An Overdue THANK YOU!!

With my graduation ceremony this weekend, it really got me thinking of how far I had come is such a short amount of time. How I got to Le Cordon Bleu, everything I did to achieve my goals at school, and then my externship over the summer.
I arrived back home a little over two months ago from the best summer and life experience that I had ever had in Grassington England! I just wanted to say thank you to everyone I had the privilege of working with, as well as meeting! All of you saw me in my best and worst times and welcomed me into your homes and lives as if we were family. And I can totally say that this summer was NOT the last time you would be seeing me!
So what did I learn??...

The Grassington House Hotel is owned by Sue and John Rudden. They are a lovely couple who accepted me not only into their fine establishment, but into their family as well. "Boss Lady" has put so much time and effort into the hotel it truly is stunning, and "Chef" has an amazing, mouth-watering menu to satisfy your tastebuds.
During my time in John's kitchen, I learned an overwhelming amount of knowledge. Two of which have stuck with me the most: think outside the box- just because this dish has these components or these ingredients, doesn't mean thats the permanent product; take out this and add a little of that. And secondly, even when you have tickets lined up for days, it's still possible to work with a smile on your face.
John and his amazing staff in the kitchen taught me to cook with laughs and smiles. How to create an happy work environment. This is exactly why it was so hard for me to leave because I just fit perfectly with all this. Everyone in the back made a comfortable place to work, and was always willing to help you whether it was work related or not. I was never nervous to ask John, Katie, Roman or anyone about a certain task, or even for advice with personal topics. When it came down to business, John knew what had to be done and would give me a push, but it was never overdue. He helped you build self-confidence and would take his time explaining every detail. You would never feel insecure about what you were doing. Don't get me wrong there was plenty of typical kitchen joking, but that was all for a good laugh that would keep us going throughout the day.
I can seriously type for days and give so many personal Thank You's, but the bottom line is this:

Sue and John, you made me a better person this past summer. You, your wonderful staff, the amazing people of Grassington, and the awesome experiences I was given have made me embrace my passion for food even more, and that your dreams really can become a reality when you embrace your heart and the support of others around you. And for that, I say Thank You.

Cheers.