are freakin awesome! The bartender Phil came around and gave me a few slaps on the back and the place was filled with laughter and that's when I realized...that's the local vibe everyone talks about. Everyone is friendly and everyone there was just there to have a pint and have a good time! And I met great new people and they can't wait for me to come back next sunday! =)
The night ended with Gordon coming up with the nickname Nacho Nick for me!

And Today....

I actually did a lot of chocolate work with Katie. It was a little messy but it was delicious! I made a regular chocolate gnache and then a white chocolate gnache. The regular chocolate one we actually worked with and made these delicious chocolate treats! After once those were all finished, I rolled out the cinnamon walnut bread that is going to be served for dinner service this evening as our specialty bread! It smelled so good it reminded me of cinabon and made me miss home! Haha so now I have cinabon and in-n-out on my mind for the duration of this trip! Then quickly helped out with a mango vinaigrette that goes on top of a chicken sandwich, and fabricated pigeons the same way I did on day one! Then we ate lunch and yea quick n easy lunch service....until I go back for dinner!

Friday's Work

So on friday, I prepped during the day and then during dinner service prepped and even cooked and did some more plating! In the morning I prepped out some oysters...this particular box was a pain in the ass though...none of them wanted to open! Then cleaned some mussels, made orange supremes, and a few other little projects. The dinner service last night was really busy, so I had to help out. I started hanging around the dessert area and helped plate a few sweet treats. Also dusted some ramekins for the soufflé that night. After the soufflé ramekins were prepped, Katie and I...who is an awesome pastry chef!!...wrapped pears in puff pastry dough. They are baked on top of a shallow caramel bed and holy crap i wanted to eat them all!!
As the night went on it started to get a little bit busier, and I eventually had to jump in and help out and even plated a few things! Katie needed the summerberry cheesecake plated; there were two on order so she did one to show me how it's done and then let me do the next. I thought I did pretty good, however I realized my hands are still a lil too shaky for plated desserts. But it turned out pretty good and out it went to the customer!
After hanging around the desserts I went and looked at every single thing sous chef Jane did. Watching her in this kitchen during a huge rush is like a work of art! I had trouble just trying to keep up with what she had going on on the stove then one minute later she has like 5 plates...all different entrees with different components...beautifully plated!! I'm standing there like holyyyyyy crap!! Things were in the oven...under the salamander...in a pan on the stove and blink n they're all on the plate with perfectly executed with accurate precision! Once it slowed down though she showed me one of the favorites at the restaurant. I learned how to cook basic garlic roasted potatoes. Now okay garlic potatoes not too difficult but this way made them so crispy and delicious!
So end of the night I learned how to make a few more things, and got a crash course in every single main entree that went out! Another one for the books! =)

A Special Thanks!!

I can't wait for tomorrow to go to work!
I'm sitting in the restaurant right now but all I can think about is how much cool new stuff I learned just on the 1ST DAY!!! I'm so excited for tomorrow I'm writing everything down...well as much as I can and taking pics of everything I can! I am not letting anything slip away from this experience!
I am being mentored by a great chef who has a wealth of knowledge!!
Just wanted to say thanks again to Mara from Student Chefs Abroad for the opportunity and to John and Sue Rudden for allowing and accepting me for this opportunity!!
Truly a blessing!! =)

Night out in Grassington!

So last night, my friend Adam who I work with invited me out to have a pint with some locals. We started off at the Devonshire Hotel, where I had my first English pint! Here we hungout and met some locals, and I quickly learned how small the village is! Everyone knows everyone, and knows everything about everyone. I stood out because I was the only one wearing a jacket and jeans while everyone else was in shorts and shirts...at 10pm! Yea still haven't quite gotten myself used to the climate.
After we headed up to another spot where I tried more beer and shot some pool! Actually I ended up winning one for lady liberty on my first game! ;) haha was quickly de-throwned with the next 3 games but it was such a great time! Also learned England's version of blackjack which is totally an addicting game!
Then went back to my bed in the wee hours of the morning....
All in all...it was a great night! Met some great new friends! And had a blast! =)

A Day Off

So I had a day off today, thinking it would help with the time change but for some reason I can't get my head wrapped around it! Ended up waking up at 11...holy crap I don't even wake up at that time back at home! Hopefully I can kick this soon!
However it was a nice day off! Another beautiful "california" day here, bright and sunny and locals still complaining about the heat! (roughly 70ish if that) it was funny! =)  went and had a delicious chicken sandwich for lunch, then went for another walk along the river! It was awesome! There's a trail that runs alongside all the way!
Then came back, took a quick nap, had some fish n chips for dinner and am now relaxing and writing, enjoying a pint of local yorkshire brew...just another day!

Dinner Service

So after my break I went back to work for the dinner service!! Let me just say this is only day one!!
A majority of the nite was to shadowing and tasting, and that was awesome! Almost everything that went out I was given a sample of!! I also helped fabricate one of the most beautiful rainbow trout I've ever seen! So in day one, I did more fabrication than I did the entire time at school!
Then Chef Rudden assigned me to some plating and even cooking duties!!!! On day one!!!!! =)

Obviously nothing big or major but still! It was so awesome! Chef broke down and explained everything to me, why he plates the way he does, why every element is there, everything!! And I was just a sponge and absorbed every second of it!!
I can't wait to keep going...and of course once I get excited I have two days off! But its okay! I still have 3 months!! ;)

These are just a few pics I managed to snap before the food went out!
This is a pork liver pate with toasted bread...mixed greens...and homemade apple jam!!
amazing!!!!!!!
And then the next is just a dessert sampler!! =)

                                               

First Day of Work

So I just finished my first day of work...and it was awesome!!
Right out of the gate I was opening oysters, then I fabricated pigeon...yes pigeon...and then I fabricated a particular breed of French chicken....and tried two cheeses that I should've Never tried but got talked into anyway! It took forever and so many glasses of water to get the taste out of my mouth! One was called an Oxford cheese...and the other I purposely forgot! haha
I'm due back in the kitchen at 6p.m. tonight for the dinner shift which I'm totally excited for! =)
This is going to be an amazing 3.5 months! =)

Tonight's Dinner

This evening's dinner!!
Celery soup...which was delicious!!!
a seared salmon on top of lemon dill risotto!! =)
and then banana bread n pudding!! =))))

Exploring the Dale

After today's awesome breakfast I decided to take a walk down to the River Wharf.
It was so freakin awesome! Nothing but green in the background and the sound of running water as it poured over the edge! Then I came back and walked around the square for a bit and might I say, this is the total England version of Claremont. Practically every store I walked into not only knew people who I'm going to work with...but even the nice lady who runs the student chefs abroad program! Typical village setting!
It was a very nice and relaxing day, especially after all the traveling from yesterday!
Then came back and had an awesome dinner, and probably gonna hit the bed early because I start work tomorrow! Hey someone has to do it! ;)

1st Day

So this morning I woke up after 12 hours of much needed sleep!!!! =)
my head is still a little ehhh...but I hope I can nail down the time change in a few days!
I went to the restaurant this morning, said Hi to Jane and sat down for breakfast...sadly it's just a little bit better than the Village Grill or 42nd Street Bagel!!
Had some awesome coffee and probably the best orange juice I've ever tasted!! =)
She asked if I wanted the traditional english breakfast and of course I said yes! So glad I did!
She brought out a perfect plate of scrambled eggs (from the ducks) the most delicious bacon on the earth (from the pigs on the farm) a sausage (also from the pigs) sauteed mushrooms...tomato..and black pudding!! Oh and the signature English Brown sauce...kinda like bbq but no smokey or sweetness...but more tangy...freakin delicious!!! Also wheat bread that is made fresh daily..and let me tell you, I have never eaten toast dry before, but i downed 2 pieces before the homemade marmalade and jams were brought out! =)
After I finished probably the best breakfast that I have ever eaten, I had a nice talk with Chef John Rudden (executive chef/ owner).
He asked me how everything was and told him exactly what I just said. We had a nice talk about food and how everything is made here and how he keeps everything simple, modern, and delicious!
He is such an awesome dude and really down to earth, and you can tell that he loves food!!!
I start tomorrow in the kitchen, and he said he's excited for me and that we are just gonna have fun for the next 3.5 months! I'm so down!!! =)

MADE IT!!

So after hours and hours of planes and trains...I finally arrived at my final destination of Grassington England! And how ironic, it pretty much is like the English version of Claremont! Small town, everyone knows everyone. Cobblestone streets, buildings outlined with stones and moss...amazing! I fell in love as soon as I pulled up to the front door!

I was greeted by the executive sous chef Jane, she's from Russia and so nice! She showed me to the employee housing where I have my own room, there's a kitchen, laundry machines. It's perfect everyone is so nice and friendly!! =D

So Jane brought me back to the restaurant and brought me a menu to look over stuff for dinner, only to take it out of my hands n said "Oh don't worry, I'll make you exactly what you like." haha ummm okay even though I never told you what I like...but I said hey you know exactly what you are doing!

And I'm soooooo gald I let her decide for me!! =D

This was probably the best meal I've ever had! =)

Thinly sliced pork that was raised on the restaurant's farm, the best duck confit I've ever had, the best desserts I've ever tasted! Just wow!!!!

And this is only day 1!

So now things are getting down to the wire! The last day of school was on wednesday and still can't believe that I've finished! It seriously feels like yesterday I was taking the tour...and now to look back at everything I learned there, and knowing I just scratched the surface of the culinary world is incredible! Hope all my friends stay in touch!
Now it's off to England...headed to the airport in about 15 or 16 hours. Yea totally not gonna be able to sleep tonight but that's what long flights are for! I still have a few small things I need to get...bleach pens...shampoo...yea that's pretty much all that is left on the list! Also have to finish my laundry too! All my chef jackets are currently soaking in a nice relaxing oxyclean bath! So once all the laundry is done I'll go ahead and start packing and get a majority of it finished. Then at 7 it's my last good American meal...so you'll be able to find me at Lucciles over at victoria gardens! Figure I might as well go big since I'm not sure if i'll find a great bbq place over there...or an In-n-out!! =(     holy crap sometimes I ask myself how the hell am I gonna pull off 3 months haha but one way to find out!
Flight leaves at 9:20am tomorrow so until then...lets just enjoy! =)

So I took the blog idea from a friend who I actually went to high school with and had spanish 1 with wayyy back in the day. Didn't really talk at all after that class until we pass each other coming out of a lab on the 2nd floor of LCB!! Totally random but totally cool at the same time...and been in frequent contact ever since! So now here I am...watching the clock tick closer and closer to my departure date which is less than 7 days from now. Am I nervous? Scared? Excited? Anxious? YES!!! All of the above!! I'm on emotion overload right now. I know how I work though...I'm a last minute kinda guy...friday will come and ill get a majority of my stuff packed...not be able to sleep at all..."wake up" early...finish last minute packing...and head to LAX! However until then I'm going to enjoy my last 3 days of class, and enjoy any time that I have left with my family and friends! What can I say without them I wouldn't be where I am today!
So let the countdown begin!! =)