Culinary School Weeks 32 - 45

Well the lack of weekly posts throughout these last few months should speak for itself. This semester of school has been the most rewarding and education thus far. I have grown so much. Since that first week I have learned hundreds of methods, and techniques and shortcuts. I know the difference between a Chuck roast and a Round roast. I can break down a chicken in under 5 minutes. I can tourne a potato. I can make a killer Bearnaise sauce. I could whip out pastry cream in my sleep. All of these acquired skills are so special and important to me, but I think what I'm most proud of as my last semester of Culinary School comes to an end is the confidence I'll walk away with. I know there's still so much learning and growing to be done, but as of right now I feel like I could go work in any kitchen, anywhere and be proficient. And that feels pretty cool.

This semester pushed me beyond my comfort zone. There were days that I felt like I could not look at another lamb chop again. But it all paid off when I was nominated to be UVU's student chef of the year. 

(This was my competition Plate) 

I'm also happy to say that I gained NO weight this semester! No help from Plugra or This day in class: 

Also I can decorate cakes! I need sooooo much more practice so let me know the next time you need a birthday cake! 

At the very beginning of this journey I said I wasn't sure which direction I wanted to take this, and frankly I'm still not 100% sure. But I do know that baking make me happy, and that for now that's what I'm going to pursue. The beautiful thing about this industry is that I can change my mind anytime I want. And that
as long as there are hungry tummy's (and sweet tooth's) out there I'll have a job.

My last semester of lab classes are now over, and starting the second week of January I'll start my final semester of culinary school as an intern at Les Madeleine's a French Bakery in Salt Lake. After 7 weeks there, (...drum roll please...) I will leave for Paris where I'll work 8 more weeks in a real live Parisian Patisserie. I feel so lucky to have these incredible opportunities and love that I LOVE what I'm doing.

Reno, Tahoe, San Francisco and the Amtrak

 We'd been planning to visit Adam's brother and wife all summer. Scott and Christie live in Reno and we figured why not, plus we wanted to check out Lake Tahoe and a quick trip to San Francisco wouldn't be all that bad either. Of course I expected we'd make a road trip out of it so you can only imagine my surprise when I got a text from Adam the day before we left that said: We're taking the train to Reno I just bought our tickets. Awesome, I thought, I'll be riding in some box car with transients and hippies. Who rides Amtrak anyway..? But after doing a bit of research I became really excited, observation cars, cushy lounge chairs, a restaurant on board. We were in for a luxurious ride across the desert.

Our train left Salt Lake at 11:30pm on Thursday and arrived in Reno at 8:30am Friday. We slept all night and woke up in a new place ready to take on adventure.

 

When we got to Reno we threw on our swimsuits and loaded up the car and drove into the mountains to Lake Tahoe. 

 The lake was stunning, tall mountains surrounding clear blue water with huge pine trees.

It was heavenly.

 We picnicked on the beach and wandered around the trails surrounding the water.

 Later we rented a paddle board and decided that it's much harder to keep balanced with two people on board than just one. Ha! The experienced paddle boarding crowd on shore was probably getting a kick out of us amateurs!

After the lake we cleaned up and headed out to "Hot August Nights" in down town Reno. Where one of the largest car shows in the world was taking place. A seemingly never ending parade of cars drove down the main street and casino parking lots were filled with row after row of hot rods. 

 While in the city we decided to try the famous Awful, Awful burger at the diner in the Little Nugget.

It's awful big, and awful good, just like they say.

 The next days destination was San Francisco!

 We hit fisherman's wharf for some clam chowder and shrimp sandwiches on sourdough and then Ghirardelli for treats. 

(Salted Caramel banana shake, we love you!!)

 Later we road the trolley car and hit up China town.

 Where we got some pretty killer Chinese food.

 

 Adam's favorite part about the restaurant were the sea creatures waiting for their demise.

 On Sunday when we got dropped off at the train station we took the elevator to an empty platform with no waiting train. Come to find out we missed our train because of a miscommunication. After a bit of panic the wonderful Amtrak workers switched our ticket and we had one more day of vacation. Ha! Whoops. Tonight we'll go hop our train home and be there tomorrow morning. After traveling by train I will definitely do it again, it's so comfortable, cost effective, and very convenient, it takes longer than flying BUT when you sleep on the train overnight it's no big deal. We're already trying to decide where we want to go next!

Overall a great trip with great company!