Summary

It's been a few weeks since the last day I worked at The Grain House. In all honesty, in some ways I miss it, it was hard work of course, but I also got to make some friends there that taught me so much in so little time. Getting to know everyone while learning at the same time was a blast. I still have all the homework to do unfortunately... (at least this post makes 10 in my journal though!) On top of which I'm still moving things into my condo and planning my wedding which is 38 days away. For now I am still working my other job ~45 hours a week to make ends meet with the wedding and mortgage. It's very difficult to find time to really sit down and get some of this homework started, it's starting to worry me but I know it's all part of the learning process and is important to get done. Chef Leffler gave me a project to do instead of the one given in class. That at least will be more enjoyable than the alternative.

One of the great things is, all of the things I've been learning in class through the years is all coming together in the planning of this wedding. Taking things from my purchasing class when I had to plan a menu and the costing, also the decoration and setup that I had learned in my Garde Manger class.

A lot of what I learned will also make it much more affordable to eat. Knowing how to cook and do it well is most certainly a big plus over buying prepared foods that probably cost over double what it'd cost to make from scratch. It'll save tons of money to buy a whole chicken, French it myself then use the bones to make stock for soup rather than buying chicken one night, and cans of soup for lunch the next day. I'm very excited to see all of the things I've learned come together in the future of both my lifestyle and my career.

I owe it all to the teachers and fellow students that helped me along in my journey through culinary school and have lead me off onto my own to build on the skills that they had help bring about. (and of course to my family and fiance Shannah who have been very supportive and not hating me for my hectic schedule/lack of time for them)