Dining Alone

This is one of my entries to my 'art-of-dining alone' journal. And a catch up from my California internship days a few months back.

Boulettes Larder. For a free spirited traveller like me who tends to talk to other travellers on the road (including random strangers I really shouldn't be talking to), this place is perfect... I liked Boulette Larder for it's family meal set up. There's just one big table where everybody sits. They serve simple mediterranean food that are represented by fresh local produce. I enjoyed the savory yougurt with purslane and barley, I never had purslane this way before. I just love how it's lemony tang with the hearty savory flavor of barley complemented the fresh creamy yougurt it was served with. It's wonderfully complex!

I had a great time and I met fabulous people: Norma and Allen, Bossa Nova Artists. It all started when I took pictures of my food and tasting each item with gusto. They asked me what I do because I seem to be so much into my food. They even asked what I ordered so they can order the same thing. They are from Mexico and we had a great conversation about its regional cuisines and Italo Calvino who introduced me to the food 'Under the Jaguar Sun'. (Thanks to Jojo who introduced me to Italo Calvino's literature.)

At the end of our meal, I got an open invitation to visit them in Baja! I didn't know they were famous till I checked the website on their card 6tosentido. Norma even emailed me to make sure I'm accepting her invitation. I can't wait to visit them!

Ironic Cuisine?

I tried the new top rating restaurant in the country recently. It's in Chicago too where I'm currently at. I had to spend a bit of my savings for this dinner. (This is what I save for now). It was quite an experience. We had a 24-course tasting menu. They were more like, bite-size tasters but there was so much to taste on each plate: the sauce, the gelee, the bubbles, the foam, the smear, the topping and oh, the main item, I almost forgot. Each element explodes with flavors. Very entertaining!

In the middle of dinner, I curiously asked one of our servers about their food. I asked her, 'so how would you describe your cuisine?' and she proudly replied, 'Oh, we're serving Progressive American cuisine!' And so I asked further, 'What is Progressive American cuisine?' Is it like fusion?' and she replied, 'It's a little bit of fusion.' It's mainly American cuisine with Asian and Italian influence but no French.' And I got more curious, 'No French?' because in my mind, it must be hard to discount the influence of French cuisine in fine dining. I'm not pro french or anything but they must have really something special to even mention it.' She replied, 'Definitely, no French.' I was about to ask more questions but bread service started. Set on our table were beautiful butter quenelles.

Complements from the Chef

Fish class is now my new favorite class. Unfortunately, it only lasts 13 days and we're on Day 11 tomorrow. We do fish fabrication and preparation in this class with matching advance sauces and plating exercises.

Chef Elaine Sikorski teaches this class. She's very knowledgeable. She's very thorough. Discriminate and uncompromising. She only expects of her students what she expects of herself i.e. A LOT! She's known to be one of the toughest chef instructors but she's one I really look up to because she practices what she preaches, commands respect and reflects the integrity that I believe all cooks MUST posses.

On our Day 10 in Advance Fish class, we had a plating exercise on lobsters and broth-like sauces. I've seen lobster plated before but I've never done it myself. Coming from only 6 months of professional experience, I've only gone as far as watching the line prepare food. The challenge was to come up with a $40 looking plate. First of all, what does a $40 lobster plate look like? What's in it? Is my lobster too big or too small? What's worth of being on a $40 dollar lobster entree? I had no idea. My planned plate didn't seem to be $40. We had 3 other dishes to be worried about so we didn't get to think about this to the last few minutes.

My partner and I tried to the best that we can to come up with one. We went to the fine dining kitchen and asked the chefs if we can pick up some ingredients from their walk in because we really didn't have much in our walk-in but carrots, onions, celery and tomatoes. We were able to solicit some baby vegetable and tomato water so we used those. It was crazy. I wasn't happy with my plate, but I just have to get it done and get it out.

Right when the dishes were 'picked-up' (simulated) Chef Elaine tasted it, sipped some water and spat it out. She obviously didn't like it. It was horrible! But later she asked, 'do you know Michel Richard?' I replied dumb-founded, 'No, Chef.' She said, 'You don't? You seem to be going towards his direction. Your homework for today is to go to Borders and browse thru his book. You'll see what I mean' I frequent borders for books but I haven't gone in about a month and a half now because I'm studying and working at the same time.

So today I got the chance to browse thru Happy In The Kitchen (September 2006) by Michel Richard and I was just beyond flattered. Of course I'm far from that level but 'going towards the direction of his style' coming from Chef Elaine is a HUGE complement! I don't know what to say or do but to keep practicing and practicing so I can live up to her expectations (now that she had made it known).

Which reminds me, time to work on my prep list for tomorrow. I have Sea Urchin, Skate, Trout and Sardines or Tuna on our 'Fish-of-the-day' so I have to make sure I can get-it-together, get-it-done and get-it-out beautifully ON TIME!

Catching Up

It's been quite a bit since I last blogged. Between moving, school and finding a job, I barely had any time for anything else... excuses excuses. But I 'plan' to update my blog again, the next few entries are 'catch up' entries from my internships in the Bay Area.

My Biggest Paycheck

Aqua - 2 star Micheline
This email is my biggest paycheck from my unpaid internship with Aqua.


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From: Peter Armellino
Date: Oct 3, 2006 6:30 PM
Subject: 2 stars
To: Namee

Hope you are well, we just received a 2 star review fro the Michelin guide. We were one of 4 restaurants in the bay area. only one 3 star the French laundry. We are all very proud and I thank you for all your hard work.

Peter Armellino
Chef de Cuisine
Aqua Restaurant
252 California Street
San Francisco, CA 94111
www.aqua-sf.com