This Week / Baking...

So, the next three weeks I'll be baking... Intro to Baking class. I guess, we'll bake breads, muffins, cookies, pastries, cakes and pies... even pizza. The student book is nice... Amazon has it for sale too...

Beer / Belgium Lambics...

Man... we also sampled beers. Lambics are a type a beer that is brewed only in Belgium... has a dry and cidery flavor. Fruit is added into the Lambrics. I've tried the raspberry and peach ones... and I want more. Also, they come in apple, cherry, grape, etc.

Ah, from France... fruit-flavored liqueurs... tasty. I guess, use can cook with them... reduce, add butter and you have a beurre blanc sauce... pour over salmon. I'll have to try!

Wines...

So, I completed my Wine & Beverage class at LCB. Tons of sampling the past three weeks. I will say, German wines are excellent. I recommend the Gewürztraminer and Riesling wines. Riesling tastes fresh and fruity. Gewürztraminer tastes spicy and floral. I hate to say, I didn't care for the Italian, French or Californian wines at all. Ah... Sherry from Spain and dessert wines are tasty too... I guess I like the sweet stuff.

Vegas / Chinese Food...

Vegas / Chinese food is horrible... and over-priced. Also, every Wednesday in the Vegas newspaper they list the restaurants that fail Health Department inspections... nearly all that fail are Asian. Anyway, these products from Wanchai Ferry are pretty tasty... try them.

Vegas... Hot...

It's been over 100° the past 10 days. The upcoming 10 day forecast shows temperatures in the high 100's. I think I'm lucky... my apartment faces north and is blocked by an apartment on the west side... so, it remains cooler... usually in the low 80's.

Not a lot going on right now... my last week with the Math and Wine courses at LCB. Next week, we'll starting baking breads, pies, cakes... and even pizza. Later!!!

Wine / Class Lunch...

So... we had a wine tasting lunch today at the Le Cordon Bleu Cafe. That's me with the chef and my classmates... most are young, in their 20's...kids!!! I had the crusted chicken with a cherry sauce over cous-cous... tasty. Then a cheesecake dessert thingy.

Wine / Art / Tummy Ache...

Not a lot going on lately... I did volunteer at an event the other night. This Odyssey Foundation supplies scholarships to Le Cordon Bleu students. I served wine to invited guests from a tiny room. Tons of art for sale. I ate fancy cheese from all over the world... smelly ones, moldy ones... then a huge stomach ache.

Happy Birthday 300M... 2 Years Old...

I had to switch to Nevada plates and registration... and get a Nevada drivers license. So, I spent nearly five hours at the DMV... had nachos and popcorn from the snack bar... tons of people to stare at.

Wine Class / The Aroma Wheel...

So, this wine class I have... we've been tasting tons of wines... I can't taste or smell the difference between them. We need to follow this aroma wheel... I should buy a bunch of bottles and party nightly in my apartment... stop on by!!!

New Classes!!!

Well, no cooking for the next three weeks... good, I need a break. So I have two new classes for the next few weeks... "math principles for food service occupations" and "wine & beverages". Hopefully easy stuff.

I'm trying to start my homework... I'm stumped on the first damn question...

A loaf of bread is 15 inches long... you need to cut the bread loaf into 3/4 inch slices... so, how many sandwhiches can be made out of this loaf of bread?

Let me know!!!

Thursday / Fry Night...

Tonight was fry night... fried chicken, fried fish... with creamed corn and mashed potatoes... also made fresh tartar sauce and cocktail sauce... ate too much... I feel greasy and sick.

Wednesday...

Tonight... poached white fish in court bouillon... sides = artichokes "Barigoule style" and creamy Boursin polenta. These are popular French dishes... kind of boring and I'll probably never make them again.

Tuesday / Poaching Night...

Shallow poached chicken breast with a white wine cuisson. Fish "en papillote" (wrapped in paper w/vegetables)... and buttered potatoes.

Last Week Of Skills II / Monday...

Chicken Chasseur, glazed carrots and wild rice...