So, somehow on Sunday (before class this past tuesday), I threw my back out. How? I don't know. I wasn't even doing anything at the time. I had just gotten up from the dining table and my lower back felt kinda funny, and a little stiff. Then, not too long later, it felt like a full blown, back-out situation! I was slightly hunched over to move. I couldn't twist, bend, and hardly walk without pain. And anytime my pelvic bone/hips made any slight adjustments for balance, I would feel a shooting...

I was trying to arrange my schedule in such a way that I would be more easily available for any jobs that come available. so I decided to place my classes on a single day. Fortunately, the two classes I wanted were actually available at non-conflicting hours. So......

This semester, I am taking a class called Aromatics, as well as Butchery.

The Aromatics class is actually a restaurant experience class where we will rotate through various stations for live service...

So this past week, our home refrigerator died.

The bad part: We shelled out money for a new one. We also had company stay with us overnight the day it died...so no cold water for them in the Vegas heat. Not to mention that we had JUST gone grocery shopping the day before. Ugh! Fun times!

The good part: I was able to apply my knowledge from my sanitation class...test the temperatures of various food items that had thawed...and was able to save us a little chunk...

Alright, so summer has been interesting to say the least. I attempted to get externships and/or cooking jobs within independent restaurants with little success. From the advice I had received on this board, and from other sources (books, internet, personal experiences, etc.) I had decided that I wanted to apply only with independent restaurants where the owner had a true hands-on impact on the business--i.e. no corporate chains. I am not ripping on corporate chain restaurants in the least. I...

Basic Final:

So our chef DID make it back from her surgery. But apparently they were not able to fully fix the problem with this surgery, so she will have to get another one shortly. I don't wish that pain on anyone!

For my final, I made a panko fried chicken with sage gravy; tarragon vegetables; and sauteed gnocchi (clarified butter and parmesan). It was soooooo good.

Chef gave me high praise for the gnocchi and the sage gravy. I was a little nervous...