-

almost the end of the year, man that went by fast
seems like everyone is just super busy with everything thats coming up...
gotta go take placement tests... meh...
tired... english... failing... me...
gonna miss being at graham...
interning is fun, ive learned a lot about myself through it...
sleep... cheers

jerks

bleh.... had to stay an hour+ past closing tonight (sun). people decide that hey, even though the restaurant closes we want to wait around and order food, even worse is the fact that i was the only person working pantry tonight (had some help from alfredo tho) which also means i have to wait till everyone leaves till i can close down the dessert station - and of course, had 3 people order desserts at 9:45 - 45 mins past closing...

but its all good... wasnt really all that busy, had a few spurts but not too bad (glad it was kinda slow since i was the only person working pantry) sucks that next week i gotta take off for prom =P i mean i will no doubt enjoy prom, but i do enjoy working at mitchells, and im not gonna be interning there much longer.

well, really frustrated with a lot of stuff, so this is brief

bye

wafflecopter

well, its almost the end of the year already! been busy with school and site...

interesting thing i got to do today, i got to prep chickens! basically had to take a boning knife and remove the spine, then cut the carcass in half mmm mmm mmm... >.> was pretty gross but not the first time ive had to do that sort of thing.

if only people knew how gross some food was before it is cooked... lobster part of lobster bisque is just the head part, aka heart spleen and brain, yum yum >.>

anywho, gotta get through the gross stuff to get to the good stuff i guess

mothers day

mmm - had to work on mothers day... wasn't busy exactly (saturday got a little hectic) but there was actually stuff to be done. Had to go in an hour early since everyone was eating early that night... basically the same old same old, gotta make the whipped cream by hand and that takes a lot of effort. They were giving away two giant chocolate covered strawberries to all the mothers that came in and man, did those things look good.
Didn't really make that many salads, and the ones i did were splits. There were a ton of desserts (muahahaha) though - creme brullees were pretty popular. Unfortunately we got a new torch and i had to figure out how to use it, and it requires a bit more control. i'm really getting the hang of things doing pantry, only a few things that i almost never do that im a bit shaky on, and i know i have all of the deserts down. not much else to report for now, cheers

mmmm

hey hey kids, gotta say, I'm tired. Even though its only six hours of work - it gets pretty intense.
Today it got a "little" busy - had a bunch of peoples proms to cook for. Man, even though it wasn't all that busy it was a rush - fun but tiring... always something to do. What sucked the most about today was - after we had cleaned up - more people showed up, so we had to cook more. Anywho... tired, hungry, and well... pancake batter. Gonna go grab some food and crash - still more to be done tomorrow (although it is usually pretty dead on sundays)... cheers

pancake batter

so, its monday... this past weekend was my first time working pantry (its right next to the line). Gotta say that was different. Saturday was pretty busy - I learned a lot from working - sunday was pretty dead so they let me leave early. Its a lot more hectic and fast paced than doing prep work or working in a bakery.
It really reminds me of Angus Grille - except a bit busier. Oh yeah, I didn't really explain what working pantry means - well, basically I help the two other people on pantry make all the entries and deserts (mostly salads and deserts [some shrimp and oyster cocktails etc.]). There are a lot of details etc you have to get right for the presentation and composition of the food. But I gotta say - my two favorite deserts to make are the banana splits and the creme bruele... for both of those i get to caramelize sugar with a torch ^ ^.
Evidently i did pretty well, got some compliments from Zach - the chef there in the evenings, and the person teaching me - Niki. Gotta say knowing spanish helps - most of the people that work there are spanish and speak it a lot.
Was pretty tired from working so long - 11 pm mmmm. So glad I dont have to go to school in the mornings or go to site on monday anymore.
anywhy - this really gave me a look at what this is gonna be like, and i gotta say i am excited and interested - its tiring but fun as hell. One thing that was pointed out to me is that I work kinda slow at times just because I dont want to mess up - I dont have the confidence yet. But, the mess ups are inevitable, and you need to learn from em.
well... gonna write more later prolly, cheers

CAW!

muahahahahahah - so tired... decided to ride my bike to school the other day - was a bad idea since i ended up being out in the sun for like 4 hours straight...
anyway - really tired and busy this week - glad i have wed (today) off, cause gonna be busy pretty much the whole rest of the week
as i said before gonna be working 4-11pm sat and sun, i guess ive done pretty well for them to let me do more than prep this soon. gonna be interesting thats for sure... but man i know im gonna be tired after that! at least on monday i will have a little break - if i remember correctly they took me off monday on the schedule, so i wont have to get up early ^ ^, which is good, since im not a morning person.
anywho - gonna go relax while i have the time - will prolly write a lot either monday or sunday night
cheers

fooood

mmm... lots of reading to be done - have 3 books that i am reading at the same time... glad i can multi task neh? anyway - been pretty busy with assignments etc... i have stuff pretty balanced right now so im doin pretty well.
was talking with Bill today (head chef at mitchels) i should start working nights (maybe just once a week) on the weekends - hes gotta talk to some other people before its in stone and all, but i look forward to that. Prep work is pretty cool and all - but i wanna see some of the finishing stuff the "hot" kitchen.
time just seems to be flying by - but i gotta say i am enjoying myself right now - and i hope that everything stays this good.
oi... well, I'm off to go do some school work - 8pg paper comin up (gotta finish mah book too!)

- p.s. gonna make me some grilled cheese with bread from Omega <3
cheers

busy

oi... been really busy recently - havnt had time to blog. Started at Mitchel's this week - goin really well. Really different than what I'm used to but I gotta say its fun. When I get there the restaurant isn't open for buisness - everything is locked etc... only one chef is there and he lets me in - his name is Chris. Hes a pretty cool guy - just us two for a few hours till the rest of the people who work in the morning show up. Every morning fresh ingredients are delivered, and i gotta say there are lots of em.
I get to do new stuff every day pretty much - which is good because i am learning some good cooking skills from it. (had to temper some eggs the other day - havnt done that in a while - also learned how to skin tomatoes by boiling em then blanching them so the skin peels off). As many of you know I got my uniform recently - chef coat and striped pants - which makes me feel as if I'm really there as more than just an intern.
on a side note i may be working back at omega soon - been talking to Amy (not the teacher - the owner of the bakery) and she does want me to work there, they had two of their people quit recently so they are short staffed. I would really enjoy working there - it was enjoyable when i interned there.
on top of that ive been dealing with collage stuff - got into CSCC for their culinary program etc... now adays there just isnt enough time in one day to get everything done... but I'm managing
p.s. itouches = win
anywho - gonna go get some sleep - cheers

psst amy

actually - i didnt even know ameri'ca wasnt going to school today until after I called in so there =P got a friend to get my wallet - and called Mitchel's - Will be working mon tues and thurs from 7am to 10am.... and would be awesome if you could write me a recommendation letter thingy (due in a few weeks so you have some time i think)

oh yeah - will be starting on monday - so wont be in tomorrow (thurs) till 6th period

tues april 1

well... been a little while since I've posted >.> sorry bout' that.
anywho - did collage apps during spring break - went well - got into Columbus State for their culinary program... speaking of which, need to talk to amy bout' that (need to talk to Elane I think?)... need a few recommendation letters.
Speaking of which - went down to NMarket today after school to ask Amy (not the teacher - the baker) if she wouldn't mind writing me one - got into a long talk with her about different colleges and restaurants etc... was interesting and i got a lot of info. So... things with that seem to be going well.
On the other hand I seem to have misplaced my wallet... which has the card for Mitchel's number in it (among other things, such as money >.>) was gonna call em today after I got home (after lunch hours and before dinner so i could catch mr. chef - only to find that I didn't have it... bah... first time ive done that.
I think I know where I left it - and I hope its there when I check tomorrow so i can get ahold of people to work out the times for my walkabout...
Things really seem to be going by fast... and I think I'm changing to accommodate these things pretty well... I'm a lot different since I started my senior year and I'm pretty sure walkabout has had something to do with it. Unfortunately I never seem to have time to do anything anymore... I always seem to be busy with something... oh well, at least I'm enjoying it <3.
oh - and P.S. ... I'm getting me an ITouch <3 (getting Rica one too [shes helping to pay for it - but its gonna be a bday gift for her])... not happy about having to pay $800 tho =P
n e w a i have a good day people - hope to see everyone in a good mood tomorrow (everyone seems to be grumpy lately.. and I've been unusually happy... prolly cause winter is done with...) MUAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH
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title

mmm - spring break... snuck up on me here - lots to do with this time... gotta look into some college y stuff... prolly talk to mitchel's about work schedule and all that good stuff... busy busy busy >.> feels like things are really mooving (get it? =P) anywho - catch you losers later

title

last day

mmm was a pretty good day today - last day at site which went really well (except for the fact that i burnt a tray of cookies >.>) and its spring break now. Gonna really miss working at pattycake - was a great experience. really not much to write about right now - more later

time is flying...

Zomg somebody go catch it i have decided to use absolutely no punctuation in this entry have fun reading it losers
Hey hey kids time to get back into the blogging - had a busy week last week got an interview at Mitchel's Steakhouse which went really well gonna be starting there week after spring break really looking forward to it gotta say how shocked i was at how upscale the place is sure gonna be different
seems like it was just yesterday that i started working at Pattycake and now this is my last week it sure snuck up on me i finally got things down in there and started to settle in more but i guess this is a good thing keeps me moving i guess
talk about risk? (ya, i used some punctuation, sue me) Mitchel's is a damn nice place steaks running at $160 wine at $270 (of course its not all like that, but still) i think that the margin for error here is a lot smaller then at other places - plus if i mess it up with these people i will make a lot of people look bad, only got this place because a former student worked with the head chef at the restaurant - amy contacted him - who then contacted the chef so i REALLY cant let anyone down here gotta give it my all
now this isnt me being nervous or anything i dont want to mess anything up but its gonna push me its motivation to be better I am really looking forward to this its going to be a different experience - from what i hear i will be doing a bit of everything - food prep starting on sauces etc then moving onto line cooking etc.
gotta say though gonna miss pattycake its a really cool place filled with nice people i think that working there definitely gave me a unique experience - not too many vegan places

well off to go waste more time >.>
{o,o}
|),,,,|)
ORLY?

YA RLY - time to raed and speel gud

4th quarter walkabout

So... all you faithful readers should know by now that I have an interest in the culinary arts, and as such I am attending walkabout sites that correspond with my interests, e.g. Pattycake. Well, for my fourth quarter walkabout I plan to move on - doing more restaurant work than bakery. I hopefully will be able to intern at Cap City Diner - kind of a big thing. I hear that this is a pretty respectable establishment, and as such, I will have to look good and do well to make them look good and actually want me there. I know that there is going to be a lot of hard work - probably more than at Pattycake right now just because of the difference in the type of establishment. Restaurants need ya to get your job done and have it done right the first time - there are customers waiting (or for prior food prep).
I think that there will be more demanded of me if I can actually get into this restaurant - which is something I actually look forward to. I like having something to push for - some way to improve myself. Not only this, but working there would further increase my skill set and experience in cooking. I have worked at a restaurant before - in my junior year, but it was a pretty small place, I look forward to possibly working at a bigger place. Thanks for listening all you cool cats... drop me a line sometime and keep on reading.

DOOM!

Been feeling rather lethargic as of late - dunno what it is. I haven't really been motivated to do much, even going to site and cooking - two things I really enjoy doing, seem to be a drag. It might be that I just don't have much motivation to get something done - no big goal in front of me to aim for - right now its just a bit monotonous. One thing that I have to say is looking up though is while at site I think that I am enjoying it a lot more - it usually takes me a while to get comfortable with new people (I can work with people etc. just not really myself and can't open up to them). Though things are looking up - weather is warming up a bit (I can't stand the cold), usually brings my spirits up - which should help me with my walkabout actually (although I will have to learn how to compensate for temperature in the shop - damn fickle ingredients!) -- Short post - but don't really feel like writing atm, instead I shall entertain you with interpretive dance!
(\_/)
(o.o) <( Liar )
(")(")3

Quiet you!

zomghesfinallydoingitthelazybum

So, I know I have been slacking on the journaling thing - this should hopefully put a little dent in mah slackin! (this shall now be written as if I were speaking... but its not how I actually speak - odd neh?)

Anywho, been working at Pattycake Vegan Baking (http://www.pattycakeveganbakery.com/history.html) for all those who don't know, but no - I am not vegan myself (or vegetarian for that matter). There is always lots of stuff to do around the shop, ya sure, some of it isn't anything near what you would call fun (woo dishes!), but thats what comes with working with food - dishes are made, and need to be cleaned. Its not like the people there are just giving me b**** (not sure if my usual language is acceptable here =P ) to do - they have to do the dishes too. There is always a list of things to do on the dry erase board - the list grows as the day goes on. Unfortunately the things that we make in the shop every day are pretty similar - lots of cookies and icing (as well as blending nice tasty tofu and flax!), but thats how things work, there was a limited menu at my old site as well.


I remember the first day I started I was rather hesitant with the ingredients - I generally don't cook with tofu and the texture is a bit less odd. But then again since the bakery is vegan you wont be finding your usual eggs and such for binding the food etc. I soon got used to working with all the food in the shop - for the most part. Back to the people who work there! (yay writing ADD) All of the people that work in the shop are nice people - but I really don't get the same vibe I got from working at Omega - I mean it's not like I'm not wanted there or anything, I just doesn't feel quite as at home as at Omega. Don't get me wrong, the environment is nice - it just doesn't seem to fit me is all. [ Aha! I found something that I think might be the problem - although there is always work to be done, the environment isn't busy, there generally isn't a rush of customers, which is actually something I liked, rushing around multitasking is fun! While we do have to get things done in a timely manner there isn't really a sense of urgency or a rush on us.] All the people there are nice - it was kind of convenient that I started my site there at about the same time as two of their new employees, I got to learn about all the stuff in the shop the same as them. When working, if I don't know something about a recipe I can always gladly get a hand or some info.


(more writing ADD - back to things to do) As I said before sometimes I get a little... I dunno, dissatisfied? with the range of the tasks available. There was more to do at Omega just because their menu included a larger variety of items - ranging from me making the focaccia, peeling garlic, cooking the pep. rolls to running the register and helping customers. Most of what I do at Pattycake is measuring out and making the cookies - I don't get to run the register, which I can understand (there are lots of things that can go wrong with that - new person, no trust is really established as of yet) not to mention if something is entered wrong you have to go back and ...(the word escapes me right now, but basically edit it out). So it seems a little like a step down in regards to things to do (the trust thing will only come in time - hey, I may never get to run the register and I'm fine with that, as you all know I'm not really a people person =P ) but you know what its all about getting new experiences for me, I plan on being a chef, so I need as much experience, from as many different places and styles as I can get - I think that its just a great thing to do (hence working here when I'm not even a vegetarian). I think that right now I will just have to work with what I have to do, at a job you often don't get much variety to your tasks... such as washing dishes *shudder*. (just so we are all clear I really don't mind doin dishes - just being funny)


I gotta say though - I enjoy working there a lot, its teaching me a lot about cooking, business and hey, even some marketing. The people there are awesome, the food they make is delicious (everyone at school who has tried it has loved it [ yeah Amy with your free cookies! ]) and I think that they like having me there - I'm sure its a bit of an inconvenience some of the time, and I'm glad they put up with it. Though, I gotta say, I miss my bread from Omega... all of it was so damn good! - but gotta expand my horizons, gotta thank Pattycake for letting me on.


Side note: Wall of text > you
p.s. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UG5gO4nlLRQ&feature=dir

Mid Year Senior Reflection

1. Which Walkabout assignments have you completed so far? (Walkabout Proposal, research paper, presentation)
I have completed all of the assignments listed above, these documents should be possessed by my Amy, as well as being saved at the school.

2. -

3. Which aspect(s) of Walkabout are you most excited about? Why?
I am excited about the independence that is provided in regards to our sites - we are expected to preform on our own, checking in with our mentors etc.

4. In what ways will you be taking significant risk during Walkabout?
I shall be responsible for balancing my classwork with a more significant portion of site, preforming in class as well as preforming at site.

5. What support would you like to have during your Walkabouts, from school, home, friends, a mentor, etc.
This question is somewhat vague, support as in moral support - financial support?

6. Please write yourself a narrative for your English credit for 1st semester seminar. Describe why you are exceeding expectations, meeting expectations, approaching expectations, or just beginning.
I believe that I deserve an ME - I think that I did all that was expected if me with my assignments etc. (yes, I am lazy and using improper puntuatuin, and speeling two,)

7. Please write yourself a narrative for your 1st semester experiential site work and weekly seminar. Describe why you are (...).
I believe that I deserve either an EE or an ME for this, I missed a total of one day at site (if memory serves) and my site enjoyed having me there (yay slave labour! [yes, I am British]). I think that I did all that was expected of me (sometimes more [i.e. going to site when we had school off]), and that I did well in senior seminar. å