wait just a second, I will be in the San Diego area!

On Sunday I finished my last day in the pastry kitchen at Gramercy Tavern. Unfortunately, there are no full time spots available in the pastry kitchen at this time. But fortunately, that leaves me available to do a few other things... like head back to Cali for a visit, before I get a full time job and don't get vacation for a year and a half!

Anyway, I feel a little lost now, because for 6 weeks, I had a distinct purpose in life. I was an extern at a really amazing restaurant. After the first 2 very difficult weeks - which I documented here - things got good. Really good. I loved going to work. I loved being there. The people were amazing. I got to see the chef change many of the desserts in transition from the winter to spring menu. I got to work service for two nights (or at least help out in a major way). I felt like I was actually counted on. And service was a major rush. Nothing like the sound of the expediter yelling out orders and line cooks calling the dishes out in recognition. It truly is an amazing experience. I learned so much about myself. I learned that a chef who cares pushes you to your limits. I learned that if I want to get good at this profession, I have to push myself. I even found out that one of the line cooks had a crush on me. So sweet, but not my type. I also developed a bit of a crush on another line cook, and after divulging this to one of my co-workers, he was teased incessantly (luckily, on my day off). So embarrassing, as I'm pretty sure I'm not his type. Ahhh, workplace dynamics...

So besides flying back to Cali for 2 weeks to visit the family, I don't have any plans... but I do have a few intentions... here they are so I don't lose sight of my goals...
1. While in Cali, trail at at least 2 different places - here are the forerunners: El Bizcocho & Extraordinary Desserts.
2. Do a front of the house externship - hopefully at Gramercy, if the GM gets back to me.
3. Explore some cuisines that I'm not immediately attracted to... for instance, try to do a stage in a traditional French restaurant (i.e. Daniel), something known for "molecular gastronomy" (i.e. wd~50), an Italian restaurant (i.e. Felidia or Maremma), a steakhouse (i.e. Landmarc or Porter House).
4. Return to Boston for some fun and to stage at a restaurant or two... and catch a Sox game at friendly Fenway!
5. Try to learn more about chocolate from Chef Shotts in Providence by asking if I can spend some time in his shop - Garrison Confections.
6. Visit family in RI.
7. Apartment hunt in the 5 boroughs of NYC with potential roommates/former classmates from the NU days!
8. Be in the NYC full time pastry cook job market by August 5th with some great experiences & contacts behind me.
9. Volunteer for something food related if I find myself with too much down time!

Wish me luck!

If you're in the San Diego area...

My amazing glass artist brother, Mike, just acquired a spot at the Solana Beach Farmers Market. He is really excited about the venue because up until now, only fruits and veggies were sold there. Now he has the opportunity to share his creative works with a whole new town of people. If you happen to be in the area, please stop by or send your friends over for a great selection of new jewelry and sculpture, along with unique pieces of functional glassware, all handmade by my very talented brother. Here is the info on the market:

Solana Beach Farmers Market
Every Sunday from 2pm - 6pm
Located between 410 and 444 Cedros Avenue
He will be past the veggies in the craft area.

Support local artists, artisans & farmers! This is truly what makes the world go around!

He also has some awesome looking beads on sale on...

singing in the kitchen and other joyous things...

When I cook or bake by myself I love listening to music, dancing around the kitchen, singing along. If I ever own a place, I hope that the environment in the kitchen is happy enough (although not totally unserious) that music can be on, and there will be singing out loud. Those images just give me a warm feeling inside.

Last week, probably Friday, I was working in the kitchen with my chef and she always has "Jack FM" on... which, when I started, was sort of a fun novel station. They played some good music, mostly older rock/soft rock/alternative (when it came out, not anymore) stuff. Now I realize it is pretty much the same loop of songs, except it just isn't the top 40, so the loop is a little longer, but I still hear the same stuff over & over so now it is annoying by the 4th day of work in a row... but anyway, I digress... She loves G'n'R (Guns & Roses) and one of her "rules" is that if G'n'R is on the radio - TURN IT UP! Things have been good in the kitchen, there isn't a tense air like when I started and the Hobart was broken and every day it was a struggle to get finished. So some song came on the radio that she liked and she turned it up and started singing along and it was a great feeling in the kitchen. It made my heart warm up and put a smile on my face and I felt like "Yeah, this is exactly how I imagined working in a kitchen would be."

If you can believe it, I have about 40 hours left to complete - 6 working days - then my externship is over! I've learned alot about myself in the last 4 weeks. I've used muscles and had pains in my body that I've never experienced before. In the coming two weeks, I will figure out the possibility of a full time job at Gramercy and if not, what then am I going to do.

Other joyous things??? Got to see one of my friends from school the other evening. We went to see a movie that was part of the Tribeca Film Festival and enjoy some cocktails after. Commiserate about our aches, pains, lessons learned and accomplishments. It is always nice to know you aren't the only one feeling a certain way. This week I will get to see a friend from Cali and her husband. Lunch in the city tomorrow & my chef gave me Sunday off so I will be able to head up to a BBQ at my Cali friend's husband's friend's house. (Does that make sense?) Otherwise, sunny warmer spring weather (forsythia, cherry blossoms, daffodils & tulips in bloom) and not dreading to walk thru the doors to work have got me in a happy spirit.