22 January 2008: Basic Cookery Day 1

I am what you would call a career changer, and an intense home cook. I have my four year degree in history, and then went on to law school. I spent the last three years since graduating from law school working as a law clerk to several judges and personally dabbling in state politics. I kept trying to get away from the legal world, but as many career changers may know, your former career path has a way of sucking you back in and digging its claws in deeper. But the entire time, my heart belonged to the culinary world.

I have been wanting to be a chef since I was 7 or 8 years old. I even made a drawing in crayon way back then of my dream--to be a chef and own a black truck. But inertia is a hard thing to counter, and repeated attempts at turning away from my educational and career paths that I was previously traveling proved fruitless.

However, I never stopped studying, reading, practicing new dishes/concepts/techniques, or creating and experimenting with my own ideas.

Well, now I am 32, own a silver truck, and today I officially started down my path of becoming part of the culinary industry.

I am attending a community college in town which has a pretty well respected culinary program.

I am attending on a part time basis to allow me to attend school and to work (hopefully in a culinary related job).

There is a bit more "fun" to the story about how I finally decided to take the plunge, but I will post that info bit by bit. (email me too if you have more specific questions).

Since today was our first day, our Chef instructor pretty much just lectured about rules/policies/procedures. She also introduced us to our options for knife sets, uniforms, shoes, etc.

Tomorrow I have garde mange, and then Saturday I have Sanitation (nutrition will be the second half of the semester).

From what I understand from others, this week will be more of the same--intro's and review of cirriculum. So i will post again during our second week of classes after we have had some hands on.

Seriously...I NEVER thought I would be able to take that first step. It feels strangely nice and nerve wracking to be entering a new unknown. But so far...it feels like a good choice!