CULINARY FOUNDATIONS, WEEK TWO

January 22, 2013

Today was an interesting and exciting day in class.  We received our tool kit and went through each item in the kit including the knifes.  That was both interesting and fun.  Also one of the students brought in a package of fried bug larvae from the South Florida State Fair, currently in town, and the Chef had all of us try it.  Yes, I actually did try it (some did not). I can honestly say I did not like it, but I think it was more the seasoning they put on the larvae than the larvae itself.  It had a taste like rice cakes or pork rinds. Neither one a fan favorite with me.

Jungle George's Exotic Meats and Bug Menu

January 23, 2013

Nothing too exciting in class. We reviewed measurements, resume writing, and had another knife demo by a company called Dexter, ironically nothing to do with the TV series, which those who watch it will find this as humorous as I do. They had a van that they performed a demo in showing the manufacturing process involved in the production of their knifes.  

The gentleman giving the demo was a man by the name of David Leathers who you can watch on YouTube breaking his record at carving a watermelon into a flower. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-QsMYHaqbY

January 24, 2013

 

We were in the kitchen actually doing hands on knife work! We were shown how to properly sharpen a knife using a whetstone. Then the Chef asked us to try using our knives on a carrot so he could see how many bad habits he needed to break.  All you could hear in the kitchen was Chop, Chop, Chop, which it should have been more like swish, swish, swish, LOL.  We were then shown how to properly hold the knife and how to julienne and brunoise (broo-nwaz) a carrot.  

Julienee

Brunoise

No these are not pictures of my Julienne or Brunoise techniques. 

During our practicing of the newly learned techniques, camera crews came into the Kitchen and started filming for a show on the Lifetime Network called All Mixed Up.  I have never seen this show, but apparently it is like Chopped for culinary students.  This will be their 3rd season. Auditions were held earlier in January and students from the school had auditioned.  During their filming they did have interaction with some of the students from my class and they filmed me practicing my new techniques on a carrot.  It was so unnerving I just focused on the carrot and did not look up at the camera.  Who knows,  maybe they will show a little clip on the show intro.  That would really be a good laugh!