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Everything I learned.....

I'm sure that many of you are aware of the poem, "Everything I know I learned in Kindergarten" well this applies to the kitchen as well. Everything I learned I learned in Chef Tom's kitchen. Sure, I've had many teachers since I started culinary school, and I learned many things from my Grammy and Mom. But the real depth of my knowledge has been learned from Chef Tom this semester. I have learned many things in Advanced Cookery, but I have learned the most while I spent my Tuesday and Thursday afternoons with him. In class we have a few of what I like to refer to as Chef Tom ism's:

Question: How long do I cook this for?

Answer: Until it's done!

Question: How do I cut the asparagus?

Answer: With a knife??

Question: Where is ______(insert any item)?

Answer: If you were Todd.........

Question from Chef Tom: Did you season it?

Answer: There is no other answer but YES!

I have learned the necessity of a prep list, mise en place, and just simply making sure that the walk-in is orderly. 

Garde Manager Competition

Tomorrow is our student day and I just want to make sure that everything is completely prepped. Chef Tom has also let us know that if we come in today we can ask him questions about our food.  When I first started coming in on our non-service days I would spend quite a bit of time prepping other people's dishes. Now I try to do things that Chef Tom needs rather than just doing the things for other people. So first and foremost Lianne and I want to make sure that we have all the vegetables that can be prepped done. Then we need to make sure that there is enough tamale dough for the guests on Friday. We also added a little more jerk seasoning to the cornish game hens. It looks like there are more hens in the hotel pan so I will have to make sure that Mateo knows that we did not prep any more hens. 

The Garde Manager competition is also today; hopefully it will be I opening as I plan to take it in the fall. Wow! I don't know if I'll be able to compete in the competition next semester. The items in the mystery basket were all things that we have cooked with during our time in class act. It was valuable to see how Chef Dean and Chef Kyle grade while in the kitchen. Sanitation, teamwork, and utilization of tools seemed to be a huge thing. Then I stayed to watch the judging of the first two courses. Some of the judges were harder than others. I just hope that I'll be able to accomplish what they have.