Week #7

For Basic, we just broke down 2 chickens using different cuts. Nothing else. We are supposed to have a written mid term next week, but we have only really covered 5 topics--so nothing too crazy.

For Garde Manger, we made different kinds of sandwiches. I think chef and a number of us were disappointed with the results. For example, our team made a lobster salad sandwich. BUT we were literally given HOT DOG BUNS to put it on.

WHAT'S WORSE...we didn't use imitation lobster or lobster from a can. Nope. We use fresh cooked LIVE LOBSTER! And we put it on hot dog buns????!!! chef was pretty ticked about that. But that was what the recipe called for and so that is what he ordered. Forgetting the fact that they were boring buns, the buns weren't even able to stick together. They were crumbling and breaking. The lobster salad was decent, but fresh live lobster covered in cheap mayo was just sort of heretical, you know?

some of the other teams, however, had some great recipes. There was a soft shell crab sandwich which was excellent (a whole softshell crab about the size of your hand, breaded and deep fried). REALLY tasty. Another group had a muffalata. Again...excellent!

As for us, in addition to the lobster salad results, I am torn. I like what we make, but I think a few of the recipes that we were given were somewhat repetitive and/or un-exciting.

Specifically, this is the third week in a row (and fourth week overall) that our team has had an item with the same overall flavor. For instance, I made a pan bagnat sandwich (basically an overly complicated tuna salad sandwich). Its ingredients included capers, roast peppers, jalepeno, a vinaigrette, parsley and olives. So you end up with a dish that has a mild vinegar and pickley taste. We had two salads with this flavor two weeks ago. Then last week, the buffalo greens and the salsa/avocado components had many of the exact same ingredients. The recipes are decent, but this repeated flavor is getting old.

Next week is egg cookery. We'll see if we can change things up a bit.

Oh, and as for the teammate that was considering quitting last week: He did show up to class and did pretty well. Just a bad day last week, I guess.

I won't be posting pics of all of the dishes this week because they REALLY were plain. But below you will see the pan bagnat, and the tea sandwiches. I can't bear to show you the lobster on a hot dog bun. Enjoy!