Week 1 at Ferrandi

Week 1 is now in the books and it has been an eventful week.  We are currently learning how to make soups and stocks.  I managed to slice open my finger on the first day of cooking, which was extremely embarrassing.  I was also the last person to turn in my soup dish, which was too salty for my chef (what can I say, I have an American palate).  We also had a field trip to Rungis, the world's largest wholesale food market.  Besides the annoyance of having to wake up at 3am to get ready to go there, it was a pretty interesting field trip.  They have many buildings that cater to specific meats, produce, and even flowers. 

At Rungis

 

  

Our 2nd day of cooking went a lot smoother.  My group finished their soupe au pistou well ahead of time.  Once again I was the last to present my dish.  Had it not been over salted, I would have finished 20 minutes sooner than I did.  I let it be known to the chef and everyone else that my goal is to secure a stage at L'Astrance.  At the moment things are not looking so good, but I refuse to give up.  I will get better.  On the bright side, my knife skills are fairly good.

Potage Cultivateur

I am enjoying classes for the most part.  Ferrandi classes run about 40 hours a week which is kind of annoying, but I can live with it.  I like my chef.  He is pretty fun to learn under and I try to communicate with him as much as possible, whether it be tasting his prepared dish (which no one does but me), or asking his advice to improve my dish. 

The Anglo cuisine class was split up into 2 groups and I am proud to say that I am a member of Group B.  I feel that my group is very strong and experienced.  On the other hand, I feel that we are segregated into cliques.  I can only hope that things will get better, but there no be no effort on my part.  I need to remained focused on my goal.  I am not here to create a harmonious atmosphere in the kitchen.  I am here to do my best and be the best.  I am thankful for the friends that I have made and they are great, but the others who are more exclusive, I will not waste time on. 

Week 2 is beginning and I have set high expectations for myself.  No more over salting and do not finish last!  Let's see how it goes.

I hate my white clogs