In the Weeds

The week of chocolate, and three days of sugar, were a series of ups and downs for most of us. Chocolate is a wonderful medium to work in; but it is pretty temperamental. Sugar work is an under-appreciated art, requiring precise temperature control, and the ability to work with very hot sugar in your bare hands.

So after these two demanding segments of the curriculum were done (with a degree of success for everyone; some more than others), almost anything "mainstream" would seem simple. We started out with a lecture on frozen desserts -- ice creams, sorbets and the like. Surprisingly interesting, actually. After that we did a couple of breads -- one for a pudding we'll do later in the week, another -- I think -- because we had fruit that needed to get out of the frig'... Aside from that, we did the mixes for 3 ice creams and 2 sorbets, and froze one of them. Easy peasy [update: easy the first day, after that it got interesting -- and fun]

But not for everyone. My bud' Alex's partner didn't show (we're not sure why) and Alex was "in the weeds" (a more popular version of this expression is "in the shit") -- meaning that the work was piling up (the exercises are made for two, and he was working by himself) and he was getting behind, with the concommitant frustration.

I didn't realize he was having a hard time, so while I could have helped him out sooner-- as you would for a friend anywhere, and in particular in a working-kitchen environment. He made it to lunchtime, we break for lunch, team up in the afternoon, and I think, ended on an up-tick. I felt bad though, like I'd let him down for not noticing. He had an inclination to murder his partner, but I suggested that just a good maiming would be better -- longer lasting and more memorable [update: the partner showed up the next day. No explanation, no apology]

This was one of those "non-food" lessons for me, that are sometimes more interesting than the "real" curriculum. I'd help out Alex because we've become friends, and "it's what friends do". But can I be more attentive to my other classmates when they need -- and will they "be there" for me?

The overall personality of our class is quite different from the Culinary days. Unlike a year ago, this isn't the school's first semester, and the class is predominently female (and let's face it boys, they get along better than we do), and the mix of students is basically harmonious, with only a couple of students who seem to behave competitively. Is this a realistic work environment? In kitchens that run efficiently (and have more than a handful of staff) -- yeah, it is.

It Wouldn't be Murder
It'd be a mercy killing	(this is not Alex)

The week of chocolate, and three days of sugar, were a series of ups and downs for most of us. Chocolate is a wonderful medium to work in; but it is pretty temperamental. Sugar work is an under-appreciated art, requiring precise temperature control, and the ability to work with very hot sugar in your bare hands. So after these two demanding segments of the curriculum were done (with a degree of success for everyone; some more than others), almost anything "mainstream" would seem simple. We started out with a lecture on frozen desserts -- ice creams, sorbets and the like. Surprisingly interesting, actually. After that we did a couple of breads -- one for a pudding we'll do later in the week, another -- I think -- because we had fruit that needed to get out of the frig'... Aside from that, we did the mixes for 3 ice creams and 2 sorbets, and froze one of them. Easy peasy [update: easy the first day, after that it got interesting -- and fun] But not for everyone. My bud' Alex's partner didn't show (we're not sure why) and Alex was "in the weeds" (a more popular version of this expression is "in the shit") -- meaning that the work was piling up (the exercises are made for two, and he was working by himself) and he was getting behind, with the concommitant frustration. I didn't realize he was having a hard time, so while I could have helped him out sooner-- as you would for a friend anywhere, and in particular in a working-kitchen environment. He made it to lunchtime, we break for lunch, team up in the afternoon, and I think, ended on an up-tick. I felt bad though, like I'd let him down for not noticing. He had an inclination to murder his partner, but I suggested that just a good maiming would be better -- longer lasting and more memorable [update: the partner showed up the next day. No explanation, no apology] This was one of those "non-food" lessons for me, that are sometimes more interesting than the "real" curriculum. I'd help out Alex because we've become friends, and "it's what friends do". But can I be more attentive to my other classmates when they need -- and will they "be there" for me? The overall personality of our class is quite different from the Culinary days. Unlike a year ago, this isn't the school's first semester, and the class is predominently female (and let's face it boys, they get along better than we do), and the mix of students is basically harmonious, with only a couple of students who seem to behave competitively. Is this a realistic work environment? In kitchens that run efficiently (and have more than a handful of staff) -- yeah, it is. Previous Log Next Log

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