The Big O.

My school randomly hosts speaker series, and they are often fairly bland and boring, or an attempt to sell me rubber spatulas. The most recent one however was likely the most well done presentation I have seen in quite a while. A man gave us a front row seat for his midlife crisis, and showed us how his hobby he enjoyed is slowly turning him into a successful entrepreneur. The difference in the story however, is that this man did not accomplish all of these goals on luck. (Well not all on luck at least) He accomplished his goals through hard work, trial and error and persistence among other things. He led us step by step through every process he went through to get to where he is at that very second, it was intense to go through all of his ups and downs as if we were all there experiencing them with him. On top of all that, his descriptions of his liquor itself were less about how much he loved it, but how the high authorities on the topics of all things booze praised the taste, and how he has potential customers from around the GLOBE, not just the USA, but around the globe asking for his product. That's big business. This stuff will be HUGE one day, and I will get to say I met him when he was only a little operation. Damn, what a good networking tool he will be.

The Restaurant Field

You can find a restaurant anywhere these days. From gas stations to grocery stores, movie theatres to malls. The restaurant industry is growing more and more everyday, and does not show any signs of stopping, and for good reason. People will always need to eat, and making it readily available for the customer at any turn is an awfully good business plan. Once I obtain this degree from Lecole and step out into the "real world", I assume I will find an abundance of jobs waiting for me, and that no matter what, as long as I have that degree, and especially as I get more and more experience that I will never have any troubles walking into a kitchen and accepting a job. I can absolutely NOT understand people that go to our school who have issues finding jobs. A restaurant goes CRAZY for students, because sometimes the pool of workers outside of us is just abysmal and littered with druggies or foreigners. I could have a new job next week if I did my research and put the effort into it, and I dare anyone to tell me I cant.  This industry is forever hiring because it is forever evolving. Variety is the spice of life, and I plan to over season my plate.

booze foods

How many days have you woken up in a groggy blur, not sure how you got to where you are? We have all been there, and many of us have more than we would like to admit. What is the first thing that you find yourself wanting after water and advil? For most people, the mind goes straight to finding the greasiest and usually most unappetizing on any other day meal. I never crave a fast food hamburger and fries until I am hung-over, and why is it a quick fix for everything that ails us when we have those massive headaches that make us feel like we were hit in the temples by thor's hammer? I have heard the old excuse of, " It soaks up all the alcohol", but I wonder if that is what is really going on, and if there is any scientific merit to that, and if there is scientific merit, why do fast food restaurants not market to that crowd simply on the premise of it being "good" for the customer for once.

Family Values

What is the value of eating at the table as opposed to eating sitting on the couch? Is it wrong one way or the other? I personally find no greater joy after cooking a meal than that of seeing all of my hard work laid out nicely on platters on a well set table. A meal is something that I think should be almost like an event. I want to sit down and relax while I enjoy every bite of what I made, or what I paid for someone to make for me. To be fair though, I can understand some people just do not have time a lot of the days, or they do not value food the way I might, and if you are one of those people I encourage you for your next meal to stop! Dust off that dining room, set the table and really enjoy what you've put together. It will change your life

Meat and potatoes

Classic Midwest staple, a good filling hearty meal that everyone loves. My father is no exception to the rule, and this should in turn make cooking for him easy one would assume. In reality though it can be quite the opposite. My father will not eat a single green vegetable, or anything with so much as a little black pepper or other spice on it.  I am often stuck trying to cook a whole separate meal when I want to make something ethnic or healthy, and watch him eat French fries and macaroni and cheese. I would love some help and input on this topic, what do you think I can cook for a guy who will only eat like a five year old?

Pretentious

Attempting to impress by affecting greater importance, talent, culture, etc., than is actually possessed. A word that you would assume would define just about everyone who goes to and works at Whole Foods Market, but for the most part that could not be farther from the truth. As far as the workers go, they are some of the most genuinely nice and helpful people that you can find at any store, and they are all so knowledgeable about things that normal people could care less about. I met a lady on my last adventure that knew more about cheese than I thought anyone should know, or ever need to know. I am hooked though, and when I can afford to splurge I will go into that mecca of really expensive high quality goods and...try to not spend fifty dollars on four items.

Silpat

Possibly one of the greatest inventions for the everyday chef, made with fiberglass and food grade silicon, a silpat is your favorite expensive non stick aluminum foil that you can actually wash and reuse. If you are making something that involves any time in the oven. A silpat will not only save you money, it will make you feel good because you know you are doing good for the enviorment not putting some cheap foil or parchment into a landfill. And just when you don't think it can get any better, they are CHEAP. Not one of those tools you find on an infomercial that cost you three easy payments of $14.99, no the silpat just wants a one time payment, usually of about or around that 14.99 pricetag. So stop ripping papers and foils and invest in the future!

http://www.silpat.com/ourstory.html