As I mentioned in the last posting Fall is my favorite food season. I'm starting to see "Fall" everywhere I go. I'm so excited about it. Everything from the weather to the beverages, and clothing choices to the fauna is starting to show the pre-season flirting signs of this wondrous season.
The atmosphere of fall is just soothing, the people are more calm, the trees begin to bare themselves and show off their naked bodies, while people become more conservative. Scarves wrapped loosely around necks as the guarantee that they will soon be tightened lingers around the crisp cheeks. Cooler beverages are hastily replaced by hot cocoa's and piping hot coffees. Cool freshening aromas float through the air and tease the senses. If you walk into a kitchen with seasonal fare you will find copious amounts of squashes and sweet potatoes, large vials of cinnamon and cloves, preparing soon for pumpkins and nutmeg as the chill sets in.
I'm going to soon try making some fall butternut squash fries soon. The fries will be a nice snack, fairly healthy (except the frying part, although they could just be roasted), and super flavorful. I'm really excited about them.
If you wanna try them let me know how the turn out. I'll post pictures when I try them.
For a small amount just use one squash.
1 Medium Butternut Squash
2 t ground cinnamon
2 t ground nutmeg
1 1/2 t ground cloves
1/8 c sugar
1/8 c brown sugar
Peel & cut the squash into desired size (the shape should resemble a french fry). Lay the sticks out on a baking sheet, and roast in your oven on 375 F until the sticks are just softened (still a little tough). Put your squash in the freezer until they cool. Heat frying oil to about 350 F. At any point when you aren't doing anything mix all the dry ingredients well. Drop a few Squash Fries into the oil and fry until they are crispy and cooked through. Immediately toss them in the spice & sugar mixture. When the cool slightly Enjoy.
If you try them before me give me some feedback or send me some pictures.
Blessings on you, your food, and your kitchens!
Monday, September 19, 2011
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
The Real World?
Just yesterday as I was preparing to go home from a day of classes, that started too early, I went by Starbucks as usual to get my coffee before I drove home in the hellish "End of the School Day" traffic. As I was walking out I happened across a friend. We had a conversation about one of her professors that hates her already. The reason being a topic on "The Real World" and a simple question.
A definition I found of the real world is, "The practical world as opposed to the academic world".
This would be to say that being in an academic setting is not living in the so called real world.
The question that started this ordeal of the stereotypical teacher, choosing a "Dis - liked or Less - respected" student in a class, was, "What about the student who works two jobs, pays every single bill they have on their own, and still goes to school full-time?" She continues with, "Is that student not living in the real world?"
I'd say yes. I've only recently started the full-time student/full-time employee gig. It's hell, it's tiring, and it leaves no personal time or social time. I have a new respect for the people who successfully manage their time well enough to do it. I for one, well, I'm still working on it. I literally have to have a calendar/task reminder alarm set at all times. If I don't have my reminders and alarms set then I don't schedule the time I need to do the things that have to be done. When I don't remember to do something or don't have time to do something, it gets put on the next day, which then becomes even busier. I feel that my load is fairly light, and their are people who have more on their plate than me, but come on, I could use some help or more time, but how do they manage it? Is their a personal assistant fairy that I don't know about?
If I didn't have classes, I wouldn't have homework, and that would lead to more time. But, alas, being in class My day usually looks something like this, Wake up, get dressed, laundry if it needs to be done, Go to class, go to another class, go to the library do what homework I can, go home, eat, go to work, go home, do more homework, go to bed, wake up and do it all again. That leaves no time for anything. How is that not the real world? I know according to the Department of Employment or whatever it's called I'm not considered part of the work force, but a student. I'm okay with that, but what gives professors the right to tell students they are not in the real world at the moment? They don't manage all of the things I have to. Their life is work and family for the most part. Does that mean they are in the real world? I don't think that should be a determining factor of what a person's real world is.
On a positive side of things, my new job is going well and I'm quickly moving through the brigade. I'm feel that I belong there, for now. Soon though I'll be finished with university (for the moment) and be ready to take on a new thing. I'm currently considering two options for my summer. I have to do an internship or a study abroad. I'm hoping for the study abroad, but if that doesn't work out I have a few locations for my management internship in mind.
The weather is starting to change into my favorite season, Fall. The weather is perfect, the colors are beautiful, and the food is amazing! Fall is not only my favorite season in general, but my favorite season for fresh food! It's so alive and full of flavor. Beautiful root vegetables, heavy peppers, heavy lettuces and dark berries, and pumpkin. The spics are great with cinnamons, nutmegs, and cloves. Dark caramels, and deep flavors accompanying beverages, snacks, meals, and desserts is a great gastronomical experience.
Did you like the random subject change there above? I certainly did.
Blessings on you, your food, and your kitchens!
Have a great one!
What's your favorite food season and why? Any discussion?
A definition I found of the real world is, "The practical world as opposed to the academic world".
This would be to say that being in an academic setting is not living in the so called real world.
The question that started this ordeal of the stereotypical teacher, choosing a "Dis - liked or Less - respected" student in a class, was, "What about the student who works two jobs, pays every single bill they have on their own, and still goes to school full-time?" She continues with, "Is that student not living in the real world?"
I'd say yes. I've only recently started the full-time student/full-time employee gig. It's hell, it's tiring, and it leaves no personal time or social time. I have a new respect for the people who successfully manage their time well enough to do it. I for one, well, I'm still working on it. I literally have to have a calendar/task reminder alarm set at all times. If I don't have my reminders and alarms set then I don't schedule the time I need to do the things that have to be done. When I don't remember to do something or don't have time to do something, it gets put on the next day, which then becomes even busier. I feel that my load is fairly light, and their are people who have more on their plate than me, but come on, I could use some help or more time, but how do they manage it? Is their a personal assistant fairy that I don't know about?
If I didn't have classes, I wouldn't have homework, and that would lead to more time. But, alas, being in class My day usually looks something like this, Wake up, get dressed, laundry if it needs to be done, Go to class, go to another class, go to the library do what homework I can, go home, eat, go to work, go home, do more homework, go to bed, wake up and do it all again. That leaves no time for anything. How is that not the real world? I know according to the Department of Employment or whatever it's called I'm not considered part of the work force, but a student. I'm okay with that, but what gives professors the right to tell students they are not in the real world at the moment? They don't manage all of the things I have to. Their life is work and family for the most part. Does that mean they are in the real world? I don't think that should be a determining factor of what a person's real world is.
On a positive side of things, my new job is going well and I'm quickly moving through the brigade. I'm feel that I belong there, for now. Soon though I'll be finished with university (for the moment) and be ready to take on a new thing. I'm currently considering two options for my summer. I have to do an internship or a study abroad. I'm hoping for the study abroad, but if that doesn't work out I have a few locations for my management internship in mind.
The weather is starting to change into my favorite season, Fall. The weather is perfect, the colors are beautiful, and the food is amazing! Fall is not only my favorite season in general, but my favorite season for fresh food! It's so alive and full of flavor. Beautiful root vegetables, heavy peppers, heavy lettuces and dark berries, and pumpkin. The spics are great with cinnamons, nutmegs, and cloves. Dark caramels, and deep flavors accompanying beverages, snacks, meals, and desserts is a great gastronomical experience.
Did you like the random subject change there above? I certainly did.
Blessings on you, your food, and your kitchens!
Have a great one!
What's your favorite food season and why? Any discussion?
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Reflection Time (A Fleeting Glance of Arcane Introspections)
Hello Everyone.
This go around is something I've needed to do for a good bit of time now. Over the past two years many of you have supported me, I thank you for that! I'm thinking of a piece of advice I got from a chef one night. This, in a literal aspect is very direct to any industry in which you are on your feet for long periods of time, but I understand it in a different way now that I think about it. I hope that I'm able to explain my thoughts on this simple statement.
The man stands thoughtfully, slowly sips ice water from a quart container, a bead of sweat rolls down his face, and finally says to me, "The best piece of advice I can give to you," sips the water again, and stares thoughtfully in the direction of the loud overhead exhaust, "Wear comfortable shoes." I laughed and he just stares for a moment and shakes my hand then walks away.
I'd like to say that in that moment I was very literal in thinking something along the lines of, "Of course, otherwise your legs/feet would kill you." Later as I was thinking about that moment I realized a flaw in my thinking. A good pair of shoes is a necessity for anyone who is on their feet a lot, have back, leg, or knee problems, or just in general like to be comfortable when they are on their feet. Yes, that is true, but also through life we need a good pair of shoes. Shoes are also the base of your everyday physical life; so flipping that to a more thought provoking statement one might say, shoes are the base of other parts of your life. To mentally prepare oneself everyday for their tasks is sort of like dawning a good pair of shoes to start your day.
A french term that I am particularly fond of, mise en place (mees in plas), or everything in it's place, is a good way to think of your good pair of shoes. Waking up in the morning with a sense of awareness and preparation will lead to a good mise. A good mise for your day can open so many things up for you. My favorite part of having a good mise is never having to worry if something goes wrong, because everything to fix it is in it's proper place.
My reason for doing this is sharing the best piece of advice I've ever received with all of you, and I hope you understand my comparison of mise en place and good shoes. So, wrapping this up, go through your day with good shoes and a complete mise en place, I promise it'll be better.
Blessing on you, your food, and your kitchen.
This go around is something I've needed to do for a good bit of time now. Over the past two years many of you have supported me, I thank you for that! I'm thinking of a piece of advice I got from a chef one night. This, in a literal aspect is very direct to any industry in which you are on your feet for long periods of time, but I understand it in a different way now that I think about it. I hope that I'm able to explain my thoughts on this simple statement.
The man stands thoughtfully, slowly sips ice water from a quart container, a bead of sweat rolls down his face, and finally says to me, "The best piece of advice I can give to you," sips the water again, and stares thoughtfully in the direction of the loud overhead exhaust, "Wear comfortable shoes." I laughed and he just stares for a moment and shakes my hand then walks away.
I'd like to say that in that moment I was very literal in thinking something along the lines of, "Of course, otherwise your legs/feet would kill you." Later as I was thinking about that moment I realized a flaw in my thinking. A good pair of shoes is a necessity for anyone who is on their feet a lot, have back, leg, or knee problems, or just in general like to be comfortable when they are on their feet. Yes, that is true, but also through life we need a good pair of shoes. Shoes are also the base of your everyday physical life; so flipping that to a more thought provoking statement one might say, shoes are the base of other parts of your life. To mentally prepare oneself everyday for their tasks is sort of like dawning a good pair of shoes to start your day.
A french term that I am particularly fond of, mise en place (mees in plas), or everything in it's place, is a good way to think of your good pair of shoes. Waking up in the morning with a sense of awareness and preparation will lead to a good mise. A good mise for your day can open so many things up for you. My favorite part of having a good mise is never having to worry if something goes wrong, because everything to fix it is in it's proper place.
My reason for doing this is sharing the best piece of advice I've ever received with all of you, and I hope you understand my comparison of mise en place and good shoes. So, wrapping this up, go through your day with good shoes and a complete mise en place, I promise it'll be better.
Blessing on you, your food, and your kitchen.
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Showing Off A Little, Because That's Exactly What Chefs Like to Do
All of this work is Garde Manger. The garde manger was originally known as the keeper of foods meant to be eaten. This is the process of preserving foods, such as smoking, curing, and pickling. The garde manger will also deal with cold foods such as salads, cold soups, and veg/fruit platters. While the highly trained garde manger is very valuable person to have on hand, in today's kitchens they are priceless so many kitchens don't employ them. An example of some work a skilled garde manger would do.
A simple yet very well made fruit platter to feed about 50.
Duck Confit Hors D'oeuvre with Chive Cream Cheese on a Fresh Wheat Cracker.
Ice Carvings, yes that is a squirrel.
A Micro Herb Salad with Green Apple dressed with a Roasted Lemon Honey Vinaigrette on a Goat Cheese Tartlet.
Pickled Red and Golden Beets.
Duck Confit Terrine with Dried Cherries and Foie Gras Tourchon.
All of these things require a vast knowledge and skill. After creating the individual components often times a very skilled garde manger will present these items on a platter. A platter can't just be laid out with random items. The entire experience comes from the flavors of each item blending.
A skilled garde manger is priceless in any kitchen because the natural flavor of edible substance is increased when it is hot. Don't believe it, take a slice of your favorite produce and season it with a little salt and pepper, eat it cold. Now same thing, but cook it a little. The flavor, the smell, the texture, everything is increased. A garde manger must know how to take these flavors and make them appetizing when they are cold.
Humans and animals alike eat with first their eyes, then their noses, then their pallets. If this be the case then a salad must look good and taste amazing, because we shouldn't smell a salad, but to be turned on to it we have to love the flavor. To make this happen one must have a vast knowledge of a product and how to bend it to his/her will in order to make a person crave it.
Humans do not naturally crave cold dishes, we crave our comfort foods, which for everyone holds a memory to something in our pasts that links that dish with happiness. Can you link a cold food dish in your memory to a comfort food? If so, I'd like to hear about it.
Blessings on you, your food, and your kitchen!
Friday, August 12, 2011
Adventure Back to Your Roots
"Be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves like locked rooms and like books that are written in a very foreign tongue. Do not now seek the answers, which cannot be given you because you would not be able to live them. And the point is, to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps you will find them gradually, without noticing it, and live along some distant day into the answer." ~Rainer Maria Rilke, Letters to a Young Poet
When normally journeying home for whatever reason it may be, holidays, breaks from school, or just to get away from life I find it a task of sorts to make the drive there, but this time I took a different approach to my entire journey. That approach was to find something; when searching for something in life it's often difficult. This search on the other hand was not going to be difficult at all, I knew exactly where to find what I was looking for. That is encouraging, especially when thinking about the things in life I've lost in the past; expensive sunglasses, wallets, keys, homework, and things that are often lost that take what seems a lifetime to find. What had I lost this time? Something I had never actually found, something that I had mislead myself into thinking I had, myself.
Now some people believe it takes a lifetime to discover oneself, but I feel that the idea of who a person is should be discovered at an early age and like making stock, clarified and fortified throughout one's lifetime. For me a major part of who I am can be defined by food, as can all of our lives. Allow me to explain, food is something that is influenced by your social status, culture, religion, family and geographical location, therefore the type of food in our lives defines who we are. Weather it's a heavily sauced meatloaf made by your grandma in the southern parts of America, or a light fresh caught fish from the Mediterranean that dish will define part of your life. To define my life and who I am I would like to use the comparison of food and what it newly means to me, and I hope you will understand the meaning behind it.
To begin a definition I need to take you back to the beginning. One of life's most educational experiences will come from growing food, that I can promise. For me this experience came my entire life and I never saw it until I left it. To create a fruit that can create and sustain life a few critical components are needed. The first is a teacher, a wiser, and diligent caregiver, a person who is willing to give their time and life to define another. This comes in the form of the farmer. The next is an area to raise this fruit, a safe, clean area to teach it what it should be and ensure it's health and life. Then a seed is needed, the item in which the entire fruit will come from. After combining these items it's not all fun and games. The garden still needs to be weeded and cleaned. The plants need to be nurtured and watered. and once they reach a certain stage of life they need guidelines in which to properly grow. After the guidelines are laid out one can not simply walk away and expect the fruit to grow properly. They still need care and love. Finally after a lot of patience and caregiving the fruit can be harvested and put to work.
Being in touch with the earth, the seasons, and the area around you gives a new meaning to one's self definition and understanding of life and family. Seeing something come from a seed that is smaller than a marble that sustains life is an experience I wish everyone could have. The best part about all of it though is being with the teacher. Talking with the one who gives time, love, and part of their life to another. Listening to their words and their lessons of their past, these are the things that shapes a person into a real human. They've lived, loved, laughed, and lost, and just like their teacher before them they'll give to the next generation the responsibility of the teacher.
After harvest what happens with the fruit. Well it gets a new caregiver. This caregiver has a different relationship with the fruit. This time it's not about being taught it's about being defined, taken from it's original state and unlocking it's potential. Creating something new by interacting the young fruit with other young fruits. What is significant about this stage of the fruit's life? This is the stage the fruit gets to experience new things and people, make mistakes, and learn from them. The new caregiver is there to guide this stage of life. Who is this caregiver? The many people the young fruit comes in contact with while it's on it's own. Or this caregiver is the chef. The chef creating a new life for this single fruit.
After rereading what I've gotten to this point, I feel that I've lost track of my original idea for this posting, but I also feel the above writing is necessary to understanding my journey home. So, back to my original idea. At the beginning of this journey I had an idea of life and my meaning of life and my meaning of what food and a definition of gourmet food is. I must admit how amazing it is that over a period of a few days things can completely redefine themselves. I've explained my new look on life, now my new look on food and what gourmet food really is.
Food is the natural product of someone's labor. It should be appreciated and not destroyed. It should be kept in it's original state and appreciated as it is. Just like people should be. We shouldn't add gelatin to people and alter their flavor, texture, and their lives, we should let them be what their first teacher taught them to be. I feel that from the point of being back with my family and seeing the beauty of the ground and the products that come from it put me back in touch with my life. But, more than that it reminded me of things I'd forgotten and taught me things I hadn't learned. Taught me things about a gourmet lifestyle, and what that means.
The definition of "Gourmet" is, of a kind or higher standard suitable for a gourmet, but the origins of that word are French, and meant "Wine Taster". So this tells me that it is someone with a trained or more defined pallet. Not the idea of current day gourmet, or culinary alchemy, if this be the case shouldn't gourmet be a person's own idea of that standard? A standard set by one's own pallet instead of someone else telling them what that standard should be. Well I've decided to create my own standard, and live my by my own pallet rather than what the "Standard" is rumored to be.
My new definition of gourmet is simple and yet complex, it's obvious and yet you have to look for it to understand it's meaning. Most of all you have to live it to learn it. To define my standard of gourmet I will simply put it as, "Real". Real as in life, real as in what that first teacher's purpose to care for and guide that young seedling. It's more than the good times of life, it is what has to be done. It's a standard set by an individual and their experiences of life and where they come from. If like me you grew up blessed with a close family that came together over meals and grew closer to each other through food then thank your higher power, and I'll thank mine. But, if you were not blessed like me then I'll tie everything together for you now. As a family we prepared the land for planting, we planted, we cared for, and we harvested our fruits. Then as a family we preserved these products to sustain our lives. Finally as a family we prepared and consumed these products. We were the teachers and the caregivers of these lives. We worked together, grew together, and we learned together. That is what has set my standard for "Gourmet".
Why should a person who has never been to the beginning and lived through the up-bringing of the life of their product set the standard of how I should prepare my product? They have no reason to. I have a reason to define my gourmet food, and I define my food as "real". Gourmet should be your life teaching combined with your second stage teaching. It should be that fresh, doing what it takes to survive, combined with the ability to bring back a childhood memory. My new goal for gourmet food is to bring to life every possible sense with every bite from every dish. My food will reflect my life, which will reflect my first caregiver and the wisdom passed on to the next generation, with the teachings of my new ideas and my new life. Food is the bases of survival and the perfect creation of someone who has given their life to providing for others. How does this tie life, food, past, present, and future together? I think that Thomas Aloysius Dorgan said it best, "Life is like eating artichokes; you have got to go through so much to get so little."
Life is about the struggles and the things that make a person real. If a person never had issues and never had to struggle in any manner would they be human? I dare to say they would not be, and if there is a person who lives a life without difficulties and struggles I for one would like to meet this person, because I dare say their life is incomplete and they are not happy because they've never lived. Recently I've decided I'd like to redefine my personal meaning of living; living is the struggle, living is the challenge, and living is becoming a real person. The journey of life isn't supposed to be roses and Foie Gras, it's supposed to be fading flowers and half spoiled tomatoes.
"Ponder well on this point: the pleasant hours of our life are all connected by a more or less tangible link, with some memory of the table." ~ Charles Pierre Monselet
Thank you to my teachers and the people who defined what my gourmet lifestyle is going to be! I love you dearly!
When normally journeying home for whatever reason it may be, holidays, breaks from school, or just to get away from life I find it a task of sorts to make the drive there, but this time I took a different approach to my entire journey. That approach was to find something; when searching for something in life it's often difficult. This search on the other hand was not going to be difficult at all, I knew exactly where to find what I was looking for. That is encouraging, especially when thinking about the things in life I've lost in the past; expensive sunglasses, wallets, keys, homework, and things that are often lost that take what seems a lifetime to find. What had I lost this time? Something I had never actually found, something that I had mislead myself into thinking I had, myself.
Now some people believe it takes a lifetime to discover oneself, but I feel that the idea of who a person is should be discovered at an early age and like making stock, clarified and fortified throughout one's lifetime. For me a major part of who I am can be defined by food, as can all of our lives. Allow me to explain, food is something that is influenced by your social status, culture, religion, family and geographical location, therefore the type of food in our lives defines who we are. Weather it's a heavily sauced meatloaf made by your grandma in the southern parts of America, or a light fresh caught fish from the Mediterranean that dish will define part of your life. To define my life and who I am I would like to use the comparison of food and what it newly means to me, and I hope you will understand the meaning behind it.
To begin a definition I need to take you back to the beginning. One of life's most educational experiences will come from growing food, that I can promise. For me this experience came my entire life and I never saw it until I left it. To create a fruit that can create and sustain life a few critical components are needed. The first is a teacher, a wiser, and diligent caregiver, a person who is willing to give their time and life to define another. This comes in the form of the farmer. The next is an area to raise this fruit, a safe, clean area to teach it what it should be and ensure it's health and life. Then a seed is needed, the item in which the entire fruit will come from. After combining these items it's not all fun and games. The garden still needs to be weeded and cleaned. The plants need to be nurtured and watered. and once they reach a certain stage of life they need guidelines in which to properly grow. After the guidelines are laid out one can not simply walk away and expect the fruit to grow properly. They still need care and love. Finally after a lot of patience and caregiving the fruit can be harvested and put to work.
Being in touch with the earth, the seasons, and the area around you gives a new meaning to one's self definition and understanding of life and family. Seeing something come from a seed that is smaller than a marble that sustains life is an experience I wish everyone could have. The best part about all of it though is being with the teacher. Talking with the one who gives time, love, and part of their life to another. Listening to their words and their lessons of their past, these are the things that shapes a person into a real human. They've lived, loved, laughed, and lost, and just like their teacher before them they'll give to the next generation the responsibility of the teacher.
After harvest what happens with the fruit. Well it gets a new caregiver. This caregiver has a different relationship with the fruit. This time it's not about being taught it's about being defined, taken from it's original state and unlocking it's potential. Creating something new by interacting the young fruit with other young fruits. What is significant about this stage of the fruit's life? This is the stage the fruit gets to experience new things and people, make mistakes, and learn from them. The new caregiver is there to guide this stage of life. Who is this caregiver? The many people the young fruit comes in contact with while it's on it's own. Or this caregiver is the chef. The chef creating a new life for this single fruit.
After rereading what I've gotten to this point, I feel that I've lost track of my original idea for this posting, but I also feel the above writing is necessary to understanding my journey home. So, back to my original idea. At the beginning of this journey I had an idea of life and my meaning of life and my meaning of what food and a definition of gourmet food is. I must admit how amazing it is that over a period of a few days things can completely redefine themselves. I've explained my new look on life, now my new look on food and what gourmet food really is.
Food is the natural product of someone's labor. It should be appreciated and not destroyed. It should be kept in it's original state and appreciated as it is. Just like people should be. We shouldn't add gelatin to people and alter their flavor, texture, and their lives, we should let them be what their first teacher taught them to be. I feel that from the point of being back with my family and seeing the beauty of the ground and the products that come from it put me back in touch with my life. But, more than that it reminded me of things I'd forgotten and taught me things I hadn't learned. Taught me things about a gourmet lifestyle, and what that means.
The definition of "Gourmet" is, of a kind or higher standard suitable for a gourmet, but the origins of that word are French, and meant "Wine Taster". So this tells me that it is someone with a trained or more defined pallet. Not the idea of current day gourmet, or culinary alchemy, if this be the case shouldn't gourmet be a person's own idea of that standard? A standard set by one's own pallet instead of someone else telling them what that standard should be. Well I've decided to create my own standard, and live my by my own pallet rather than what the "Standard" is rumored to be.
My new definition of gourmet is simple and yet complex, it's obvious and yet you have to look for it to understand it's meaning. Most of all you have to live it to learn it. To define my standard of gourmet I will simply put it as, "Real". Real as in life, real as in what that first teacher's purpose to care for and guide that young seedling. It's more than the good times of life, it is what has to be done. It's a standard set by an individual and their experiences of life and where they come from. If like me you grew up blessed with a close family that came together over meals and grew closer to each other through food then thank your higher power, and I'll thank mine. But, if you were not blessed like me then I'll tie everything together for you now. As a family we prepared the land for planting, we planted, we cared for, and we harvested our fruits. Then as a family we preserved these products to sustain our lives. Finally as a family we prepared and consumed these products. We were the teachers and the caregivers of these lives. We worked together, grew together, and we learned together. That is what has set my standard for "Gourmet".
Why should a person who has never been to the beginning and lived through the up-bringing of the life of their product set the standard of how I should prepare my product? They have no reason to. I have a reason to define my gourmet food, and I define my food as "real". Gourmet should be your life teaching combined with your second stage teaching. It should be that fresh, doing what it takes to survive, combined with the ability to bring back a childhood memory. My new goal for gourmet food is to bring to life every possible sense with every bite from every dish. My food will reflect my life, which will reflect my first caregiver and the wisdom passed on to the next generation, with the teachings of my new ideas and my new life. Food is the bases of survival and the perfect creation of someone who has given their life to providing for others. How does this tie life, food, past, present, and future together? I think that Thomas Aloysius Dorgan said it best, "Life is like eating artichokes; you have got to go through so much to get so little."
Life is about the struggles and the things that make a person real. If a person never had issues and never had to struggle in any manner would they be human? I dare to say they would not be, and if there is a person who lives a life without difficulties and struggles I for one would like to meet this person, because I dare say their life is incomplete and they are not happy because they've never lived. Recently I've decided I'd like to redefine my personal meaning of living; living is the struggle, living is the challenge, and living is becoming a real person. The journey of life isn't supposed to be roses and Foie Gras, it's supposed to be fading flowers and half spoiled tomatoes.
"Ponder well on this point: the pleasant hours of our life are all connected by a more or less tangible link, with some memory of the table." ~ Charles Pierre Monselet
Thank you to my teachers and the people who defined what my gourmet lifestyle is going to be! I love you dearly!
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Short & To the Point
I want to do a Controversial Discussion. So let's get crazy with this. I'm going to need everyone to comment on the topic, and send it to your friends and family. I'm think a topic such as education or human civil rights. I just want to see what sorts of opinions we can accumulate into one place. So start suggesting topics. Next week I'll start the topic with a say three paragraph post and we'll start the discussion from there! Please help me out!
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Networking
During lectures students, myself included, tend to zone out and not listen. Well, when a professor it talking about something the student is passionate about all attention and neural receptors are turned on. What does this mean to me? Well, simply put it's a form of art, and art is an aesthetic stimulant; this means that all the senses are operating at full capacity. A person is in a complete state of activity. The brain is active, the emotions are active, touch, sent, visual, the body is the most alive at this point. This is significant because things such as science and math, while I love them both and believe they are very important, don't bring alive all of a person. They only stimulate the brain, unless of course the person being stimulated is passionate about science. Then, for that person the receiving of information can be considered an aesthetic experience. But, few people in fact experience more literal items as anesthetic. Meaning they numb or shut down part of the senses. This numbing is the cause of the zoning out or lack of attention to the lecturer. How can we stop anesthetizing students and begin to give them a full range of activity just by lecturing to them. Well, we can start by simply relating to the student.
I should say that I saw this post going in a completely different direction than where I am currently going, as I'm sure you could asses by the title, which I will not change because I will get there.
A professor that I currently have made a very simple statement on the first day of class that I will never forget. "You, meaning all of the students in this room, and me, being the professor, will learn through this class. I will not use a powerpoint, ever. I will not stand at the podium and read from the book while you take notes and then spit it back to me on a test and forget it later, no. I will teach you, and you me." To me, this meant a lot of different things, but most importantly it meant that I was going to like this man. Since that first class, I have learned a lot about a lot, but most importantly to me, I have learned about myself.
I just want to mention that I'm in Starbucks, and looking across the street I am watching a student who should be cleaning the kitchen, cleaning the windows instead. The university pays people to that, this means the student is trying to get out of clean up. Horribly lazy person.
Webster says that Learning is the acquisition of knowledge or skills through experience, practice, or study, or by being taught.I disagree with Webster. Am I allowed to do that? Doesn't matter. I do, so I shall. Allow me to explain myself please. When a person learns something, they are not learning through experience, practice, OR, study. They are learning through the combination of all of these factors, when a person lives they are experiencing life. Or, at least they should be. To experience something is to have practical contact with or to observe something intently. Ergo one is learning from this action because to have contact and observation of something is to not only study it, but also to practice it. It's a form of mastery. Humans need to have mastery in their lives in order to have a lead into happiness. Their are other factors, but that's a different post.
I've currently been listening to a couple of people who, as I heard from the lady's phone call before the gentleman showed up, they are meeting on a blind date in Starbucks to get to know each other. I would like to interrupt this date and tell the guy to shut up. He hasn't stopped talking about himself since I quoted Webster, the first time. I now know where this guy works, what he does, how many Facebook and Twitter friends he has, as well as his favorite TV shows and when/where his first fashion show he watched was. Why is that important? I'm not sure, but he's not getting a second date for a few reasons. He was 15 minutes late and He will not stop talking about himself.
Yes, I am the guy who likes to blog about everything.
Back to my secondary point, then to the original. This class is interactive. Students don't sit in roles at desks. We make a circle out of the chairs, or we cluster in groups. The class is ours, and we run it how we would like. My seating preference is on top of the desk. The method used for learning in this class is interactive, creative, and verbal. The topic is presented and the conversation begins. Students teach each other and the professor leads the conversations in the right direction then drives the nail home at the end. It's amazing and I wish that everyone could experience this method at least once in their life. When children begin school they are creative and free. When they finish it's like they've been sent through an assembly line in a factory and came out all the same. Their is no individual minds, no free thoughts, everything is just as the manufacturer wants it to be. This isn't how our educational system should work, it should be teaching free thought, because thought gives way to matter.
"Education is a state-controlled manufactory of echoes." Norman Douglas (1868-1952) British writer
Now, for the original purpose behind this. Networking, I was recently introduced to a theory behind networking and the place of business that I had never in all of my educational career been introduced to. Shouldn't the purpose of being educated to get a career teach you the truth about that career? I believe that it should.
Date is over, she left and he looks like a knows he screwed up. Just thought for anyone interested I would like you know.
The theory to which I was introduced is very simple. Life, is a network, but networking isn't about who you know. You could know the President of the US and it wouldn't do anything for you, unless he knows you. A person's Facebook could have 2,276.92 friends, but that does them absolutely no good unless all of those people know who the one person is. That's the trick. When you meet someone to make a memory, a lasting impression on that person. If a person remembers you, then you can call on them for as a networked contact. My new goal is to make a lasting impression on every person I meet. Even if it's the guy who screwed up on his blind date in Starbucks.
"It isn't just what you know, and it isn't just who you know. It's actually who you know, who knows you, and what you do for a living." Bob Burg
The second part of this theory is business culture based, and I think very significant to the educational process as a vital piece of information. "The employee who gets the promotion isn't the employee who does their job great, it's the person who does the job of their boss great." Meaning that to get the promotion a person must show the capacity to operate on the level of their position and also on the position that is desired. This make the higher position easier done by the person who promotes, and leads way to that person being able to "Manage up" and allows for an over all ability for a group/team to move up in the work place. This very simple theory is amazing and should be taught to every student starting in middle school where teachers are telling students to do their job well and they will be rewarded.
This new revelation in my life is leading way to many new thoughts and ideas that I believe will make a difference. By the way. I am already making way on my life's goal to change the world! I believe we can all make a change. We just have to do it one person at a time!
I hope that everyone enjoys reading and if you'd like send the link to friends, family, strangers, and random people on the street! I'm trying to think of a great way to wrap this up, but I'm not getting very far. So, I'll just say, Cheers!
I should say that I saw this post going in a completely different direction than where I am currently going, as I'm sure you could asses by the title, which I will not change because I will get there.
A professor that I currently have made a very simple statement on the first day of class that I will never forget. "You, meaning all of the students in this room, and me, being the professor, will learn through this class. I will not use a powerpoint, ever. I will not stand at the podium and read from the book while you take notes and then spit it back to me on a test and forget it later, no. I will teach you, and you me." To me, this meant a lot of different things, but most importantly it meant that I was going to like this man. Since that first class, I have learned a lot about a lot, but most importantly to me, I have learned about myself.
I just want to mention that I'm in Starbucks, and looking across the street I am watching a student who should be cleaning the kitchen, cleaning the windows instead. The university pays people to that, this means the student is trying to get out of clean up. Horribly lazy person.
Webster says that Learning is the acquisition of knowledge or skills through experience, practice, or study, or by being taught.I disagree with Webster. Am I allowed to do that? Doesn't matter. I do, so I shall. Allow me to explain myself please. When a person learns something, they are not learning through experience, practice, OR, study. They are learning through the combination of all of these factors, when a person lives they are experiencing life. Or, at least they should be. To experience something is to have practical contact with or to observe something intently. Ergo one is learning from this action because to have contact and observation of something is to not only study it, but also to practice it. It's a form of mastery. Humans need to have mastery in their lives in order to have a lead into happiness. Their are other factors, but that's a different post.
I've currently been listening to a couple of people who, as I heard from the lady's phone call before the gentleman showed up, they are meeting on a blind date in Starbucks to get to know each other. I would like to interrupt this date and tell the guy to shut up. He hasn't stopped talking about himself since I quoted Webster, the first time. I now know where this guy works, what he does, how many Facebook and Twitter friends he has, as well as his favorite TV shows and when/where his first fashion show he watched was. Why is that important? I'm not sure, but he's not getting a second date for a few reasons. He was 15 minutes late and He will not stop talking about himself.
Yes, I am the guy who likes to blog about everything.
Back to my secondary point, then to the original. This class is interactive. Students don't sit in roles at desks. We make a circle out of the chairs, or we cluster in groups. The class is ours, and we run it how we would like. My seating preference is on top of the desk. The method used for learning in this class is interactive, creative, and verbal. The topic is presented and the conversation begins. Students teach each other and the professor leads the conversations in the right direction then drives the nail home at the end. It's amazing and I wish that everyone could experience this method at least once in their life. When children begin school they are creative and free. When they finish it's like they've been sent through an assembly line in a factory and came out all the same. Their is no individual minds, no free thoughts, everything is just as the manufacturer wants it to be. This isn't how our educational system should work, it should be teaching free thought, because thought gives way to matter.
"Education is a state-controlled manufactory of echoes." Norman Douglas (1868-1952) British writer
Now, for the original purpose behind this. Networking, I was recently introduced to a theory behind networking and the place of business that I had never in all of my educational career been introduced to. Shouldn't the purpose of being educated to get a career teach you the truth about that career? I believe that it should.
Date is over, she left and he looks like a knows he screwed up. Just thought for anyone interested I would like you know.
The theory to which I was introduced is very simple. Life, is a network, but networking isn't about who you know. You could know the President of the US and it wouldn't do anything for you, unless he knows you. A person's Facebook could have 2,276.92 friends, but that does them absolutely no good unless all of those people know who the one person is. That's the trick. When you meet someone to make a memory, a lasting impression on that person. If a person remembers you, then you can call on them for as a networked contact. My new goal is to make a lasting impression on every person I meet. Even if it's the guy who screwed up on his blind date in Starbucks.
"It isn't just what you know, and it isn't just who you know. It's actually who you know, who knows you, and what you do for a living." Bob Burg
The second part of this theory is business culture based, and I think very significant to the educational process as a vital piece of information. "The employee who gets the promotion isn't the employee who does their job great, it's the person who does the job of their boss great." Meaning that to get the promotion a person must show the capacity to operate on the level of their position and also on the position that is desired. This make the higher position easier done by the person who promotes, and leads way to that person being able to "Manage up" and allows for an over all ability for a group/team to move up in the work place. This very simple theory is amazing and should be taught to every student starting in middle school where teachers are telling students to do their job well and they will be rewarded.
This new revelation in my life is leading way to many new thoughts and ideas that I believe will make a difference. By the way. I am already making way on my life's goal to change the world! I believe we can all make a change. We just have to do it one person at a time!
I hope that everyone enjoys reading and if you'd like send the link to friends, family, strangers, and random people on the street! I'm trying to think of a great way to wrap this up, but I'm not getting very far. So, I'll just say, Cheers!
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Apologies, Appreciations, Aspirations
I suppose the proper way to start this would be by quoting Mignon McLaughlin and saying, "True remorse is never just a regret over consequence; it is a regret over motive."
I'm truly sorry to my faithful readers who care about my life, because it's been months since I've updated any of you. I can't honestly say how much I appreciate and hope you are still faithful while I have not been faithful to you. I hope you will pick back up in my life with me and let me take you on my journey again.
I'm watching Gordon Ramsey's Kitchen Nightmare's while my rice is cooking. Tonight's dinner is going to be sticky rice with lumpia. I'm really excited about this because lumpia is a dish originally from Indonesia and the Philippines. It's a chinese savory pastry that is filled with various vegetables and morsels of meet, these lumpia filled with turkey. The main reason I'm so excited with these rolls is I helped with the making. The prep and the execution are very simple.
I've just finished eating the rice and lumpia; magnificent. The rolls were dark gold and when i bit into them the flaky crunchy rap melted in my mouth, then inside of the roll was hot and juicy the flavor was superb. I'm really excited to have friends that have family recipes and techniques from other countries.
A recent accomplishment that I'm very proud of is my on campus organization's effort to answer First Lady Obama's call to get chefs into schools. It's a very exciting day when students, chefs, and schools can partner together in order to make a healthier and more fun lunch period for students! My role in this is even more exciting. I get to work one on one with school faculty in order to learn about the school, it's needs, and it's students. The next part of the program we are conducting is a regular occurrence of demonstrations for the students and staff of the school. The first demo 150 people showed up from students to the Director of the private school system. The students were amazing, their energy was very high and their questions were awesome! The persuasion to get the group of high school freshman to answer questions was throwing bread rolls to them from the stage. They loved it. The final role in this program is the partnership of the Culinary Department Dean, our Department Chairman, another fellow student, and myself with the high school's executive staff and wellness committee; this partnership has a common goal. We are designing a menu and a new kitchen for the school!
Lots to write about, I can say that personally life is changing a lot, as I hope your's is too! Recently my friendships are getting stronger, while others are growing weaker. Passions are becoming clearer while others are growing becoming foggier. Purpose is showing itself while reason is hiding from me.
Friends and I made 2 kinds of fondue the other night, it was so much fun to be able to go to the store and pick out cheeses, salamis, vegetables, fruits, and breads with friends. We journeyed off the beaten path a bit and into the toy store, that brought many attempts to be stupid into the night. Walking around the cheese and meat counter at Dean & Deluca talking with Corey behind the counter while he, being bored, allowed us to taste every type of salami we desired. We then made our way to another market and walked through the produce section. As we looked at the seasonal vegetables and fruits we picked up and felt the softness of the mangoes, then firmness of the tomatoes, and smelled the ripeness of the prickly pairs. We then moved to the bakery and smelled the breads heard the crunch and saw the outsides of the loaves break apart beautifully. At the end of our journey we ended up back in the kitchen where friends get to work together.
We made a game plan, and executed it. The game plan was something like we'll sip some white wine and decide who cuts what as Danny cuts the cheese. For our cheese fondue we didn't have a box grater so i sliced the blocks of cheese into paper thin pieces, that was challenging without a sharp knife on hand, but i was victorious over the aged dairy. As each cut their respectable items and it was all displayed on our trays we laughed and talked about the past and the future. Finally we had our fondue made and we put it into the fondue pot, the room smelled of white wine, garlic, and gruyere. We didn't let that hinder our plan, we continued on. Heating cream and chocolate in the sauce pan we decided we needed more chocolate to add to the flavor, so we opened and stirred in Hershey's Kisses.
Then to finish the night we played an incredibly long game of "UNO" and enjoyed the fruits of our labor! It was grand! We laughed, we talked, we hatted on each other when they made us draw 12 cards at one time.
I have this recent feeling, an inkling, or a guttural hinting of something; I can't tell what it is, but I know that while passions are becoming foggier I will somehow find my way through this. I have no idea what this is, but it's kind of like a metal down period. I want to be alone most of the time and when I am I feel like I should be with people. I love myself enough to love spending time alone, but i don't why recently I just feel anti-social, like because I live alone and drive alone, and eat alone that someone here needs me in their life, but I can't find who it is. Or, maybe, it could be that I need someone in my life. I think I should reclaim a goal, that goal is to meet at least one new person every day! I believe I shall. I think that this is enough it's 1 in the morning, so I'm going to go to sleep now.
I'm truly sorry to my faithful readers who care about my life, because it's been months since I've updated any of you. I can't honestly say how much I appreciate and hope you are still faithful while I have not been faithful to you. I hope you will pick back up in my life with me and let me take you on my journey again.
I'm watching Gordon Ramsey's Kitchen Nightmare's while my rice is cooking. Tonight's dinner is going to be sticky rice with lumpia. I'm really excited about this because lumpia is a dish originally from Indonesia and the Philippines. It's a chinese savory pastry that is filled with various vegetables and morsels of meet, these lumpia filled with turkey. The main reason I'm so excited with these rolls is I helped with the making. The prep and the execution are very simple.
I've just finished eating the rice and lumpia; magnificent. The rolls were dark gold and when i bit into them the flaky crunchy rap melted in my mouth, then inside of the roll was hot and juicy the flavor was superb. I'm really excited to have friends that have family recipes and techniques from other countries.
A recent accomplishment that I'm very proud of is my on campus organization's effort to answer First Lady Obama's call to get chefs into schools. It's a very exciting day when students, chefs, and schools can partner together in order to make a healthier and more fun lunch period for students! My role in this is even more exciting. I get to work one on one with school faculty in order to learn about the school, it's needs, and it's students. The next part of the program we are conducting is a regular occurrence of demonstrations for the students and staff of the school. The first demo 150 people showed up from students to the Director of the private school system. The students were amazing, their energy was very high and their questions were awesome! The persuasion to get the group of high school freshman to answer questions was throwing bread rolls to them from the stage. They loved it. The final role in this program is the partnership of the Culinary Department Dean, our Department Chairman, another fellow student, and myself with the high school's executive staff and wellness committee; this partnership has a common goal. We are designing a menu and a new kitchen for the school!
Lots to write about, I can say that personally life is changing a lot, as I hope your's is too! Recently my friendships are getting stronger, while others are growing weaker. Passions are becoming clearer while others are growing becoming foggier. Purpose is showing itself while reason is hiding from me.
Friends and I made 2 kinds of fondue the other night, it was so much fun to be able to go to the store and pick out cheeses, salamis, vegetables, fruits, and breads with friends. We journeyed off the beaten path a bit and into the toy store, that brought many attempts to be stupid into the night. Walking around the cheese and meat counter at Dean & Deluca talking with Corey behind the counter while he, being bored, allowed us to taste every type of salami we desired. We then made our way to another market and walked through the produce section. As we looked at the seasonal vegetables and fruits we picked up and felt the softness of the mangoes, then firmness of the tomatoes, and smelled the ripeness of the prickly pairs. We then moved to the bakery and smelled the breads heard the crunch and saw the outsides of the loaves break apart beautifully. At the end of our journey we ended up back in the kitchen where friends get to work together.
We made a game plan, and executed it. The game plan was something like we'll sip some white wine and decide who cuts what as Danny cuts the cheese. For our cheese fondue we didn't have a box grater so i sliced the blocks of cheese into paper thin pieces, that was challenging without a sharp knife on hand, but i was victorious over the aged dairy. As each cut their respectable items and it was all displayed on our trays we laughed and talked about the past and the future. Finally we had our fondue made and we put it into the fondue pot, the room smelled of white wine, garlic, and gruyere. We didn't let that hinder our plan, we continued on. Heating cream and chocolate in the sauce pan we decided we needed more chocolate to add to the flavor, so we opened and stirred in Hershey's Kisses.
Then to finish the night we played an incredibly long game of "UNO" and enjoyed the fruits of our labor! It was grand! We laughed, we talked, we hatted on each other when they made us draw 12 cards at one time.
I have this recent feeling, an inkling, or a guttural hinting of something; I can't tell what it is, but I know that while passions are becoming foggier I will somehow find my way through this. I have no idea what this is, but it's kind of like a metal down period. I want to be alone most of the time and when I am I feel like I should be with people. I love myself enough to love spending time alone, but i don't why recently I just feel anti-social, like because I live alone and drive alone, and eat alone that someone here needs me in their life, but I can't find who it is. Or, maybe, it could be that I need someone in my life. I think I should reclaim a goal, that goal is to meet at least one new person every day! I believe I shall. I think that this is enough it's 1 in the morning, so I'm going to go to sleep now.
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