SMOOTH LANDING

Last night was finally the ending of the beginning for me in my culinary travels. I landed pretty smooth in this flight but it was definitely a bumpy take off.

Culinary 107 came to a close, with a few tears, and many well wishes and “seeya” in the fall for International. Chef Emi had us do a quick speech on what lab or who we learned the most from in our class. Well anyone who knows me knows I can’t just pick one, because I have learned from all. So I am going to repeat my speech and see what you all think? Because my intention was not to leave them crying but to leave them laughing. “TOLD YOU CHEF EMI, I SHOULD HAVE GONE LAST!”

What I have learned from:

Randy Cole: Desserts and not afraid to wing it when the time comes for it

Briana Cooks: Had great out of the box ideas and not afraid to try them. Just get the saltshaker out of her hands

Ashley Evans: Had the best “Just do it Attitude” which had worked in creating some phenomenal dishes

Sheila Harrell: To jump in with both feet without testing the water first

James Hill: To have a great sense of humor and make me smile on even my worst days in the kitchen

Melissa, Jessica, Nikole, and Krystal: Each taught me to ask questions and push myself to think and create more.

Tammy Lessard: No matter how handicapped you are, we can do it

Stephan Perry: Perseverance and perfecting the best rice pudding quenelle

Louwen Somera: Not to be afraid to try new flavors together, that is where your best dishes will come forth.

And Annette Butts: to wash my hands often and is the best culinary partner anyone can ask for.

Chef Ellerbe’s Class: Watch and learn from their great and terrible epic stories.

And with that I want to share with you, my story of hats.

I wear many hats throughout the day, that I have grown comfortable with. My “I love Mom Hat”, my “I love My Ex-Wife Hat”, my “The Best Sister Hat”, my “The Best Daughter hat”, my “The Best Friend Forever Hat”, my “I love My Co-Worker Hat”, my “The Garden Loves Me Hat”, my “Cat Hates You Hat”.

But the hat that I was not comfortable wearing or felt worthy of wearing was my chef’s hat. Most of you know my trials and tribulations in getting to the culinary program. Chef Emi on our first day of class in 106 told us to be proud when we put on our jackets and toque. I was not there yet, I felt like a fraud. But fraud or worthiness not I had to don that uniform. It was only when I had to don that uniform and wear in public to the Taste of Hampton Roads event, where I was welcomed as a chef, and was addressed as a chef. I finally found the worthiness to wear this hat.

OK! Stop crying. “TOLD YOU CHEF EMI, I SHOULD HAVE GONE LAST!”

So to make the beginning of a journey into the culinary classroom even more hair-raising for me was when Chef Emi gave cookbooks to all the students in her class. They were all handpicked and special to that student. Tammy and I didn’t get one. Until we both looked at each other and said “the knife”. Chef Emi gave Tammy a knife for having the second highest grade point average in her class and winning the Culinary Challenge.  And, I got a knife for having highest grade point average. I never expected this in my travels. I never even dreamed when I walked into that classroom to find friends for life, another hat to wear, and a knife worthy to own.

Ashley, Annette, MJ, Chef Emi, Randy