So this is what happened.. Since production today don't really have much to do, and one of the sugarloaf people is absent, when chef asked who wanna go over to help, I raise my hand almost immediately after she complete her sentence.. Haha. This shows how excited I am :)
At first there wasn't much to do cause the mise en place are all done.. The rest of the stuff.. I don't really know how to do.. But thanks to the helpful partners, I am able to learn what they're doing which is soooo fun!
The first task assigned to me was cooking the glazed carrots.. Well, if you do one portion, it is definitely easy. But one whole big pot? Its quite difficult to control.. I added too much water (we replace chix stock with water), then at the end of the day when there's leftovers.. The carrots are really mushy and kind of disgusting.. -.-"
After that, I clean up the area, bring the dirty equipment to the stewarding area.. Then I was told to dice onions.. Only 2. However, you know what? I took almost 1hour! Oh my goodness. Can't believe it. But you know why? The onions are replacing shallots for the boiled beans.. So it can't be too big nor brunoise.. Thus, I have to keep mincing them.. The end result was very satisfying though.. Maybe 2 or 3 times bigger than chopped parsley :) At least my effort is not being wasted..
Next, I watched how B and G make the beer batter.. Clean up and learn how to fry the dory.. It was very fun but painful at the same time.. I kept having oil splatter all over cause the fish is not dry enough.. 1 time it splash on my lips, next my eyes. -.-" Luckily, nothing happen to my eyes nor lips.. If not... I don't know what will happen.. But my hands some parts are red though.. Anyway, frying dory became my full time job today.. So tempting to steal a bite.. Haha.. The crust is really golden brown.. I know we can't describe food using golden brown, but you know what I mean right? Haha..
The next fun thing is plating the food and bringing them down to sugarloaf using hotbox. Take the lift that can't close the door.. Replenish the food downstairs.. The running up and down is actually quite fun.. Hehe. Chef say preparing for sugarloaf is very stressful, but I don't think so.. I think its very exciting and fun :) I don't feel any stress at all nor tired. Just enjoying what I'm doing..
I think I need to practice weight lifting.. 5 roast chicken on a tray with mirepoix and pan gravy, I can't carry it. I not sure if is because I scare I will burn myself while taking it out from oven or afraid that it will drop.. -.-" Anyway, I think most probably is not enough strength..
I saw chef demo how to make the beer batter when we ran out during service.. The speed is a match with machine. Within 5 minutes, its completed. WOW. Late in the afternoon, she also demo how to make pesto.. A sauce using basil leaves, olive oil, minced garlic and parmesan cheese.. The way she do makes it seems very easy, to a professional chef, nothing is difficult.. I don't know if its easy or not cause I didn't do.. I went to do the mirepoix.. Haha.
After we finally serve finish all the food, we start to do mise en place for tomorrow.. 40 carrots, 30 potatoes and some other stuff.. I peeled all the carrots and some of potatoes.. Haha. I realised the peeler that we bought was lousy. The paint actually came off? The blade supposed to be black, but I see mine most is silver.. Sigh. And another weird thing.. Everybody paring knife the pouch is small one, mine is same as other knife.. -.-" So difficult to keep it inside..
Oh. Did I mention that chef fry some duck and chicken fats? So sinful yet so addictive.. Haha:) Then I also sweep the whole area.. Whole kitchen I mean.. That's about all the things I did in the kitchen.. Overall I really enjoyed myself very much. I've learnt new things today! Another step to being a chef! Hehe. I'm glad that I went over.. Cause during debrief that I realised that in week 7, the week where I'll be at sugarloaf station.. Is buffet! So we're having theory lesson and preparing for the buffet instead. So sad! I have tried it today and love it. But others won't get a chance to try it.. Sigh. Its just a buffet.. Why do we need to do mise en place for 2 days and cancel operation?? :( For this reason, I'm not that happy anymore.. We're missing out one whole week of fun! SAD.
Then we went to change and go for the flavours lecture.. We had a test.. Its actually sensory evaluation.. Anyway.. We were given 8 types of unlabeled liquid and we have to guess what is it.. Most are quite digusting.. When you smell and taste later is totally different. All senses are connected.. When you achieve the stage whereby all 5 senses of your customer are used when eating the food you prepared, you're very successful.
This is what we tasted. 1. Jelly beans of random flavour. (I don't like jelly beans, taste plastic) 2. Salt water 3. Red wine vinegar 4. Coffee (Quite diluted) 5. Sugar water 6. Rehydrate shitake mushroom water (1 word:YUCK, cause I don't like mushrooms -.-") 7. Green tea 8. Tobasco sauce. After drinking everything, and making a mess on the table and listen to a 50minutes long lecture, I went home.
Now I had to pack my stuff again.. To keep them all in boxes.. And I'm too tired and lazy to move.. But if I leave it to my mum or sis, I can be sure that EVERY SINGLE THING that they think is useless will be gone. And my stuff to them, I think at least 80% is useless.. Haha! I don't really like to throw away things unless they're really useless.. Even though I don't use them.. Like those cute stuff I received or buy.. Haha. Too cute to use le :P So accumulate over the years... Is like alot.. Haha.. I already gave away alot to my cousins.. Sobs. I get rid of alot of old clothes too..
Anyway. Tomorrow will be back at the production side.. But they say I can go over to help them anytime cause I know how to do the things now.. Yeah~ Think tomorrow will be quite busy.. Need to peel the whole sack of onions again.. Stocks.. And watch demo for how to make spinach pasta! Oh my goodness. Can't wait. Now I really wish I have the pasta machine, ice cream machine and some other cool machines I saw in school.. Sigh. I wish I have enough money to buy if I see them.. :( I have to wait long long for that to happen.. Cause my house kitchen can't fit all those anyway.. Sigh.
Life is a experience. You experience life by living it. - ME
