Friday / Presentation...

Well... I finally completed my project... it is a presentation tray of forcemeat. Turkey pate en croute on the bottom left, cold pork terrine in the middle, pork roulade upper right and turkey galantine bottom right... with my ham chaud-froid show-piece on top left.

Another center-piece... tallow wax project... it is a 3d Christmas gift box... came out ok... I should paint it... but, probably trash it later today.

Snow...

Snowed again yesterday... kind of neat... white everywhere.

Forcemeats / Yuck...

The past few days, we've been dealing with forcemeats... finally done... need to make a presentation tray on Thursday... these taste nasty. I guess they're popular in Europe.

This is another center-piece I had to make... pour cream over a ham and decorate it...

Monday / Snowing In Vegas!!!

Snowing today!!! Neat... very white!!!

Friday / Ice Carving...

Today... ice carving... not too difficult. I made a martini glass... here is the chef touching it up.

Thursday,,,

I finished my salt dough project... a bowl with fruit in it... came out ok. Our chef demo-ed ice carving for us... he busted out a swan and an angel fish in 10 minutes...amazing. Friday... it'll be our turm... I'm going to do a martini glass... we'll see how it comes out!!!

Vegetables Carvings...

Since Monday, I've been struggling with my vegetable carving skills... made this floral arrangement. I used carrots for flowers and tulips, zucchini for flowers, rose tomatoes, potato flowers, radish daisies and leeks. I'm happy with it... some of my classmates have real talent... amazing stuff. Chef told me very good job but I need to practice a lot more.

Tuesday / Tiramisu...

Made tiramisu today... I guess I was bored... put that dumb smiley face on it. Also, made those decorative roses... tough to make... the chef did accept them.

Monday / St. Louis Torte...

Made a St. Louis torte today... almond flour w/cocoa powder cake... with layers of chocolate ganache and French praline buttercream frosting... excellent!!!

Friday / Joconde Biscuit... Lemon Curd Tart...

Finished my Joconde biscuit (almond flour w/sugar)... made a mold (sponge strip and bottom), poured Bavarian cream vanilla into it... topped with apricots and raspberries. Next... made a tart with lemon curd (the best)... with a Swiss meringue topping... then made a caramel cage and put it on top of the tart... turned out pretty well!!!

Wednesday / Savarin/Baba...

Made babas today... spongy with spiced rum, apricot glaze, whipped cream and a raspberry on top... tasty. Finished off our pastillage (hard powdered sugar)... tons of effort... that is the best centerpiece I could do... then made "poured sugar"... sugar bowls!!!

Monday / Eclairs...

Eclairs today... damn good.

All Good...

So... all good so far at LCB... made the honor roll... ha! and got a community service award too... which I received that cheap medal... the two pins are from the school president... 4.0 honor roll. I won't make 4.0 this third term... got a "B" in Meat/Seafood... plus working too... and goofed up in Advance Baking already... fun!!!

Friday / Chocolate Mousse & Baked Alaskan...

Today... we finished off our baked Alaskans... it is crème anglaise (like vanilla bean ice cream) with a toasted Italian meringue topping. Then... we made a chocolate mousse torte. Also, finished off our Swedish meringue... made tiny designs to put on stuff.

Wednesday / Napoleans...

Made napoleans today... tasty!!! Finished off our mini cheesecakes with an apricot topping... I goofed around and stacked a few together... then frosted-off the pâte sucrée... that whipped cream is amazing tasting too... gave them all away!!!

Tuesday / More Chocolate...

We finished off our 3-layer chocolate cakes with chocolate buttercream frosting... with a "ganachar a glacer" topping. I received only a "good" score... too much topping... you can see the chocolate dripping between the cut slices. Also finished off our pâte sucrée... filled it with our chocolate cream filling... it is dome-shaped... received a "very good" score. Also... made mini cheesecakes... we'll finish them tomorrow. Ah... the cake... I gave it away... way too big, too much to eat!!!

Chocolate Day...

Finally back to cooking... baking to be exact. Made a chocolate cream filling and a chocolate french buttercream frosting. We also frosted 3-layer cakes today... finishing them tomorrow. We even made pâte sucrée (sweetened dough)... probably use our cream filling with the pâte sucrée.

The Latest...

Not a lot going on lately... just taking my last two lecture classes at LCB... Food and Beverage Cost Control and Hospitality... ZZZzzz!!! Crazy weather too... hot then cold then windy... ugh... I've had a cold the past 10 days. Well... kind of tired... working 40 hours at LBS... this place is a big hit... always busy... people wait an hour for a table. It is brutal work... but, finally used to it... not sore/etc... kind of fun... lots of food too. Between LBS and LCB... really no need to go to the grocery store!!!

Lunch / Hofbräuhaus...

I had lunch today at Hofbräuhaus... German restaurant next to the Hard Rock. I've always wanted to try this place... tasty food and beer. Had a beer and a large pretzel with sauces; spicy mustard, onion mustard and a cheese sauce... lunch plate with sausages, sauerfraut and mashed potato... then apple strudel for lunch. Neat waitresses in German outfits running around.

Timbers / Punks...

I've been going to the Timber's right next to me once or twice a week since moving to Vegas. They are a bar/grill/sports bar and have video gambling... opened 24 hours. Everytime I pay my bill I never get my change. This morning my bill was $9.01. I gave her $10... I never got my $0.99 back... I finally spoke to the manager... I told him over the past six months that I never receive my change back. He said something smart-ass to me... I squeezed out a message in ketchup on the table... F You!!! You get the picture?

Wednesday / Seafood Day...

Tons of seafood today... linguine and clams, lobster rissoto, fried shrimp, raw oysters and crab cakes... went to the buffet day next door, fruits and cheeses... ate too much... took home leftovers.

Sausage Day...

We made sausages today... I was assigned Italian sausages... they came out pretty good. Grind the meat... case them and size them... they turned out too "spicy hot"... too much chili flakes!!!

Monday / Turkey and Chicken...

Easy day... just sliced up turkey and chicken all morning long... tired / fun!!! All good... peace!!!

Saturday / Tex-Mex...

Another community class... Tex-Mex... good... more ribs, etc. Some photos too... we do get bored!!!

Friday / Lamb Fun!!!

Lamb today... so far, just terrible in Meat class... I don't get it... horrible with the knife. We have turkey on Monday... I should practice this weekend!!!

Thursday / Salmon Day...

So, salmon today... cut in half, remove guts/etc... made two long fillets... one half to smoke and the other for steaks. Also, had to cook the family meal for the class... I grilled salmon and made a nice pasta dish... found some dessert in the baking class... everyone happy. But, during the process, everyone had to put their two cents in... freakin' amazing!!! I just ignored them... kind of pissed them off... who cares!!!

Tuesday / Pork Day

So, we sliced-up a 1/4 pig today... carved out the tenderloin, separated the babyback ribs, sliced-up the pork chops and scaloppini... and the rest, made stew meat. The bottom photo is Lori-Lynn... neat Hawaiian girl... always sits next to me.