Week 4: Hunter’s Moon
I went into Monday feeling vaguely confident in the plan I had laid out for myself in the kitchen. Lamb tacos and fluffy lemon curd pudding (not a pudding more like a lava cake vibe). But when my instructor grilled me from the jump as to why I hadn’t been sharpening my knives every night (um because knives are scary and also I don’t know how to?) I should have known things would go off the rails. Everything was in order until it was time to finish and plate and then my brain neurons stopped firing or something idk, apologies for shitty pictures including my cute little pudding that I didn't take a picture of until after my instructor took a bite. Win some, lose some.
Tuesday morning I went on a run before going to the breadshed where I incorrectly made croissant dough by not adding salt to it. In my defense I wasn’t told to add salt but I digress. In the kitchen that morning I made two different kinds of Brioche (plain and roasted red onion + gruyere), Spotted Dog (soda bread with currents) and a frittata that I cooked within an inch of its life so you dont get a picture of it.
That night I went me and a few girls went to the house of a classmate who is staying in an apartment off-campus but within a 5 minute drive. I wish I could describe to you how cute this place was. Imagine the interior charm of Kate Winslet’s house in The Holiday but with oceanfront views and a balcony that would have american civil suit lawyers licking their chops. I want to be jealous and hate Ciara but she is also a nurse in the operating room for pediatric plastic surgery and also maybe like runs the entire hospital? So I guess she deserves beautiful accommodation and also a beautiful life, UGH.
Her boyfriend made us pasta and at one point I found myself explaining the rules of solitaire even though I’m pretty sure no one asked me to. Sigh.
Wednesday we had an all day business class in case anyone ever wants to open their own restaurant/farm stand/catering business/etc. It was actually pretty interesting other than the fact that almost none of it applied to America where the food service industry is a black mirror that reflects the brokenness of late stage capitalism or whatever you want to call America’s disdain for service workers. Also did you know you are apparently supposed to pay a license fee to play music in your restaurant? Please don’t tell Vinal I would simply die without my weekly Feel Good Dinner.
Wednesday after class a bunch of us went to a local fish smoke house called Hederman. We got a tour of the facility from Frank Hederman himself who was an absolute character. For example someone asked how to know when the salmon has been in the smoke long enough and he responded “I know because I’m very good at what I do.” Applicable! And to be fair the fish is amazing and have prices to reflect it! We also put on cool Ghost Buster suits to look at said smokey fish.
Thursday morning I went for a run and when I got back I could see a rainbow in the night sky because the full moon was so bright. I’ve never seen anything like it in my life. Thanks Hunter moon!
I then made Provençal Bean Stew and rice which was very simple by most days’ standards. I also practiced segmenting citrus fruits and fileting a flat fish both of which are skills that could be on my practical exam in two weeks time. I haven’t taken an exam in ten years and even then I could usually weasel my way into a paper or a project instead of an exam. Perhaps I can ask to make a diorama as my midterm exam?
That evening we still had the crazy full and bright moon so we went to my boy John for a swim and sauna. I took these pictures which really do not capture the majesty of it all. Taking a picture of the moon is always an exercise in futility but you gotta do it anyway. As my housemate Sinéad said “anyone can take a good picture, it takes real courage to take a bad picture.” And with that in mind here are two ugly photos of a gorgeous moon.
Friday morning I went to a talk given by a man who looked vaguely like Hozier but was actually just really into birds. He has recorded every song of every bird native to Ireland, or something! I told him about the crows that live outside our house and scream every afternoon for approximately 45 minutes straight. I asked if they were warning us of some kind of evil prophecy or omen but he didn’t seem to think so. And he’s meant to be an expert, tsk.
Then in the kitchen that morning I made profiteroles with creme diplomat and chocolate sauce, and goat cheese croquette salad with roasted red pepper and olive tapenade. I also filleted another Hake. My instructor this week was really strict and was not afraid to critique work and for that I was obsessed with her. When she gave me a compliment on our final day together I ascended to heaven.
Overall a great week but WOW - one month down! A third of the way finished. It feels like I’ve been here for both 2 minutes and a lifetime. What do they say? The days are long but the weeks are short. Something like that.