NYR's

I always make a list of few New Year's resolution when the new year comes... and I try to keep them. Seriously. Religiously. I don't make it through the year for some of them, but I can proudly say, for the most part... I do.

Well, keeping up with my blog obviously is not one of the ones I was able to keep. I stopped writing the day I arrived in NYC. The big city just kept me so occupied that I had pages and pages of notes that I thought would be interesting to blog about, but, again... I just never got to them.

But I'm going back to that NYR. I'll probably post some of my old drafts to catch up on my backblog, I mean every now and then.

At this point though, I'll focus on the current... that way I can move on, right?

Chelsea Market: Home of the Food Network

Spice Market is also down the street from Chelsea Market, home of the Food Network. Sometimes, when I get lucky, I run into some of the food network stars, not that I watch a lot of it... since I don't have the time.

But there's more to see in the Chelsea Market than just the food netowork logo. I go there for food when I don't feel like eating family meal at Spice, although most of the time, family meal is really good. The Sous Chefs (Jason and Anthony) makes it. There are seafood and produce markets and culinary stores. I remember purchasing one of my spoons over there which worked perfectly for plating the lobster sauce at Spice. I'm loving this area.

Gwenny14, thanks for the pictures! And best of all, thanks for coming to see me in New York. I miss you!

9th Ave and 13th St

Finally at 9th and 13th. This is the corner that I walk to every single day, walking... almost running from the 14th st station.

I love the walk, right when I get out of the subway, there's a really good Mediterranean Cafe where I grab Shish Kebabs after work. Or sometimes, I just get one before going to work. Often times, I go across the street, at Balducci's to try their featured cheese of the day, use the restroom and get an energy drink. We do 700-1200 covers a night, I do need the energy. A lot of it.

First Day at Spice Market

I got here yesterday and today I had to start working. I didn't have time to settle down but I was just so excited to get to work.

My first station was right on Saute which was one of the more advance stations on the line.

There's 3 people working almost at any given time. One fires the curry pots, one cooks the protein and one plates and expedite.

I started with the firing of the curries. It wasn't all that difficult. All I had to do was push buttons really (since curries usually take a long time too cook, the dishes are braised ahead of time and portioned). I heat them up, garnish them, and plate them.

But it's day 1. It may have been a boring job but it's a good opportunity to learn the plates without really having to mess with them, or at least not yet. But I try to help as much as I can.

I hand the sauces and the garnishes if they are well within my reach. I refill the service pans too when they are running out and do some knife work on the side. So, it wasn't too bad.

Service is crazy. Huge volume and long hours. But I had a great time.

The plates I learned:
Pork Vindaloo
Duck Curry with Pinapple Sambal
Chicken Curry with Snap Peas
Green Curry Bowl
Shortrib Bowl
Seafood Laksa
Cod with Chili Paste
Snapper / Halibut with Peanut Broth
Shrimp Cakes

There's so much to learn on the station alone. Looking forward to Day 2.

Very Metro

I'm just so excited. I never thought I'd be a local in New York City. I've always dreamed about it... going through the busy streets of Manhattan, rushing for the subway, eating a falafel on the street, just making it to work, watching the sea of yellow cabs... that will just be my day tomorrow.

I'm temporarily staying with my friend's sister in the Upper East side. Soon I'll have to move on my own. But for now, I guess I'll have to figure out the fastest way to work.

Let me see. I need to get to 9th and 13th. Take the 4 from 59th and Lex, Get off on 14th St-Union Sq, Take the E to 8th and 14th, walk up 1 ave and down 1 st., That doesn't seem to bad does it? I heard there's a 14th st cross town bus, but I think I'm going to love the walk.