Midterm Stress Pt. 2.

On Blast - Lemuria - "Pants."

I got the chance to practice my midterm today... I took some pictures, woot.

Just a refresher, it's a three-course meal prepared for four judges that must be completed in four hours. Here's my menu:

Appetizer: Sake Bomb Potstickers with Teriyaki Vinaigrette.

Main Course: Chicken Adobo Pot Pie

Dessert: Chocolate and Fig Napoleon with Raspberry Coulis.

Potstickers (using top right presentation and drizzled with teriyaki):

Chicken Adobo Pot Pie (only with puff pastry squares on top):

Chocolate Napoleon (needs raspberry coulis):

I'll take some better pictures next time around. Holler.

-KJ

A Bad Idea.

On Blast: Tegan and Sara - "The Con (Live)."

So I decided to gauge my ears from 2g to 0g.

I've been considering for a little bit, I even consulted some of my friends (who I found are not pleased by this decision, but what the hell?) So I went and bought some tapers and just went for it. I was okay with it for a little bit but I've been a 2g since my senior year (almost four years ago) so my ears were not pleased. I also chickened out because I don't want to get in anymore trouble in culinary school with my apparent crazy liberalistic appearance.

Anyway, let's close with a good idea.

Canele with Cardamom Creme Anglaise.

Caneles have been on my mind ever since I tried my first at Clementine's. It's a win-win texture/taste situation and I've also discovered how amazing cardamom is in sweet dishes. I stumbled upon this recipe and I HAVE TO TRY IT. The only setback is that canele molds are either expensive or online... at least the ones I've found.

Random Fact: My night elf hunter's pet's name is Clementine.

Random Fact Deux: I play World of Warcraft.

Random Fact Trois: Clementine is a crab.

(Crab sounds... click click crack.)

-KJ.

Birthweight.

On Blast: Joanna Newsom - "Peach, Plum, Pear."

So I've found true motivation to continue on Project Birthweight... the ability to wear shorts and tights.

It reminds me of fourth grade... simpler times, birthday parties, cowboy boots, boys you can play with in the sandbox with no repercussions later that evenings. I figure I'm going to look for a picture of my fourth grade self rocking this look... back before it was hip and stylish.

For those unfamiliar, "birthweight" is a mock-diet developed between my friends and I back when I lived in San Francisco. Another term related is Project Clean Plate, which is the absolute opposite, but that's a different story.

Fin.

-KJ.

Midterm Stress pt. 1.

On Blast: Rachael Yamagata - "Reason Why."

"So steal the show and do your best to cover the tracks that I have left."

So just a few recent updates:

-Midterm is in like two fucking weeks... Okay I just realized this a few seconds ago so I'm a little freaked out. The next 14 days I'll be dedicating to practicing my midterm and feeding whoever will let me. Three courses with one chicken. Good times, I'll come back to this later in the blog.

-I'm officially sensitive to caffeine, which I found out on friday. I spent my pre-weekend puking my guts out after an excessive ingestion of caffeine. My friend had a theory that the body just starts to breakdown after 21 since we've both noticed that after we turned 21, we can't handle caffeine or alcohol as well as we did in the years before. I'm currently developing my thesis on this.

-Project Birthweight pt. 9834523673 is in session.

So my midterm is soon, three courses, two with chicken, one emulsified sauce, one savory sauce, and one dessert sauce.

Appetizer: Drunken Chicken Potstickers with Teriyaki Vinaigrette.

Main Course: Chicken Adobo Pot Pie.

Dessert: Death by Chocolate.

So for my potstickers, I decided to pull out an easy taste card: alcohol. Basically chicken and beer... and other stuff in a potsticker wrapper. I'm not as much concerned for this... I tried it at my friend Natalie's house and I've figured out what I need to do to make it work.

Chicken Adobo Pot Pie... I haven't tried this out yet so I'm a little worried about this.

Death by Chocolate, I'm worried as hell about this. I've successfully made it at culinary school but it was incredibly stressful for me.

So here's what I've made for dessert... Three layers of flourless chocolate cake with chocolate cream and fresh figs in between, all completely submerged in white chocolate ganache, topped with macerated berries, and finished with a mixed berry coulis.

I should go, I'm hungry :| and I want to try out a recipe for a Shrimp Banh Mi, which is a Vietnamese sandwich with shrimp inside. I have baguette dough and shrimp defrosting... I'll post pictures next blog.

-KJ.