time flies when you're having fun

Coming in, I was so nervous about finding a lot of friends, but I have honestly met some amazing people already and it's almost frightening how comfortable we've all become with each other in such a short period of time. My friends Carlie and Angela have slept in my room for three straight nights and we're literally all attached at the hip. Even the boys. This past weekend was crazy, way crazier than I thought it was going to be...so much fun. 

Most of the kitchens aren't open to us on the weekend, so on saturday night we made a big feast! It was absolutely delicious, bacon fried rice, chicken and sautéed vegetables and Angela and I made crab rangoons! Today we had our first "theory lecture"; since there are no classes on monday, five mondays will be designated theory days. Today's was on heat transfer and basic introductions to culinary science. It was really quite interesting, and our two chefs gave demonstrations. While some of it did catch my attention, it's still exceptionally clear that I am not so fond of, or good at, the science stuff. I am most definitely going to have to find my way to the tutoring center more often then not. Since there is no way I am going into detail about my weekend on this family-viewable blog, I will just show off some yummmmy stuff ;)

 Today, we stopped into Apple Pie Bakery after lunch (which was a deeelicious Rice, Mushroom and Goat Cheese Stuffed Chili & Seafood Chowder...sorry no picture!) because 'ya know, all that food wasn't enough and we needed snacks (or snaeycks, hi dad). And, lucky for us it was buy one get one free! On top is a Stuffed Pretzel, it was stuffed with some kind of cheese and mushrooms; on the bottom is a Almond Financier and on the left is obviously a Macaron, it was pistachio and passion fruit I believe. When Angela went to order something, the girl behind the counter--who keep in mind is another student--noticed she didn't have her neckerchief on told us she couldn't serve us because of it. Thats just a little insight on how seriously strict it is here.

This was served at an event in my dorm hall! For $5 you could get three Carnitas or Shrimp Tacos with Hand Pressed Tortillas and a Mexican Coke. We obviously had to get three of each, duh. Other than that, I got my knife kit! It's so nice; not only did I get all of those knives but I got a bunch of other little stuff too. Every Chef or instructor or anyone I come across tells you to go to the store (my Chef even said the dollar store!) and pick up on of the plastic peelers because while the one we got is fancy, it doesn't work as well as the cheapys do! I found that so funny-- that's something else we do here, make the cheesiest food/culinary jokes and then laugh even more when we realize no one else would sit around and laugh about them.

Last but not least....it snowed today! It was beautiful. Not only does my campus look like Hogwarts, but now it looks like Hogwarts in the winter...and there's basically nothing better. I am so scared to go to my first in-kitchen class tomorrow, but I just know this feeling won't go away easily.  

I feel on top of the world.

everything is happenin' so fast

It for real feels as though I have been here for weeks, while in reality it has only been about three days-- craziness! Yesterday was the same old, same old...just a whole lot of orientation stuff that I already went through at Pace (and that anyone with common sense should know). But todaaaaaay, we all wore our chef whites! 

The outfit is definitely going to take some getting used to-- I kind of look like a lump of laundry in it because I'm so short...but, hey at least the pants are comfortable. During yesterdays orientation meetings we got our schedules and needless to say I was not too happy about the one I received. I really wanted AM classes so I could be finished early in the day, but of course received a PM schedule (first blah), THEN of course my roommate and my other friend got put into the same AM class schedule together (second blah), THEN I realized that my classes completely interfered with any crazy fun 21st birthday festivities that I thought I could have (third and final blah). I have class the morning after my birthday from 8:45am-5:05 pm, with one hour break. Time to check into real life, cause its getting way real...and I'm getting way scared.

On the brighter side, I'm still eating FABULOUSLY. Here is a two-day, Wednesday/ Thursday meal run through:

Yesterday for breakfast I had many insaaaane choices for breakfast; some including: Poached Egg "McGridlle"--which was on real pancakes with a maple hollandaise--PB&J Pancakes, Gruyere & Egg Scramble with Sautéed Onions, Eggs & Biscuits with Red Eye Gravy or, what I got, Eggs Benedict--my favorite:

It was super delicious and filling but since my stomach is stretching as fast as the days are going, when it came to lunch-time a full meal was perfectly fine with me. For this, we went to our first production kitchen in Roth Hall and chose the Cuisine of Asia. While waiting on line the Chef (which is what every 'professor' is called, no exceptions or you'll get ripped a new one) told me that my outfit was "spiffy" and I looked very nice...it was no doubt the highlight of my day since I've been totally stressing about finding appropriate business-casual attire. Okay, LUNCH! 

Top right was a Hot & Sour soup (even though we hate criticizing anything we taste, since we are no where near this level yet, Maggie and I found it was a tad salty), bottom left was a chilled Peanut Noodle Salad, and to the right was steamed White Rice & Bok Choy & Braised Pork Belly with Shiitake Mushrooms. It was all SOOOOO good, but of course there was room for us to share a chocolate chip cookie and piece of cake afterwards! And now, drum roll please...for the most nutritious and deeeelicious dinner of all time... a CIA delicacy that only the truly lucky get to enjoy:

I wasn't even mad, it will always be a guilty pleasure and tasty treat... this is college after all.

This morning, I got to sleep in a little bit (lol, 7:30) and skipped out on breakfast. But lunch was by far the most impressive yet. Not only was it sit down, and as formal as can be. But it was four scrum-diddly-umptious courses. I only have a picture of my main but, for an appetizer it was: a Romain Wedge salad with creamy Black-Peppercorn Dressing and a Crostini, we then moved on to a Senate Bean Soup topped with Bacon (they totally knew we were new because we kept giggling and calling it "Centipede" Soup), and then here is the main:

Seared Duck with Mixed Vegetables and a Wild Rice and Red Pepper Cake....the sauce was to die for and we all made the clean plate club.

Needless to say, I'm eating like a champion...but don't worry, last night we hit up Zumba and actually had a really good time. At first we looked, and felt, like complete fools but ended up getting a workout and plan on adding it to our weekly to-do's. Only one more day of this easy-going-yet-not-really-easy orientation schedule and then were thrown into the real craziness. I am scared, excited, anxious and a whole bunch of things all at the same time, but I honestly would not want to be anywhere else in the world.

Tell Everybody I'm On My Way

To whom it may concern: this blog will cover every twist and turn and little crevice on my CIA adventures. For those of y'all who don't know, I'm not in the Central Intelligence Agency I'm studying at the Culinary Institute of America--I think its way cooler. Chances are this first week will really be the only time I can sit down and write because from what I've heard, time to breath is rare (which is really scaring me a little bit, but hey I knew it was coming). So far, the only things I've really learned are:

• My socks have to be over my ankle and black or white (I own one pair that match that requirement).
• I can get denied food for not being dressed properly; this means either in chef whites or in business "casual"-- but it isn't very casual and is easily not proper enough.
• There is no such thing as an "excused" absence. 
• HYDE PARK IS FREAKING COLD.

And thats pretty much it. But really, I'm fine with it. I have never been more petrified to start classes in my life. Some people just seem so prepared and experienced, and I am feeling a little bit behind...or like I'll make a bit of a fool out of myself in my Fundamentals class. 

Now to the fun part!--the food :) Today, I had to be at breakfast at 6:45...which at that time I of course did not have an apetite. If I would have wanted anything other than fruit, I could have gotten Eggs Benedict, Chocolate Chip Buttermilk Pancakes or a Breakfast Burrito with Chorizo and Peppers. Or any type of omelet and a couple of other things I dont remember. Instead, after my first little group session I bought this:

This is a Savory Scone from the Apple Pie Bakery. It was chock full of pieces of bacon, chives and cheddar cheese; it was ridiculously delicious and I could have ate 50. After going to a couple more information sessions, my roommate and I aimlessly wandered around looking for the group of newcomers (I believe there is around 65 of us) until a student bribed us to come to their sit down buffet they were offering. It was given to us buffet style but everything else was extremely professional and restaurant-esque. The students filled our drinks, took away our dishes, and got us whatever else we needed. For lunch I had: 

Does that not look like the most perfect ideal meal, EVER??!! Lunch included a Mixed Green Salad with Walnuts, a cup of Clam Chowder, Beef Brisket with Carrots and Peas, Turkey with Gravy, Brussel Sprouts and Cauliflower, Stuffing with Chestnuts and Chorizo and fresh Cranberry Sauce. And then obviously dessert was a Vanilla Creme Brûlée topped with a Macaron. It was all so delicious, it was honestly hard to believe everything had been prepared by students. I'm not sure if this was a pre or post extern class, but from now on I am most definitely going to find out.  

My roommate and I (her name is Maggie, by the way) have decided to attend the 9:15 Zumba class tonight because this diet will be the death of our hawt bods if we don't! That seems to be all for now, but I'm sure I'll think of a ton more to write soon.

Stay tuned ;) !