This weekkkk

Has been a long week. Shorter and more manageable than last week but still as tiring. In fact, more tiring.

Last week is the rushing of projects, sleepless nights due to school work and of course the absence of the boyfriend. Presentations, projects, preparation for event. Everyday wake up early and sleep late. That is why, now this week everyday I sleep a lot still feel very tired.

But anyway... That's last week and its over.

The last few days of chinese new year was boring. In fact the only fun I had this new year is the 4 days I spent with my family and his family and relatives. Well, all the details about all these shall only be revealed on the tab. If interested, click on it :) I'm not going to repeat the same thing twice. Haha.

So this week quite a few things happened. Conflicts between friends, close friends, best friends. Guess everybody are stressed about the upcoming exams :/ Oh well.. Hopefully things will get better soon :)

My grades for this semester are great! As least so far so good! I thought I would have failed some of them but miraculously I passed! And even got B! WOW. I'm just so shocked. 0.0 And relieved of course.. So that's why I am starting revision one week before or rather two weeks before the exams.. Kinda not my style, I usually do last minute study the night before. >.< But I supposed this is a good chance for me to up my GPA so why not right? I shall try :) Wish me luck!

There's another thing that has been going on but I didn't tell anybody.. Me and boyfriend are starting a online stop! The website is already up but not the products. Still in the planning stage though. Must make it work! Hopefully :3

Okayyy.. Seems like I always forget what I wanna do or say recently.. If I remember, I shall post again. Till then, :)

I am going home to sleeeeep now! XD

FHA 2010

Today went to work in the morning, did opening awhile.. Practically I only stayed there for at most 1 hour then I went to expo for the food and hotel asia 2010. The reason why I can go on weekday is cause there's a training at expo later on that day too but more to that later -.-" You will understand my expression later too..

So I traveled about 30mins on train.. Reach destination super excited.. Oh, I went there alone cause everyone went already.. Anyway so I reached there, I don't know what to do.. Kinda lost..

Luckily, there's a tour guide sort of, telling us where to go. So I take the shuttle bus to hall 9 to get my free admission pass ♥ Guess what the pass say? I'm the food and beverage operator! HAHA. So funny but quite cool :) Started at hall 9, its all the food and wines..

Strolled around taking some samples, as I'm still sick, I controlled what I try.. So sad. Throughout the whole event, I only take brochures, drink fruit juices and eat bread. Plus my stupid auntie come find me today as well so stomach cramp even more food can't eat. ARGH. Tell me about it -.-" People spent $80 then can get in, me get in free but I can't eat anything and can't find anything free except for brochures too. Haha. Super lucky I know -.-"

Anyway I walked around saw things that interest me like the different types of food and the quality.. Saw the machinery as well those, the equipments and stuff makes me start thinking more about what I wanna buy for my future home and cafe! Hehe am I thinking too far? HMMMMM..

Oh ya. I saw wingyan and yingying today! Went to find them in the fair and got free coffee :D So happy to see them ^^ But can't talk much cause they working.. SO SAD :( Walked around, from hall 9 to 1.. At hall 3 saw competition and lecturer, we got gold! COOL! Saw zeus and haoqing also .. Haha. But I was rushing for the training so I went off early.. Haven't see finish yet just leave..

I returned my badge. What a wrong decision. Regretted not keeping it for souvenir.. SIGH. I couldn't find my way to changi business park outlet so I took a taxi plus I'm late. What a waste of money. Extra charge cause from expo, the worse thing is I get there only to know that I already attended the training before only at another outlet. GOSH. Waste money. Returned badge can't go back in. So sad. Seriously, I'm depressed. Walked out of the park, had some difficulty getting back to the mrt station..

In the end I returned to my outlet to punch out.. Some things very sucky I don't want to mention here. But thanks to wingyan I'm happy again now. HEHE. ♥

After that I went home. I will go next year!!

updates :)

Don't know why recently feel very tired.. So much to do :(

Most recent updates:

- went out with nas & syarf!!!!!

- submitted cover letter + resume

- went for interview

- accepted by both companies; Kitchen Language & Harry's International

- bought a new phone thanks to the help of ♥

- went to eat sushi buffet till stomach burst

- my relatives from Malaysia are here

- went to orchard on Christmas Eve to become sardine

- went out with ♥ on Christmas day :D

- rejected Kitchen Language

- went out with ben, audrey & ♥

- Signed contract with Harry's International

- exam results back: did better than I thought, As

- F&B operations project: A

- proficiency test coming up D:

- trying to postpone F&B op test but not sure if succeeded anot..

- rushing wine list

By the way.. I officially declare myself bankrupt. Until I start working for Intern, I guess I'll remained :(( Cause I can't get anything.. Sad. No income.. And I think my phone bill for the month exploded cause I was too happy about the contract and end up calling alot of people.. =.= Serve me right for "showing off" DOTS!

complicated

How can anyone feel happiness and sadness at the same time?

Wanted to update just now but there's seriously something wrong with my computer.. Extremely lag. Same thing applies to my phone.. But I don't feel like servicing both things.. AHH. Cause I'll lose everything inside.. And I want to keep them.. But they kept giving me problems.. =.= They're forcing me to send them to "hospital"..

Holiday is officially here. Missing school already.. I'm gonna make good use of these months to get enough rest, and not to mention, earn money! I'm broke. Seriously. Not a penny to my name.. Luckily now I've quite a few job offers :) Thank you people! ^^

Going to work temporary for F1, tutor, waitress for swensens and maybe kbox? Then I hope i can set up a blogshop too :) So much to do, so little time.. More things to do is a good thing though, especially for now.. Take my mind off things.. I can hardly wait 0.0

I wanna join the NSEC & SJCC! :( Gonna come up with 2 dishes by monday.. SJCC.. I think its too late now D:

SO tired.. Working tomorrow.. 5hours.. After working 14hours yesterday, I'm just simply exhuausted.. I'M GOING TO SLEEP ^^

GOOD LUCK to all the people who are having exams :) JIAYOU (v^.^v)

dreamweaver!

I'm so glad that we have learnt dreamweaver last year! And I'm also glad that I'm good at using it and flash 5 :D Cause I've just discovered something goooood.. WAHAHAHAHA!

And I intend to try it out now.. Hope it works ^^

$$$

Holiday is coming and I require a new job or a job that pays higher than my current.. -.-" I need a change of environment.. Plus, I'm still broke! And I crave for alot of food! 

AHHHH! I want sushi, pizza, baked pasta, ice cream, chocolate, fruit tarts, omelet, black pepper pork chop, fries (but I can't eat, too salty), ribs, satays, bbq chicken wings, chawamushi, black pepper steak, mango smoothie, longan, you tiao, frostie, flakes, strawberry yoghurt, hamburgs, MOS corn soup & coffee milkshake, beef & unagi rice burger, cheese doughnut, ham & cheese sandwich, florentine (!!!!!), parfait, mango, mango pudding, cream of mushroom soup, seaweed chicken, lor mee (miss my primary school version's), shrimp tempura, pad thai, fishco fish & chip, baked potato with bacon bits, lasagna, pan cake, fried ice cream!!!!!!!!!! Oh my goodness, I'm going to become a pig. This is not even half the list! Haha. If I can managed to eat all the food I wanna eat at least once during the holiday, when I come back for school I think I'll become a hot air balloon :) But I'll be very satisfied! WAHAHAHAHAHA~ I felt like eating buffet now.. AHHH! But I'm B-R-O-K-E! SAD.

Now is the list of things I wanna do :) Eat so much must do some exercise right? Haha. Go back to band, cycling, hiking, roller blading, ice skating, jogging,play badminton, walk around aimlessly, sleep ZZZ, find food to eat, earn money, make sand castle LOL, fly kite??, eat eat eat, hang out with old friends, bake some food? OH yes, and go out with edi if he's free.. If not the last thing will be rot cause I got nothing to do.. Maybe play games.. And revive my blogshop? Haha.

I'll shall continue on the "what I wanna eat during holidays" and "what I'm doing during holidays" list when I'm free.. Maybe tomorrow :D 

I LOVE FOOD! XD

Day 43

Last day of 2nd week, 2nd day at pastry..

We did our daily routine, slice bread, heat up sauces, prepare equipments, unmould parfait, bring to top table pantry, plate and come back down for mise en place..

Today we made pastry cream! As next week dessert is espresso profiteroles, we have to make the coffee diplomat cream for the profiteroles. We had a extremely good news! Due to all the choux we made yesterday, we had enough to last the whole week! No more choux to pipe^^

Chef T taught us how to make the cream.. Its was a simple process yet tiring for arms as the cream will get thicker and thicker.. Which means it will get heavier.. And I almost burn my cream due to the induction stove.. =.= Oh well. Almost. Phew.

Then we make the coffee extract using coffee powder and water.. WOW. If all extract is made this way, I gonna save lots of money!!! $.$ ka-ching! Haha. Anyway, we can't mixed them together till Monday so the cream is considered done.

After break, we make strawberry shortcake! First we slice the strawberries to the desired size, then we make the cream and have some simple syrup standing by.. We start by cutting the cake into half to create layers.. Then we spread some syrup on it to keep the cake moist.. Next, we spread the cream.. It's very difficult for me -.-" Keep getting it wrong and have the cream on the wrong side of the pallet knife.. Haha. After spreading the cream, put some strawberry and spread more cream.. This is even more difficult than the previous ones.. -.- Then we put the other half of the cake on it and spread cream on the whole cake.. Including the sides.. Then we put some almonds flakes at the sides.. And viola! The cake is finally completed! Yeah~ Then we decorate the cake with chocolate :D Too bad we can't try that.. Aww..

Then after that we make macaroon.. Using meringue.. So fun. But its piping again.. -.- Lucky its not me who is doing the piping.. Haha. Then we bake inside the oven.. And we have food tasting! Yum yum :D

daffy

NAS! I was unpacking my stuff then I saw this.. Still remember? Haha.. You're being missed!

Holiday is ending.. Sigh..

Baking & pastry.. I haven't start reading the how baking works book yet..

Nor the CIA book.. I can't bake at home yet cause no space in kitchen..

Need to clear out all those boxes first..

I want to make chocolate!!! I'm addicted to chocolate recently.. XD

I hope I'll be learning how to make chocolate first.. I won't mind either if I start with ice cream..

Haha! I'm not looking forward to the end of holiday yet I'm looking forward to make and eat all those food. Haha. Never mind, I'm trying to gain weight anyway.. :)

Day 33

I shall jump to this day first.. Haha. Last day at production kitchen..

I bet nobody will forget this day.. The day where late doesn't matter.. I went to school with Mj today.. Reach school at around 7.20am.. Happily chat and walk to the locker room to change.. Guess what? We tapped our card alot of times, press the button alot of times from the inside, the stupid gate won't open. So much for technology.

The situation is actually quite funny.. People stuck inside and outside.. Then we find teacher to help us open but failed.. As that time is already around 7.40, we had to walk back to tcc to change.. When we came back, I realised I lost my locker keys.. Ran back to toilet, carpark can't find.

By the time we come back from the search, the gate is already opened by the technicians.. Haha. So didn't get to see what happened in the end.. I told Yt that I lost my keys and asked her to remember to take hers.. Then I thought she took out hers and lock the locker with the key inside. Don't ask me why, I'm insane. -.-"

Then we go for roll call and went back to kitchen.. We cleaned up the whole kitchen.. Its very tiring.. There's 16 stations plus all the ovens need to be washed, scrub all stoves, salamander, clean all rack and cabinet.. Its not a easy job. Some of us went to clean the chiller too.. I kneel on the stove till they're very pain (cause can't reach the salamander and the top of oven).. And hands become wrinkled like don't know what.. Don't worry, everybody is going to go through that.. You can seriously have fun washing.. Me and Steph tried to make things easier by using the oven hose, in the end the whole place flooded.. Haha. So much for trying to be more efficient.. But is quite fun so just mop the floor and wipe the stove again.. Hehe.

During break, A helped us to open the locker and unlock the lock.. Phew.. But I still went to look for my keys again.. Under the hot sun. I asked the uncle if he saw my keys lying around when he was at the car park, he said no and went to ask people to help me find. So nice of them. But in the end I give up cause really too hot and can't find.. For some reason, a lot people know I lost my keys.. Dots.

Then after break we went to theatre for demo on Hainanese chicken rice, chilli crab and fried squid. One word, delicious. Haha. After that its the block test.. We had it at the top table.. 15minutes.. I got at least 5 wrong. SAD. :(:(:(:( I'm going to miss production.. On the bright side, its holiday now and I'm going to baking and pastry when school reopen! And its operation!

Oh. I just remembered today no ghost whisperer.. It ended last week.. Sigh. Friday nights empty now..

PS People if you have pictures that I don't have please send me.. THANK YOU! ^^

& Happy birthday TSQ BFF!

Preparing for buffet

Okay, I'm outdated again.. Before I show you the food, here's how it looks like before it start..

This is overall how the dessert table will look like :)

This is how the 2 tables look like..

Action station for Asian vietnamese summer roll

Action station for Garde manger, caesar salad

This is where I cook (: In the production kitchen!

That's all for the setting for the buffet at the family area!

Day 31

Day 31, we still don't have much to do today... Yet, I'm still very tired and sleepy..

I woke up late today.. Rush out, missed 4 bus.. Including the 6.30 8 and 59 and 6.45 8 and 59.. -.-" So I waited till 6.50 plus then I board 8.. Throughout the whole journey, the bus kept stopping due to traffic light and moved very slowly.. Make me even more nervous.. I thought today I would be late for the 1st time.. When reaching Eunos, I saw alot of taxi around empty.. At that time, its already 7.25am.. And we've to report in like 20mins time? So I took the risk and went down to flag a taxi.. Luckily, one came just as I hopped out of 8.. Reached school at 7.31.. Spent $6.75.. At least I wasn't late.. Phew.. I broke the record today by finish changing and getting ready to report in 4mins! Haha. Though I can change fast, I think I rather to have more time.. Rushing is bad for my health. Will suffer from heart attack.. -.-"

When we go down to the production kitchen, we measure the rice required for paella and set aside.. Then remove the beards for the mussels.. Remove the intestines from the prawns.. And prepare chicken consomme. Chef taught us how to use the robot coupe today.. Its also known as the food processor.. Quick and easy way to cut brunoise.. 

We add mirepoix, minced meat and egg white to the big pot.. Pour chicken stock and chicken consomme into the pot. (The chicken consomme was being defrosted so we used it, so the consomme we did today is double consomme ^^) It was extremely clear.. We tasted it with and without seasoning, it was very different.. After seasoning with sea salt, the taste was enhanced.

Before break, we tried the seafood paella done by one of our instructors.. As its a spanish dish, saffron was used. I don't really like the taste and smell of saffron so I didn't enjoy the dish.. So I went to steward instead.. Chef show us how to pan fry the salmon for the buffet tomorrow.. It looks very easy but can be easily burnt.. The root vegetables that goes along with it was seasoned with cajun spice.. It was too spicy for me..

After break, chef demo how to make the paella. The most important thing in the dish is cooking the rice well.. You can add any ingredients to it, but its not a paella if your rice fail. Anyway, its a must to taste.. So I tasted the paella, again. Surprisingly, the taste of saffron is mild, I almost couldn't taste it at all, which is great. (: This make up for the lunch I skipped earlier on..

Then we have nothing to do again.. So we prepare the equipment for tomorrow and clean up the area.. Garde manger brought us some caesar salad to taste with croutons. For a non salad fan like me, I find the taste just nice. The dressing is appropriate and tasted good. Tomorrow there's so many salad out there, I think I will be looking forward to try all.. (:

There's so much to see and eat tomorrow.. Can hardly wait! Luckily we were allowed to bring our phone upstairs to take pictures.. I can't find my camera anywhere.. So this is a extremely good piece of news.. Haha. 

10 more days! Hope it will be a happy one..

Day 29

Though there's nothing much to do today, I felt extremely tired and sleepy.. Sorry kwa for changing my mind about going to library with you :(

Checking of attire during roll call was done very quickly, which is very lucky for me.. I've a small yellow stain on my sleeve don't know why.. -.-" Then we went into the theater and had lecture on classic & modern buffet and how to present the food. The lecture went on from 8am to 11am. I kept myself awake by copying all the words from the slides :D So hardworking of me.. Haha. When the lecturer/chef is changing the slides quickly and the slides are full of words, it really hard not to stay awake.. The topic today is quite interesting too, full of delicious looking food ^^

After eating the up sized mee rebus, we went back to the production kitchen to prepare the mise en place for Thursday buffet.. This week, my group and I are at the Sugarloaf side.. So we'll be preparing all the food for the buffet that is under production.. Except for soups..

There's alot things that we can't do as its too early.. So we just set up the stations for tomorrow, wash the platters and help out with the production.. Plucking the basil leaves! Haha. Basil smell so much nicer than fish.. But I really starting to miss fabrication now.. :C

As I really have nothing to do, I went to take down the menu for the buffet.. Just in case I was being questioned and I have no idea what to say.. The following is the menu for 80pax!!!

Appetizer
- Cured salmon on potato pancakes with mustard dill sauce (GM)
- Scallop seviche in cucumber cup (GM)
- Wrapped shrimp with Asian barbeque sauce (GM)
- Crab cakes with creole honey mustard sauce (GM)
- Chilled vichyssoise with white truffle oil (GM)
- Gazpacho Andalusia (GM)

Salad
- Pomegranate glazed duck breast (GM)
- Lentil and walnut salad (GM)
- Couscous salad with curried vegetables (GM)
- Vietnamese paper rolls with nouc cham sauce (Asian)
- Roasted corn and tomato salad (GM)

Action station
- Caesar salad with parmesan crisp (GM)
- Vietnamese warm beef on cool noodle (Asian)
- Crepe with assorted filling (Pastry and baking)

Soup
- Ginger carrot soup (Production)
- Assorted breads (Pastry and baking)

Main course
- Plain rice (Asian)
- Whipped potato (Top table)
- Roast tubers vegetables (Top table)
- Braised veal cheek in Madeira sauce (Top table)
- Chicken in red curry sauce (Asian)
- Thai seafood cake with cucumber sauce (Asian)
- Seafood paella (production)
- Pan fried salmon with gremolata and root vegetables (production)
- Pan seared cod fish with ratatouille (Top table)

Dessert
- Mini fruit tarts (pastry and baking)
- Mini lemon meringue tarts (PB)
- Raspberry and chocolate mousse (PB)
- Ginger and orange creme brulee (PB)

So much food to eat (^.^) erm, taste.. Haha.. But we only have 45mins! Luckily, its a buffet style.. Thus food will be replenished.. So we don't have to worry about running out of foooood!
PS I wanna be the first to get the crepes! Still can't forget the taste from 2 weeks ago.. :D

Day 28

So I was told that my blog is all about school.. Its true in a way but not exactly.. But now my life really revolve around school. Well, its more about food. The fun of cooking.. :) Hehe. I love food and cooking so :D Bear with me! I will write about something else too (:

Anyway.. Back to "school" again.. Hehe. Today is the last day at fabrication.. The topic today is seafood. The first thing I did when I went into the outlet is open the box that contain the crab. I was extremely surprised to found them gone with 2 legs left behind.

When our chef told us that the crabs escaped and told us to look for them, we all panic. And start to hunt for the crabs only to realised that it was in the sink. -.-" We start by preparing the most important thing.. The prawns for top table event.. It was completed quickly as is easy to do.

Next we move to the main focus of the whole day.. Crab. Live ones. And of course, we have to kill them. First we have a demo on how to kill them.. Differentiating the dead and the live ones. I had problem with the crab right from the start.. I think the main reason is I scare the crab pinch me..

Another reason is.. The crab that I got was the last one, and its hyper active! Extremely scary. I don't dare to take it out of the sink cause it keeps moving and staring at me :( Then my life savior help me take it out from the sink! Yeah~ I quickly take and walk to my board, throughout the short distance.. It kept struggling. (!!!!)

On the chopping board, it tried to run away. I had a hard time protecting myself and keeping it on the board.. We were supposed to kill it in one cut so that it dies fast without suffering much.. But this particular crab that I got, refused to die. Then I have to keep chopping it and asking for help. Due to time constrain, we can't fabricate it after it died. So while its still sort of alive, we remove the shell.. (Its still struggling.. -.-)

After remove the shell, we tear off the legs.. But it moved so many times that I have to keep throwing it on the board to protect myself.. o.o Finally, the crab died. Then I wash it and keep in the fridge.. The battle last very long.. I hope I will not have to kill crabs again..

After crabs, is squid. Chef demo how to remove the mantle from the head, the quill, ink sac, tentacles and remove the skin. Then we were told to show him how to do it. It was fun and quite easy but removing ink sac require a skill as you have to prevent the ink from flowing out.

We also learnt how to cut the squid in such as a way that it looked like a flower after cooked and the squid rings. We tested the flower to see if it curls the right way by blanching it. With the chef special sauce, we taste the squid. Though was cold, it taste good :) Despite the fact that I don't really like squid.. Haha.

Lunch I had maggie soup. I regretted it. I should have mee rebus instead. Just realised that we can actually upsize it! From now on, my lunch will be that.. But next week is school holidays for others, so what if the canteen didn't open? Can we cook for ourselves? ^^

There's a buffet from garde manger, quite alot of variety of food. Finger foods. Taste great except for the goat cheese which I don't really like.. I didn't get to try the tomato cold soup which taste like pasta sauce though..

Right after lunch, we prepare mise en place for the chef to cook chili crabs, black pepper crabs and fried squid! I just realised that crabs is soooo easy to cook. And the recipes is created by the chef! Taste heavenly. I love the chili crab, especially the sauce! You'll be addicted to it too. So we ate at the family table and share our food with the rest of the production students.. I also had a tortilla something that taste like roti prata, ice cream from sugarloaf! (Outer layer - ice cream, inner - shebert) If only I have more time, there's leftover of ice creams! (I asked chef today how much does the ice cream machine cost, she say a few hundreds for family size.. I'm going to save for it!!!) Oh ya, we also had the salmon belly from yesterday, it was very oily, but tasted great when is hot.

Lastly is te oysters. We have to shuck them. The worst thing is, we have to eat them live after we open their shell!!!! I so not into raw food.. Last week had a slice of raw salmon, today oyster.. But I must admit, it smell fresh, the texture is very frim and crunchy in a way.. But I still don't enjoy eating :( With this, it sums up my week at the fabrication outlet. Next week is buffet! Yeah~ Plus lecture.. :(

Day 25

2nd day at fabrication was a breeze.. Nothing much to do.. Just filleting 15 red mullet, cubed 6 packets of chicken thighs and do some demo..

We had lots of time today cause yesterday we did alot of things.. Early in the morning, we spent 1hour or more on learning how to sharpen our knives and sharpening and honing it.. Not as easy as it seems.. You have to get the angle right at all times.. -.-" I did alot of times still don't quite get it.. Dots.

Then we had a demo again on how to fillet fishie.. I asked chef if we can chop away the head and tail first, like will it be easier.. He say is possible and he try.. He had such a hard time filleting after the head and tail is gone, cause not easy to balance.. Feel bad making him do that.. -.-" Anyway.. We spent less than 1hour to complete 15 red mullets and cleaning up. After doing so many fishes yesterday, we sort of get the hang of filleting.. Just that the fish today, its meat is kinda mushy..

Next we have break for 1hour! We went to the production kitchen to have our food tasting on braised beef and seabass? with pesto linguini.. While we are "tasting" (eating), garde manger team brought out a few trays of finger food! And of course, we get to taste them too.. A cheese ball serve with tomato and tomato sauce, the combination is perfect! Goat cheese tart with a sauce, I tried, its not my taste.. Pineapple/honey drew and prawn kebah with unknown sauce, Some puff that look like curry puff with 2 different type of sauce.. Very crunchy :) We ate so much during the food tasting, lunch I only drink fruit juice plus the leftover fruits (wo de mei ren & honey drew)

Back from break, demo how to cut the chicken.. Completed very quickly.. Then we clean up again (sanitation is extremely important).. After that is the demo for how to cut sole, a flat fish.. The eyes actually grow on the same side.. Quite disgusting and weird..

Anway chef demo how to do then he told us to show him.. So I had to fillet one side for him to see.. Luckily it went quite smoothly.. If not quite embarrassing.. We don't have to remove skin for anything, so I can't practice.. I think most likely I'll break them again. SOBS. After the sole demo, we pan fry the both fish and ate them. Delicious.

There's also a interview with chef.. They're trying to collect feedback on the course so far.. I asked about the degree stuff.. But I only know its conducted by the CIA chefs and the degree is culinary arts and there'll be more practical this time round.. So its something like training to be a chef.. Not enough details.. I just know that when I graduate, I can get into that degree already.. And I intend to do so if possible :)) PLUS, this year freshies are very lucky.. Cause when they do practicum next year, the TCA already expanded! But they're also unlucky cause more places to clean.. Haha. But still.. More rooms!

Today's lecture is on some culinary math? Measurements and some recipes calculation.. Quite boring.. I dozed off a few times for a few seconds.. And I'm sitting at the front row.. Haha. Too tired and bored..

7 more days to June 2! But I'm not buying yet.. No money.. -.-"

Day 22

Thursday. Day 22.

Back to production side.. Nothing much changed except for the sous chef.. Prepared mirepoix, prepare mise en place for tortilla.. Cook stock, skim, strain, cool, store. Peel whole sack of onions.. For production, basically is still the usual thing..

We had a demo on how to make a spinach pasta. Handmade. The ingredients are pretty simple and easy to do.. But I can't do it at home.. Cause I don't have the pasta machine.. Unless I'm slicing the pasta using knife.. Is possible but will be quite uneven I guess..

There's art to making a good pasta dough.. You can't follow exactly to the recipe when it comes to the amount of flour and water.. Balancing the flour and water is a skill. If the dough become too dry, its too hard.. If its too moist, it is difficult to go through the pasta machine.. The process of making the dough, is extremely fun.. From making the well, to adding the ingredients and mixing them well, to rolling the dough, each step has different level of difficulty and fun. There will be another demo on how to make gnocchi, a potato pasta :) And of course, we get to taste the pasta that chef demo.. Handmade pasta cooked quickly.. So you only required to blanch it for 30secs - 40 secs.. It looks green, of course, its spinach pasta.. Haha. Taste of spinach, quite chewy.. If I have a pasta machine at home, I wanna try carrot pasta? :D

Chef fry more chicken fats today.. Its even crispier than the day before.. Junk food always taste good xP Clean up, throw rubbish and went for apel.. -.-" End of day 22..

Day 21

Today is one of the best day since skills camp.. I'm so happy! ^^ To tell the truth, I haven't been feeling happy since don't know when.. In conclusion, its a perfect day! Lalalas~ Though I'm very tired, so tired that I don't really have the strength to walk home.. But I think its very worth it cause my mood is great! Haha XD

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

Day 19

The 1st operation day.

Basically, today, we did nothing but stocks and more stocks. Mirepoix and more mirepoix. And maybe something a little different. We make the tortilla for tomorrow.. And it can be considered a failure. Cause they fall apart after taking out from the pan, if not burnt. -.-"

We made alot of stock and picage.. As we fail the tortilla, we had to make them again on Tues. Sad. But after 2 days, I can say I master the art of cutting mirepoix and cooking stocks. Seriously, besides these 2 plus the tortilla, we didn't do anything else..

Oh yes. How can I forgot? Food tasting! We tried the dory al'ordy or whatever the name is and the pork cutlet. Haha. The dory is cooked just nice. Perfect colour and taste.. Thy pork.. I don't really like it.. Kinda dry and raw? We sat at the family table and share the two plate of one portion food. There's 15 of us. Haha.

Really. Nothing much except the fact that I was sous chef again and got scolded for more than 20times and got called by the chef for more than 30times. I got a new name. Daffine. Haha. At least it sound nice.. Hehe. Never mind, I know its me that she's calling so doesn't really matter? Another chef call my name which sounds like dolphin. Haha! So cute.

Stocks, mirepoix and tortilla sums up Monday. I'm having Monday blues.. Cause that is the day where I become the sous chef. Sobs. I'm so not looking forward to that sous chef part. But I get to learn more than the rest when I got scolded for checking things, ensuring memebers work fast and asking questions that sound a little stupid.. Haha. At least I clear my doubts so ITS OKAY!

Its quite hectic during 10.15 to 2pm.. Cause that is the operation hours of sugarloaf. Chef don't even have time to check on us. From after briefing, we're on our own. I'm in charge, but I not sure what to do.. After lunch, the chef is more free then she spot check on us. And I got scolded for the untidiness of the stations. And for cutting the mirepoix the whole day!

At the end of the day, I wrote down the duties for the sous chef tomorrow on the white board and went to lock the doors..

During debrief, she says that we did so many stocks and mirepoix, even when we close our eyes we can execute them perfectly.. The way she says is really funny.. Haha. But quite true, we really practiced alot.. Haha. She also mention something which makes me very interested in..

The academy is expanding! The restuarant will be bigger by 2times! The skills kitchen will expand out too! So everybody can have a station of their own, most probably.. Then the condo next door, some of the rooms will be converted to classrooms! And there will also be a toilet upstairs! No more going all the way down just to use the washroom. The best part is, next year during October, our course will have a degree course! Yeah! And we, have the advantage and higher chances of getting into it. :) This is the first time you will hear me say that I'm interested to further my studies. Hehe. I was hoping to start work once I graduate.. Hmmm.. There might be a change of plan now..

They also have plans for the students to do their intern in school and get paid! Wow. So if I can't go overseas, doing in school also quite cool. Although we have the advantage, the space is still limited. However, after asking who want to be a chef after graduation, only 5 of us (including me) raise hands. Its kind of a good thing to me cause less competition. Hehe. But chef say to us, can we survive in the industry for 5years.. Later we found a rich guy/girl and get married then forget all about being a chef. Haha! Sound like a fairytale.. Though these kind of thing is really unpredictable, but, I don't think it will happen to me anyway..

This is a long and tiring day.. Although we only do 3 tasks, its not as easy as you think.. Removing fats from chickie, boiling, strain, cool in ice bath, transport to chiller. -.-" Everytime go in, sure feel a little difficult to breathe and when I come out, my specs fog. Once I put a trolley in, then it got stucked. I almost fell. What a day!

Day 16

BAKING AND PASTRY TODAY!!!!!!!!

It started out with power point presentation of attractive pastries and CHOCOLATE!

Then we move on to the introduction lecture.. Which involves chemistry, one of my worst subject in secondary school.. We had a short break after that..

Next in the schedule, plate dessert. We learnt all about the plate dessert. Chef demostrate how to make cream anglaise, crepe with green apple and apple chip with caramel sauce and cinnamon ice cream and sugar hazel nut. There's also apple wine in it! I thought we will only be able to take a bite to taste, just like what we did the last 3 weeks.. To my surprise, they gave us a portion each! Talk about about production.. Anyway, the combination of all those apples ingredients, the taste is so perfect. I'm addicted to it. In fact, everyone couldn't get enough of it! After eating the crepe, lunch doesn't seem that appealing anymore...

Right after lunch.. Guess what? We had a delicious lecture on chocolate :) We learnt about how the cocoa beans are harvested, the process of making chocolate and the types of chocolates ^^ We can't wait for the lecture to end.. Cause after that, is the demo for chocolate making! This means we'll have chocolate to eat!

Placed on the table were 5 small containers. Each of us get to smell and taste how different types of chocolate taste like.. 1st one: White chocolate. 2nd: Milk. 3rd: dark. 4th: cocoa mass (unsweetened cocoa, used to make chocolate) 5th: compound chocolate (cheapest, does not uses cocoa butter). I like dark chocolate the most :)))

1st, chef shows us how to crystallise the chocolate (agitate it). Then how to mould it.. And fill it up with more chocolate! We also get the chance to try 3 different type of chocolate container.. (I forgot its name) They are produced by the most experienced chocolatier.. Its a egg-like chocolate with a hole on top, which enables you to fill it up fillings and later close the hole with chocolate.

The chocolate making process is looks simple yet complicated to explain.. I took home some of my chocolate for my mum.. And of course, I took a picture of them. Not all of them cause most are already eaten in school :P The ones that chefs made for us, some are filled with alcohol. The flavour is strong and lasting. After today's class, I'm stucked. I can't decide what I wanna do anymore.. Western/Asian, Ice cream, pastry or chocolate? Which path should I take? All are so fun and exciting.. Oh my..

Before I end, here's a picture of the chocolates! You can see but you can't eat! So sad.. WAHAHAHA! XD

may 9

1st thing.

Happy birthday LMH! My bff :) Haha...

Woke up at 11.30am today.. Ate a bread and start packing stuff.. My room is going to be renovated! Which means I'll get a totally brand new furnitures :) Like a bigger wardrobe more cupboards and stuff :) YEAH! However, the packing is really a hard work.. -.-"

I cleaned up my wardrobe by keeping those clothes that I think I won't be wearing recently.. And packed my CDs. This took a few hours.. Maybe cause in between I slack a little, eat lunch and play games.. Haha..

Thats my agenda for the whole afternoon.. Then I played wandering willows which takes up half the night. So fun! I watch over the hedge at channel 5 for 1hr then I changed to together :) Last episode! It was a interesting show.. Ending kinda funny though.. But at least its a happy ending..

The show ended at 11pm then I went to take a shower. It was then I realised my cupboard collasped. -.-" After so many it faithfully accompany me through my childhood.. It died.. Sigh. But its okay. Cause I'm getting a new one soon! Haha. For the time being, I shall endure.

Tomorrow, which is now, I'm going to shop! To get a present for my mum, and buy ingredients for my attempt to bake and hopefully, a new bag! If I'm successful in baking something nice, some of you will get to try it if I've have enough.. Its my lunch for Monday so don't snatch kay.. Haha.. Qh, if you're reading this, don't pout cause I'll save for you some to share with the rest if I have enough.. :P If not, next time you will get it..

I realised I've been eating quite little for the past few weeks.. Approximately 1 meal a day. Soon I'll really become skeleton. Oh my. Breakfast, I don't have the practice to eat. Lunch, you know, not nice so usually just some finger food. Food that I cook can't eat. So everyday proper meal is only dinner. The pastries that I make tomorrow, or rather today, must be successful so that I can eat more and be fatter! :)

PS For those who wanna eat, wish me luck!

Day 12

Day 12, finally my luck is changing. It was a almost perfect day.. After so many days of unluckiness.

Woke up at 3.44 am for no reason. Went back to sleep. Wake up again at 4 plus then 5 plus.. I don't know why.. Only after I get up to get ready then I realised it is raining very heavily.. Thunder and lightning filled the sky.. Curtains flying around, doors slamming and wind chimes ringing like mad, wind is so strong that you can hear it blowing.. This shows how heavy the rain is.

I get ready as usual and went out even earlier as I think there will be jam. So I carry all those stuff plus the umbrella.. Luckily, by the time I went out, the rain lighten.. I thought of taking taxi to school but they either busy or refuse to stop.. -.-" Anyway 59 came at the usual timing, in fact 2mins earlier so I board it.. Transfer and reach school around 7.15am.. So far so good..

Back at the theatre watching demo.. Eyes keep closing.. Due to that "good" night sleep, I'm extremely tired.. I pinch myself to stay awake, until my arms red.. -.-" Demo recently cast a sleeping spell on me.. Thank goodness the dishes today are not that complicated..

The cooking process went quite smoothly.. Pork cutlet with coleslaw and charditiere sauce, saute Dory a'la meunie're which later became my lunch (^.^) All 9s and 10s.. Best score so far.. Yeah~! However, we still got deducted 9marks for being late.. And my 10marks that fly away yesterday.. (This reminds me that I forgot to ask chef about my mayo grade.. -.-")

Right after lunch is knife skills which went smoothly too.. 40mins to complete batonnet, julienne, tomato concasse, diced onions, sliced onions, minced garlic, chopped parsley. First time I completed them with minutes to spare.. Everything quite nice except.. Batonnet which is overweight. Yeah, fat. -.-" I wonder how I cut.. Tomorrow will be a even better day! Last day to practice before the skills test on Friday, have to make good use of it. Since today no homework, I will try to fall asleep earlier.. Haha.

When cleaning up the asian kitchen, me and yy were told to refill the soap. We had to carry that whole basket full of bottles of soap. Extremely heavy. When going down to skills kitchen to refill still quite okay cause half full.. After that, we had a hard time bringing them back.. My hand turn purple for awhile due to the weight.. -.-"

When school end, went to bookshop at the other side of the school to get apel book.. After much consideration, I bought the baking and pastry book again.. Haha.. The auntie didn't recognise me.. Lucky. I'm going to try the recipe on weekend so that my break next week can have something nutritious to eat.. Haha.

I was walking out of the school with my heavy bag plus knife set and uniform then I saw 8 from a distance.. I ran like mad. And caught the bus of course.. So tired today.. Alot of exercise.. -.-" Tomorrow sure muscle ache.. Sigh.

This is all that went on today.. Very long winded.. But food is nice.. :D You gain something, you lose something.. In this case, you gain knowledge on how to cook and lose marks for being late.. Haha.. I just anyhow say, don't take this seriously.. Hehe.

Everybody JIA YOU for skills test! (I can wake up late.. Lalala~)
I LOVE WESTLIFE! I'm addicted to their songs again.. My all time favourite :)