journey of an aspiring chef

Fall Foods

2011-09-19T14:17:00.002-04:00

As I mentioned in the last posting Fall is my favorite food season. I'm starting to see "Fall" everywhere I go. I'm so excited about it. Everything from the weather to the beverages, and clothing choices to the fauna is starting to show the pre-season flirting signs of this wondrous season.

The atmosphere of fall is just soothing, the people are more calm, the trees begin to bare themselves and show off their naked bodies, while people become more conservative. Scarves wrapped loosely around necks as the guarantee that they will soon be tightened lingers around the crisp cheeks. Cooler beverages are hastily replaced by hot cocoa's and piping hot coffees. Cool freshening aromas float through the air and tease the senses. If you walk into a kitchen with seasonal fare you will find copious amounts of squashes and sweet potatoes, large vials of cinnamon and cloves, preparing soon for pumpkins and nutmeg as the chill sets in.

I'm going to soon try making some fall butternut squash fries soon. The fries will be a nice snack, fairly healthy (except the frying part, although they could just be roasted), and super flavorful. I'm really excited about them.

If you wanna try them let me know how the turn out. I'll post pictures when I try them.

For a small amount just use one squash.

1 Medium Butternut Squash
2 t ground cinnamon
2 t ground nutmeg
1 1/2 t ground cloves
1/8 c sugar
1/8 c brown sugar

Peel & cut the squash into desired size (the shape should resemble a french fry). Lay the sticks out on a baking sheet, and roast in your oven on 375 F until the sticks are just softened (still a little tough). Put your squash in the freezer until they cool. Heat frying oil to about 350 F. At any point when you aren't doing anything mix all the dry ingredients well. Drop a few Squash Fries into the oil and fry until they are crispy and cooked through. Immediately toss them in the spice & sugar mixture. When the cool slightly Enjoy.

If you try them before me give me some feedback or send me some pictures.

Blessings on you, your food, and your kitchens!

The Real World?

2011-09-14T14:17:00.000-04:00

Just yesterday as I was preparing to go home from a day of classes, that started too early, I went by Starbucks as usual to get my coffee before I drove home in the hellish "End of the School Day" traffic. As I was walking out I happened across a friend. We had a conversation about one of her professors that hates her already. The reason being a topic on "The Real World" and a simple question.

A definition I found of the real world is, "The practical world as opposed to the academic world".
This would be to say that being in an academic setting is not living in the so called real world.
The question that started this ordeal of the stereotypical teacher, choosing a "Dis - liked or Less - respected" student in a class, was, "What about the student who works two jobs, pays every single bill they have on their own, and still goes to school full-time?" She continues with, "Is that student not living in the real world?"

I'd say yes. I've only recently started the full-time student/full-time employee gig. It's hell, it's tiring, and it leaves no personal time or social time. I have a new respect for the people who successfully manage their time well enough to do it. I for one, well, I'm still working on it. I literally have to have a calendar/task reminder alarm set at all times. If I don't have my reminders and alarms set then I don't schedule the time I need to do the things that have to be done. When I don't remember to do something or don't have time to do something, it gets put on the next day, which then becomes even busier. I feel that my load is fairly light, and their are people who have more on their plate than me, but come on, I could use some help or more time, but how do they manage it? Is their a personal assistant fairy that I don't know about?

If I didn't have classes, I wouldn't have homework, and that would lead to more time. But, alas, being in class My day usually looks something like this, Wake up, get dressed, laundry if it needs to be done, Go to class, go to another class, go to the library do what homework I can, go home, eat, go to work, go home, do more homework, go to bed, wake up and do it all again. That leaves no time for anything. How is that not the real world? I know according to the Department of Employment or whatever it's called I'm not considered part of the work force, but a student. I'm okay with that, but what gives professors the right to tell students they are not in the real world at the moment? They don't manage all of the things I have to. Their life is work and family for the most part. Does that mean they are in the real world? I don't think that should be a determining factor of what a person's real world is.

On a positive side of things, my new job is going well and I'm quickly moving through the brigade. I'm feel that I belong there, for now. Soon though I'll be finished with university (for the moment) and be ready to take on a new thing. I'm currently considering two options for my summer. I have to do an internship or a study abroad. I'm hoping for the study abroad, but if that doesn't work out I have a few locations for my management internship in mind.

The weather is starting to change into my favorite season, Fall. The weather is perfect, the colors are beautiful, and the food is amazing! Fall is not only my favorite season in general, but my favorite season for fresh food! It's so alive and full of flavor. Beautiful root vegetables, heavy peppers, heavy lettuces and dark berries, and pumpkin. The spics are great with cinnamons, nutmegs, and cloves. Dark caramels, and deep flavors accompanying beverages, snacks, meals, and desserts is a great gastronomical experience.

Did you like the random subject change there above? I certainly did.

Blessings on you, your food, and your kitchens!
Have a great one!
What's your favorite food season and why? Any discussion?

Reflection Time (A Fleeting Glance of Arcane Introspections)

2011-08-18T15:16:00.000-04:00

Hello Everyone.
This go around is something I've needed to do for a good bit of time now. Over the past two years many of you have supported me, I thank you for that! I'm thinking of a piece of advice I got from a chef one night. This, in a literal aspect is very direct to any industry in which you are on your feet for long periods of time, but I understand it in a different way now that I think about it. I hope that I'm able to explain my thoughts on this simple statement.

The man stands thoughtfully, slowly sips ice water from a quart container, a bead of sweat rolls down his face, and finally says to me, "The best piece of advice I can give to you," sips the water again, and stares thoughtfully in the direction of the loud overhead exhaust, "Wear comfortable shoes." I laughed and he just stares for a moment and shakes my hand then walks away.

I'd like to say that in that moment I was very literal in thinking something along the lines of, "Of course, otherwise your legs/feet would kill you." Later as I was thinking about that moment I realized a flaw in my thinking. A good pair of shoes is a necessity for anyone who is on their feet a lot, have back, leg, or knee problems, or just in general like to be comfortable when they are on their feet. Yes, that is true, but also through life we need a good pair of shoes. Shoes are also the base of your everyday physical life; so flipping that to a more thought provoking statement one might say, shoes are the base of other parts of your life. To mentally prepare oneself everyday for their tasks is sort of like dawning a good pair of shoes to start your day.

A french term that I am particularly fond of, mise en place (mees in plas), or everything in it's place, is a good way to think of your good pair of shoes. Waking up in the morning with a sense of awareness and preparation will lead to a good mise. A good mise for your day can open so many things up for you. My favorite part of having a good mise is never having to worry if something goes wrong, because everything to fix it is in it's proper place.

My reason for doing this is sharing the best piece of advice I've ever received with all of you, and I hope you understand my comparison of mise en place and good shoes. So, wrapping this up, go through your day with good shoes and a complete mise en place, I promise it'll be better.

Blessing on you, your food, and your kitchen.

Showing Off A Little, Because That's Exactly What Chefs Like to Do

2011-08-17T16:22:00.003-04:00

All of this work is Garde Manger. The garde manger was originally known as the keeper of foods meant to be eaten. This is the process of preserving foods, such as smoking, curing, and pickling. The garde manger will also deal with cold foods such as salads, cold soups, and veg/fruit platters. While the highly trained garde manger is very valuable person to have on hand, in today's kitchens they are priceless so many kitchens don't employ them. An example of some work a skilled garde manger would do.

A simple yet very well made fruit platter to feed about 50.

Duck Confit Hors D'oeuvre with Chive Cream Cheese on a Fresh Wheat Cracker.

Ice Carvings, yes that is a squirrel.

A Micro Herb Salad with Green Apple dressed with a Roasted Lemon Honey Vinaigrette on a Goat Cheese Tartlet.

Pickled Red and Golden Beets.

Duck Confit Terrine with Dried Cherries and Foie Gras Tourchon.

All of these things require a vast knowledge and skill. After creating the individual components often times a very skilled garde manger will present these items on a platter. A platter can't just be laid out with random items. The entire experience comes from the flavors of each item blending.

A skilled garde manger is priceless in any kitchen because the natural flavor of edible substance is increased when it is hot. Don't believe it, take a slice of your favorite produce and season it with a little salt and pepper, eat it cold. Now same thing, but cook it a little. The flavor, the smell, the texture, everything is increased. A garde manger must know how to take these flavors and make them appetizing when they are cold.

Humans and animals alike eat with first their eyes, then their noses, then their pallets. If this be the case then a salad must look good and taste amazing, because we shouldn't smell a salad, but to be turned on to it we have to love the flavor. To make this happen one must have a vast knowledge of a product and how to bend it to his/her will in order to make a person crave it.

Humans do not naturally crave cold dishes, we crave our comfort foods, which for everyone holds a memory to something in our pasts that links that dish with happiness. Can you link a cold food dish in your memory to a comfort food? If so, I'd like to hear about it.

Blessings on you, your food, and your kitchen!

Adventure Back to Your Roots

2011-08-12T20:29:00.000-04:00

"Be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves like locked rooms and like books that are written in a very foreign tongue. Do not now seek the answers, which cannot be given you because you would not be able to live them. And the point is, to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps you will find them gradually, without noticing it, and live along some distant day into the answer." ~Rainer Maria Rilke, Letters to a Young Poet

When normally journeying home for whatever reason it may be, holidays, breaks from school, or just to get away from life I find it a task of sorts to make the drive there, but this time I took a different approach to my entire journey. That approach was to find something; when searching for something in life it's often difficult. This search on the other hand was not going to be difficult at all, I knew exactly where to find what I was looking for. That is encouraging, especially when thinking about the things in life I've lost in the past; expensive sunglasses, wallets, keys, homework, and things that are often lost that take what seems a lifetime to find. What had I lost this time? Something I had never actually found, something that I had mislead myself into thinking I had, myself.

Now some people believe it takes a lifetime to discover oneself, but I feel that the idea of who a person is should be discovered at an early age and like making stock, clarified and fortified throughout one's lifetime. For me a major part of who I am can be defined by food, as can all of our lives. Allow me to explain, food is something that is influenced by your social status, culture, religion, family and geographical location, therefore the type of food in our lives defines who we are. Weather it's a heavily sauced meatloaf made by your grandma in the southern parts of America, or a light fresh caught fish from the Mediterranean that dish will define part of your life. To define my life and who I am I would like to use the comparison of food and what it newly means to me, and I hope you will understand the meaning behind it.

To begin a definition I need to take you back to the beginning. One of life's most educational experiences will come from growing food, that I can promise. For me this experience came my entire life and I never saw it until I left it. To create a fruit that can create and sustain life a few critical components are needed. The first is a teacher, a wiser, and diligent caregiver, a person who is willing to give their time and life to define another. This comes in the form of the farmer. The next is an area to raise this fruit, a safe, clean area to teach it what it should be and ensure it's health and life. Then a seed is needed, the item in which the entire fruit will come from. After combining these items it's not all fun and games. The garden still needs to be weeded and cleaned. The plants need to be nurtured and watered. and once they reach a certain stage of life they need guidelines in which to properly grow. After the guidelines are laid out one can not simply walk away and expect the fruit to grow properly. They still need care and love. Finally after a lot of patience and caregiving the fruit can be harvested and put to work.

Being in touch with the earth, the seasons, and the area around you gives a new meaning to one's self definition and understanding of life and family. Seeing something come from a seed that is smaller than a marble that sustains life is an experience I wish everyone could have. The best part about all of it though is being with the teacher. Talking with the one who gives time, love, and part of their life to another. Listening to their words and their lessons of their past, these are the things that shapes a person into a real human. They've lived, loved, laughed, and lost, and just like their teacher before them they'll give to the next generation the responsibility of the teacher.

After harvest what happens with the fruit. Well it gets a new caregiver. This caregiver has a different relationship with the fruit. This time it's not about being taught it's about being defined, taken from it's original state and unlocking it's potential. Creating something new by interacting the young fruit with other young fruits. What is significant about this stage of the fruit's life? This is the stage the fruit gets to experience new things and people, make mistakes, and learn from them. The new caregiver is there to guide this stage of life. Who is this caregiver? The many people the young fruit comes in contact with while it's on it's own. Or this caregiver is the chef. The chef creating a new life for this single fruit.

After rereading what I've gotten to this point, I feel that I've lost track of my original idea for this posting, but I also feel the above writing is necessary to understanding my journey home. So, back to my original idea. At the beginning of this journey I had an idea of life and my meaning of life and my meaning of what food and a definition of gourmet food is. I must admit how amazing it is that over a period of a few days things can completely redefine themselves. I've explained my new look on life, now my new look on food and what gourmet food really is.

Food is the natural product of someone's labor. It should be appreciated and not destroyed. It should be kept in it's original state and appreciated as it is. Just like people should be. We shouldn't add gelatin to people and alter their flavor, texture, and their lives, we should let them be what their first teacher taught them to be. I feel that from the point of being back with my family and seeing the beauty of the ground and the products that come from it put me back in touch with my life. But, more than that it reminded me of things I'd forgotten and taught me things I hadn't learned. Taught me things about a gourmet lifestyle, and what that means.

The definition of "Gourmet" is, of a kind or higher standard suitable for a gourmet, but the origins of that word are French, and meant "Wine Taster". So this tells me that it is someone with a trained or more defined pallet. Not the idea of current day gourmet, or culinary alchemy, if this be the case shouldn't gourmet be a person's own idea of that standard? A standard set by one's own pallet instead of someone else telling them what that standard should be. Well I've decided to create my own standard, and live my by my own pallet rather than what the "Standard" is rumored to be.

My new definition of gourmet is simple and yet complex, it's obvious and yet you have to look for it to understand it's meaning. Most of all you have to live it to learn it. To define my standard of gourmet I will simply put it as, "Real". Real as in life, real as in what that first teacher's purpose to care for and guide that young seedling. It's more than the good times of life, it is what has to be done. It's a standard set by an individual and their experiences of life and where they come from. If like me you grew up blessed with a close family that came together over meals and grew closer to each other through food then thank your higher power, and I'll thank mine. But, if you were not blessed like me then I'll tie everything together for you now. As a family we prepared the land for planting, we planted, we cared for, and we harvested our fruits. Then as a family we preserved these products to sustain our lives. Finally as a family we prepared and consumed these products. We were the teachers and the caregivers of these lives. We worked together, grew together, and we learned together. That is what has set my standard for "Gourmet".

Why should a person who has never been to the beginning and lived through the up-bringing of the life of their product set the standard of how I should prepare my product? They have no reason to. I have a reason to define my gourmet food, and I define my food as "real". Gourmet should be your life teaching combined with your second stage teaching. It should be that fresh, doing what it takes to survive, combined with the ability to bring back a childhood memory. My new goal for gourmet food is to bring to life every possible sense with every bite from every dish. My food will reflect my life, which will reflect my first caregiver and the wisdom passed on to the next generation, with the teachings of my new ideas and my new life. Food is the bases of survival and the perfect creation of someone who has given their life to providing for others. How does this tie life, food, past, present, and future together? I think that Thomas Aloysius Dorgan said it best, "Life is like eating artichokes; you have got to go through so much to get so little."

Life is about the struggles and the things that make a person real. If a person never had issues and never had to struggle in any manner would they be human? I dare to say they would not be, and if there is a person who lives a life without difficulties and struggles I for one would like to meet this person, because I dare say their life is incomplete and they are not happy because they've never lived. Recently I've decided I'd like to redefine my personal meaning of living; living is the struggle, living is the challenge, and living is becoming a real person. The journey of life isn't supposed to be roses and Foie Gras, it's supposed to be fading flowers and half spoiled tomatoes.

"Ponder well on this point: the pleasant hours of our life are all connected by a more or less tangible link, with some memory of the table." ~ Charles Pierre Monselet

Thank you to my teachers and the people who defined what my gourmet lifestyle is going to be! I love you dearly!

Short & To the Point

2011-02-17T13:03:00.000-05:00

I want to do a Controversial Discussion. So let's get crazy with this. I'm going to need everyone to comment on the topic, and send it to your friends and family. I'm think a topic such as education or human civil rights. I just want to see what sorts of opinions we can accumulate into one place. So start suggesting topics. Next week I'll start the topic with a say three paragraph post and we'll start the discussion from there! Please help me out!

Networking

2011-02-15T13:08:00.000-05:00

During lectures students, myself included, tend to zone out and not listen. Well, when a professor it talking about something the student is passionate about all attention and neural receptors are turned on. What does this mean to me? Well, simply put it's a form of art, and art is an aesthetic stimulant; this means that all the senses are operating at full capacity. A person is in a complete state of activity. The brain is active, the emotions are active, touch, sent, visual, the body is the most alive at this point. This is significant because things such as science and math, while I love them both and believe they are very important, don't bring alive all of a person. They only stimulate the brain, unless of course the person being stimulated is passionate about science. Then, for that person the receiving of information can be considered an aesthetic experience. But, few people in fact experience more literal items as anesthetic. Meaning they numb or shut down part of the senses. This numbing is the cause of the zoning out or lack of attention to the lecturer. How can we stop anesthetizing students and begin to give them a full range of activity just by lecturing to them. Well, we can start by simply relating to the student.

I should say that I saw this post going in a completely different direction than where I am currently going, as I'm sure you could asses by the title, which I will not change because I will get there.

A professor that I currently have made a very simple statement on the first day of class that I will never forget. "You, meaning all of the students in this room, and me, being the professor, will learn through this class. I will not use a powerpoint, ever. I will not stand at the podium and read from the book while you take notes and then spit it back to me on a test and forget it later, no. I will teach you, and you me." To me, this meant a lot of different things, but most importantly it meant that I was going to like this man. Since that first class, I have learned a lot about a lot, but most importantly to me, I have learned about myself.

I just want to mention that I'm in Starbucks, and looking across the street I am watching a student who should be cleaning the kitchen, cleaning the windows instead. The university pays people to that, this means the student is trying to get out of clean up. Horribly lazy person.

Webster says that Learning is the acquisition of knowledge or skills through experience, practice, or study, or by being taught.I disagree with Webster. Am I allowed to do that? Doesn't matter. I do, so I shall. Allow me to explain myself please. When a person learns something, they are not learning through experience, practice, OR, study. They are learning through the combination of all of these factors, when a person lives they are experiencing life. Or, at least they should be. To experience something is to have practical contact with or to observe something intently. Ergo one is learning from this action because to have contact and observation of something is to not only study it, but also to practice it. It's a form of mastery. Humans need to have mastery in their lives in order to have a lead into happiness. Their are other factors, but that's a different post.

I've currently been listening to a couple of people who, as I heard from the lady's phone call before the gentleman showed up, they are meeting on a blind date in Starbucks to get to know each other. I would like to interrupt this date and tell the guy to shut up. He hasn't stopped talking about himself since I quoted Webster, the first time. I now know where this guy works, what he does, how many Facebook and Twitter friends he has, as well as his favorite TV shows and when/where his first fashion show he watched was. Why is that important? I'm not sure, but he's not getting a second date for a few reasons. He was 15 minutes late and He will not stop talking about himself.

Yes, I am the guy who likes to blog about everything.

Back to my secondary point, then to the original. This class is interactive. Students don't sit in roles at desks. We make a circle out of the chairs, or we cluster in groups. The class is ours, and we run it how we would like. My seating preference is on top of the desk. The method used for learning in this class is interactive, creative, and verbal. The topic is presented and the conversation begins. Students teach each other and the professor leads the conversations in the right direction then drives the nail home at the end. It's amazing and I wish that everyone could experience this method at least once in their life. When children begin school they are creative and free. When they finish it's like they've been sent through an assembly line in a factory and came out all the same. Their is no individual minds, no free thoughts, everything is just as the manufacturer wants it to be. This isn't how our educational system should work, it should be teaching free thought, because thought gives way to matter.
"Education is a state-controlled manufactory of echoes." Norman Douglas (1868-1952) British writer

Now, for the original purpose behind this. Networking, I was recently introduced to a theory behind networking and the place of business that I had never in all of my educational career been introduced to. Shouldn't the purpose of being educated to get a career teach you the truth about that career? I believe that it should.

Date is over, she left and he looks like a knows he screwed up. Just thought for anyone interested I would like you know.

The theory to which I was introduced is very simple. Life, is a network, but networking isn't about who you know. You could know the President of the US and it wouldn't do anything for you, unless he knows you. A person's Facebook could have 2,276.92 friends, but that does them absolutely no good unless all of those people know who the one person is. That's the trick. When you meet someone to make a memory, a lasting impression on that person. If a person remembers you, then you can call on them for as a networked contact. My new goal is to make a lasting impression on every person I meet. Even if it's the guy who screwed up on his blind date in Starbucks.

"It isn't just what you know, and it isn't just who you know. It's actually who you know, who knows you, and what you do for a living." Bob Burg

The second part of this theory is business culture based, and I think very significant to the educational process as a vital piece of information. "The employee who gets the promotion isn't the employee who does their job great, it's the person who does the job of their boss great." Meaning that to get the promotion a person must show the capacity to operate on the level of their position and also on the position that is desired. This make the higher position easier done by the person who promotes, and leads way to that person being able to "Manage up" and allows for an over all ability for a group/team to move up in the work place. This very simple theory is amazing and should be taught to every student starting in middle school where teachers are telling students to do their job well and they will be rewarded.

This new revelation in my life is leading way to many new thoughts and ideas that I believe will make a difference. By the way. I am already making way on my life's goal to change the world! I believe we can all make a change. We just have to do it one person at a time!

I hope that everyone enjoys reading and if you'd like send the link to friends, family, strangers, and random people on the street! I'm trying to think of a great way to wrap this up, but I'm not getting very far. So, I'll just say, Cheers!

Apologies, Appreciations, Aspirations

2011-01-23T01:12:00.000-05:00

I suppose the proper way to start this would be by quoting Mignon McLaughlin and saying, "True remorse is never just a regret over consequence; it is a regret over motive."

I'm truly sorry to my faithful readers who care about my life, because it's been months since I've updated any of you. I can't honestly say how much I appreciate and hope you are still faithful while I have not been faithful to you. I hope you will pick back up in my life with me and let me take you on my journey again.

I'm watching Gordon Ramsey's Kitchen Nightmare's while my rice is cooking. Tonight's dinner is going to be sticky rice with lumpia. I'm really excited about this because lumpia is a dish originally from Indonesia and the Philippines. It's a chinese savory pastry that is filled with various vegetables and morsels of meet, these lumpia filled with turkey. The main reason I'm so excited with these rolls is I helped with the making. The prep and the execution are very simple.

I've just finished eating the rice and lumpia; magnificent. The rolls were dark gold and when i bit into them the flaky crunchy rap melted in my mouth, then inside of the roll was hot and juicy the flavor was superb. I'm really excited to have friends that have family recipes and techniques from other countries.

A recent accomplishment that I'm very proud of is my on campus organization's effort to answer First Lady Obama's call to get chefs into schools. It's a very exciting day when students, chefs, and schools can partner together in order to make a healthier and more fun lunch period for students! My role in this is even more exciting. I get to work one on one with school faculty in order to learn about the school, it's needs, and it's students. The next part of the program we are conducting is a regular occurrence of demonstrations for the students and staff of the school. The first demo 150 people showed up from students to the Director of the private school system. The students were amazing, their energy was very high and their questions were awesome! The persuasion to get the group of high school freshman to answer questions was throwing bread rolls to them from the stage. They loved it. The final role in this program is the partnership of the Culinary Department Dean, our Department Chairman, another fellow student, and myself with the high school's executive staff and wellness committee; this partnership has a common goal. We are designing a menu and a new kitchen for the school!

Lots to write about, I can say that personally life is changing a lot, as I hope your's is too! Recently my friendships are getting stronger, while others are growing weaker. Passions are becoming clearer while others are growing becoming foggier. Purpose is showing itself while reason is hiding from me.

Friends and I made 2 kinds of fondue the other night, it was so much fun to be able to go to the store and pick out cheeses, salamis, vegetables, fruits, and breads with friends. We journeyed off the beaten path a bit and into the toy store, that brought many attempts to be stupid into the night. Walking around the cheese and meat counter at Dean & Deluca talking with Corey behind the counter while he, being bored, allowed us to taste every type of salami we desired. We then made our way to another market and walked through the produce section. As we looked at the seasonal vegetables and fruits we picked up and felt the softness of the mangoes, then firmness of the tomatoes, and smelled the ripeness of the prickly pairs. We then moved to the bakery and smelled the breads heard the crunch and saw the outsides of the loaves break apart beautifully. At the end of our journey we ended up back in the kitchen where friends get to work together.

We made a game plan, and executed it. The game plan was something like we'll sip some white wine and decide who cuts what as Danny cuts the cheese. For our cheese fondue we didn't have a box grater so i sliced the blocks of cheese into paper thin pieces, that was challenging without a sharp knife on hand, but i was victorious over the aged dairy. As each cut their respectable items and it was all displayed on our trays we laughed and talked about the past and the future. Finally we had our fondue made and we put it into the fondue pot, the room smelled of white wine, garlic, and gruyere. We didn't let that hinder our plan, we continued on. Heating cream and chocolate in the sauce pan we decided we needed more chocolate to add to the flavor, so we opened and stirred in Hershey's Kisses.
Then to finish the night we played an incredibly long game of "UNO" and enjoyed the fruits of our labor! It was grand! We laughed, we talked, we hatted on each other when they made us draw 12 cards at one time.

I have this recent feeling, an inkling, or a guttural hinting of something; I can't tell what it is, but I know that while passions are becoming foggier I will somehow find my way through this. I have no idea what this is, but it's kind of like a metal down period. I want to be alone most of the time and when I am I feel like I should be with people. I love myself enough to love spending time alone, but i don't why recently I just feel anti-social, like because I live alone and drive alone, and eat alone that someone here needs me in their life, but I can't find who it is. Or, maybe, it could be that I need someone in my life. I think I should reclaim a goal, that goal is to meet at least one new person every day! I believe I shall. I think that this is enough it's 1 in the morning, so I'm going to go to sleep now.

Me at this point

2010-04-04T22:14:00.000-04:00

“I think of life as a good book. The further you get into it, the more it begins to make sense.” Harold Kushner

How true that is. I can relate. I've had some disappointments in the past months. After the first one, i was kinda hurt then i moved on and got over it, just as I was fine again, another came about, disappointments that left me thinking I wasn't good enough. Even though I knew I was good enough for something, I was doubting for what. I thought that I wasn't the person I was supposed to be and I wasn't going to be able to make anything happen. Well, was I wrong.

When I read a book, if I don't know anything about it, I read the synopsis first. Doing this gives me a little more information about my subject. I read, I exam, and I tear apart looking for a little more knowledge (even if it's just a new word).

My question. Why doesn't life have a synopsis on the jacket of the nice hardback binding? When we are born we are all cute and fresh, just like a book after being printed. Books have a nice jacket, this jacket is to protect the very vital insides, the stuff that makes this book tic. Without these vital organs there would be no book. Babies have skin and bones to protect their vital organs. Oh the similarities. The difference is this book is yours to start and finish the story, it's been written and when you finish reading it you finish reading it. This baby, this life isn't yours to read, you have to live it.

Why isn't their a nice little synopsis and a manual that says, "On this day a baby is born, he will begin life happiness leads to twists and turns throughout his life, as he ages he will face many trials, but rest assured reader the main character will prevail and after these trials the decisions made will be for a reason, and for the most part, the right ones. The character in this journey will live his dreams, live happily be what he wants to be, and finally die happily."

Wouldn't that be nice, even if it said something like, "A baby born on a tragic night, causing it's family to risk everything, growing up without much, being depressed, he tries many things to harm himself. After dropping out of high school, living on the street for many years bumming from the people around him he dies, alone sad and in pain."

As bad as that is, at least the reader (person living the life in this case) knows what will happen. They know no matter what there is going to be a beginning, middle, and end. In this order and something is going to happen. No doubts as why things happen because they don't matter, what matters is that it does and while that very un-informational synopsis about the life of a boy is vague, the boy knows in one of two cases the outcome. So those small disappointments mean nothing.

Well, wouldn't that be nice? Too bad it's not true. So we deal with things as we go with them. We read without a synopsis. If I would have had a synopsis for my life I would have known that those disappointments meant nothing to me. They happened for a reason. Now, I know that; then, I didn't. Now, I know the reason, just to say, I'm glad I was disappointed on both counts.

“We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.” Martin Luther King, Jr.

Up to this point I've been vague about these disappointments. So, for those of you who don't know what they were (like two people do) I'll tell you. Both disappointments were something I really wanted with all of me, at the times. They were both summer jobs working for the university, these jobs would mean that I would be living in Charlotte, working for JWU. I really love Charlotte and think that this is a place I see myself for a few years. Well obviously I didn't get either of these jobs. Why am I glad I was disappointed? Well, I now know that the plan wasn't for me to live and work in Charlotte, but somewhere better, making more money, and doing work that applies to my career.

I've recently spoken with the Executive Chef at Westin Resort at Hilton Head. After speaking with said chef I found out I will be living/working at Westin in Hilton Head SC. The chef will be calling me back sometime this week to finalize some details then hopefully I'll be set for a summer job and my internship.

Disappointments sometimes lead to happiness. One thing I know for sure is that the saying when one door closes another opens is completely true!!!!

I leave you for now with a blessing. May your hunger for food be satisfied with wholesomeness, and your hunger for life, love, and happiness satisfied with knowledge and enlightenment.

Just Another Post

2010-03-16T21:45:00.000-04:00

Wow, the way people change, no grow up.

"When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me." - 1 Corinthians 13:11

Quick rundown of what's in the post: Some things I've done, Some things that have happened, and some thoughts that stay in my mind recently.

Some things I've done recently the one that is standing out most in my mind is the Martin Yan Event. May I just say "WOW"? What an amazing man. Not only his cooking skills, but his personality, his mind, and his heart. Chef Yan is one of the most humble people I have ever personally met, one of the smartest people I have met, and one of the best chefs I've had the privilege to be in the same kitchen as. All of the is what makes Chef Yan who he is.

Recent happenings are things like finding out that the cookbook will be here by the end of the month (Super excited), meeting with the Dean of the College of Culinary Arts and finding out that next year the cookbook is going to be even more responsibility, and even more changes coming your way (more about that in the thoughts).

Thoughts; wow; I don't even know where to begin with that. I'm going to let you preview what is going through my mind right now, ready? I hope so, because we're going....NOW. Music in the background, roommate on facebook, I'm really doing this right now, will he answer his phone, suite-mate just walked by the room, skype just popped, im from becca, oh is that a text, I need to finish reading my homework for Traditional European Cuisine (TEC), TEC, dangit, TEC practical in the morning, I'm stewing, I have to prepare my stew, technique, technique, technique, wow, i'm tired, change, determination, I have to iron my jacket, TA, technique, read another book about cooking. These things are all going through my mind quickly right now. I'm always thinking about to many things to keep my mind in one place...this may be why I don't sleep to much. If you read that really fast then you'll know almost what I'm thinking.
My thoughts usually stay on foods, ingredients, techniques, different methods, dishes, platings, techniques, single ingredients into dishes. I go to sleep thinking about food and wake up thinking about food. It's weird, if I don't have a conversation about food and cooking during the day then I start to think even more about it. I have to somehow learn to separate "Industry" from "World". That is my current goal, it's been like this for about a month now.

May your hunger for food be satisfied with wholesomeness, and your hunger for life, love, and happiness satisfied with knowledge and enlightenment.

The One that Prevails in Emotion, Logic, and Character

2010-02-24T13:32:00.000-05:00

I like to begin things with a quote because people before me have realized the importance of things which i write about, so my quote for today is about "Mothers".

"The heart of a mother is a deep abyss at the bottom of which you will always find forgiveness." ~Honoré de Balzac

Today is the day that I had finals. One for Nutrition and one for a math class. Both weigh heavily on my final grade. I have always been the person to not study for tests, quizzes, or any sort of academic. Since arriving at college this has changed (another change to myself). I awoke at 7:30 this morning, and from that time my mind has been, well let me just say, not on finals. I went to breakfast around 9:00, mind still not on finals. After breakfast I went to my room and got dressed for the day.

I began studying and realized that I needed coffee terribly bad for the jump-start I would need to get my mind where it needs to be. While my mind still isn't where it should be, it is working quickly enough for it to be in multiple places, even if one of them is 272 miles away from me. I walked to Starbucks, through the rain and traffic that seemed to blindly drive by without my notice. The day was windy, bitter chill biting my face and hands. I tucked my hands into my pockets and put the hood of my sweater on my head. The fiercely cold droplets of water still soaked my face. Crossing streets against traffic and not thinking about the "Little white man" giving me the go to cross I finally made it to my destination. I opened the door for the pant-suit and heel wearing, blonde Bank of America employee, nodded my head as she acknowledged my gentlemanly gesture and walked in.

The aroma of freshly ground arabica coffee beans is like a smack in the nostrils from a girl-friend who has just found out about her cheating boyfriend. The shock from the smell arouses my brain and tells it to wake up. As I'm standing on the brown tile ramp behind suited business men and women I try to decide what to order. I read the special signs and the menu, I usually know exactly what I want, but standing in line I have time to find something new. I decide just as the Asian lady behind the counter asks for my order. My drink is made. As i listen to the constant clammer around me I wonder I will be able to study in this setting. I take my drink and quickly scan the room for an open seat, I find the plush green arm chair by the window I was hoping for.

I walked over sat down, opened my bag, took a sip from my coffee, remove my computer from my bag and begin studying. After studying vigorously for just over half an hour I decide that I need support and a confidence boost. I text my mother and she replies with some confidence boosting words, but still I need the extra help. The message that comes back was unexpectedly helpful. As I sat in one of the most crowded coffee houses on trade street at 10:45 in the morning, I almost began to cry, If the people around me could see inside my head they would see a lot of different things, but the most prevalent sight would be my emotions. Those never show on the outside. Thank GOD, otherwise everyone in starbucks would know that I was freaking out. As I was texting with my mother the emotions that have been boiling up for so long began to recide. At last, I'm calm, I'm confident, and I'm ready to tackle the world again.

It's amazing what a mother can do from 272 miles away. I felt as if she was there in the shop with me, talking, and then hugging me and telling me to go do it. Now as I'm typing this in the student lounge, I'm beginning to want to cry again, why? I'm imagining my mother right beside me and hugging me.

Now I've tackled one final, and going after the second one in 15 minutes.

You know what's next, yep that's right, the blessing. May your hunger for food be satisfied with wholesomeness, and your hunger for life, love, and happiness satisfied with knowledge and enlightenment.

Future

2010-02-22T21:23:00.000-05:00

No man knows what the future holds, why is this? Because the future is the time yet to come.

Recently in my life things have been changing, these changes that have occurred, I've only just realized are extreme. When did i realize this? The time when the greatest thoughts are thought, in the shower. What was I thinking about in this shower? Well, allow me to rewind just a bit and I will explain everything.

Moving back to when I first started at JWU...Johnson & Wales has student employees that are called T.A.'s, or Teaching Assistants. These T.A.'s are the best of the best, must have their associate's degree, and be able to teach a class....back to today.

Now, let's go back to about 4 days (from the time I'm typing this). This is a Thursday, on this Thursday I was working a very special event for a very special person. When I was first offered this event I immediately accepted, but everyday I doubt myself and my skills. Why do I doubt, because there is someone better than me in every aspect of life. Because of this doubt, I'd never considered being a T.A. but this event made me change my mind. After working with a T.A. beginning to realize that my name is on every call list for special events, and realizing just how popular my name is in the office that would be the deciding office of my employment I am now going to apply (after I get my degree) and become a T.A...back to the present.

I was reflecting on my past more and more recently. I've found things in my mind that have been locked away deep inside the darkest and farthest recesses of my mind. Things that randomly are coming back to me. I've always said that if the only reason to love history is so that it doesn't repeat itself. Now learning about my history that I've kept hidden for so long, I'm thankful to say that I haven't made the same mistakes twice, but Instead I'm doing the opposite. I'm changing into who I want to be more and more everyday.

My future holds many unknown challenges, tasks, and that mountain that I'm going to go rock climbing on before i'm 20...Oh yeah and some free-falling in there somewhere. What will my future bring, I think that it will bring many welcomed things and many needed things. The people that are in my life right now, I hope they stay that way.

I'd like to leave you with my blessing. May your hunger for food be satisfied with wholesomeness, and your hunger for life, love, and happiness satisfied with knowledge and enlightenment.

Entertainment of the Happy

2010-01-25T17:02:00.000-05:00

What is "Happy"?

Happy - characterized by or indicative of pleasure, contentment, or joy.

Frederick Keonig said, “We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have.”

An unknown author said this about happiness, “Being happy doesn't mean that everything is perfect. It means that you've decided to look beyond the imperfections.”

So according to Frederick, we must appreciate in order to be happy. Another person says we must look beyond imperfections.

When we are happy what do we do? We smile. We are more apt to listen and respond. We learn and care and give off an aura of "Pleasure, contentment, or joy". When a person is happy they are in my opinion appreciative of the small things and I think many would agree with me, but I also think that the happy are easily entertained. That is what I'm writing to you about today.

When we are appreciative of the small things how do others view us? Do they think we are superficial, or fake, are they jealous or angry? Who knows? Who cares? If we are really happy then we can share our happiness with others in those small moments when an action with a stranger or even a friend changes someone's day.

I have a story to tell you about a realization I had today.

My classes ended as usual and I as usual walked with my friends out of the building. We then said our good days and separated. After saying good bye I walked into the quad. When I walked into the quad area the sun was shining brightly and hot on the skin of my face causing me to squint my eyes, the wind blowing strongly against my body making me lean in just a little to the force, the smell of the city and the grass mixed together to form a fragrance of life that I've come to love.

I looked up through the light after my eyes adjusted and saw a familiar sight, friends, but today my friends were doing more than keeping warm like they've done so much recently. They were wearing shorts and tee-shirts. Shoes cast carelessly on the ground bags from classes and purses placed absently on the sidewalk. These friends were in a circle, a carelessly made circle, but a circle non-the-less. Passing between these friends in the air was a volley-ball. Friends laughter filled the air and mixed with birds and cars and a train. As I was talking with one of my closer of friends who left the circle to ask a question we noticed something moving through the air.

As we looked in the same direction and began to chuckle gently we heard a sound from behind. someone else noticed the same thing dancing gracefully on the wind. In perfect circles it waltzed and twirled on the wings of the wind. The brown sight was majestic and happy. I looked at the faces of those that had stopped passing the volley-ball as they watched. Some faces were amused others wondering why they had stopped playing for this. I looked at the others who had noticed the sight and exclaimed their attention to it. These faces showed amusement.

We watched as this majestic dance, across the sky higher and higher away from the grounds of the quad, was performed in the air and I heard from the ones behind. "Danny it's great the we are watching the same thing."
To which I replied, "Funny isn't it."
When I looked back at the dancing brown in the air it acceded over the building out of sight, I looked to my friend standing with no shoes and a small amount of mud on his feet, and said, "Let's go watch it."
We turn to run down the steps and around the building and I grab the hands of the ones who were watching with us. They laugh and follow behind.

When we reach the other side of the building we find the dancer continuing on the wind. over the cars and the street. A few more circles and it's over another building then moments later, it's out of sight, and we stand laughing and watching in hopes we will see the beauty one more time. It doesn't happen. I turn around and cast my gaze at the passers-by. They are staring and wondering why we smile and laugh like we are happy. Judgmental glances don't change our mood. We laugh back to where it all started. The beauty we saw was a brown plastic shopping bag someone had discarded on the sidewalk.

As I walked to my room I was thinking of the small things like the bag and the ones who were amused by the sight, the ones who stood and watched as something so everyday as a shopping bag, floated through the air. Those who followed to watch more and those that stayed behind. What were they thinking? What were they feeling. I think the ones who followed and laughed, I think they were happy. I think this because they could appreciate the small things and laugh about them. I can't help but wonder what the bag was thinking and feeling though as it lost control and was swept off the ground into the dizzying dance of circles, twists, flips, and turns; carried higher and higher until we no longer saw it, is it on the street? is it still flying? I may never know, but I do know that happiness is something we all need.

New

2010-01-20T23:46:00.000-05:00

I hope everyone notices all the changes that have been made and likes them!

To begin this post I'd just like to thank those of you who read this, so thank you.

To play on that thank you, I have another thanks to give away, and that is to an amazing chef, speaker, and man. This thank you, goes to Chef Peter Reinhart. Chef Reinhart recently gave a speech to a club that I am in, and in this speech he speaks not as a chef, but as an intelectual. I personally am an intelectual being. The reason I must make this thanks is I have a new view on food, life, and myself. I know sounds crazy right? It's not. Let me explain why, then I will jump back to his speech.

Recently I've done a lot of soul searching, mind searching, and questioning. I've done this of late simply because I want, no need to know who I am. Everyone shares the same basic needs, shelter, water, and food...ahh what is that? Did I say food? I did. You may not have realized it, but the title of this blog is "Journey of an Aspiring Chef". What do chefs do? Exactly, I know you just answered it in your mind. Food, that is what we do. So, now I know that I have a duty and that duty is to provide food for the hungry, but my life's dream has been to inspire people through my food. "How am I to do that?" I've often wondered. I hope you are doing the same. If you aren't I ask that you start pondering how are you going to inspire with your life. I am going to tell you how I am going to with mine.

Jumping backwards now. In Chef's speech, he mentions Dante, now when quoting Dante chef is referring to our lives and everything in them. Dante said, "You can't understand the three deeper levels unless you first understand the literal." what are these "three deeper levels" you ask. Ah what are they indeed?
First, we begin with the obvious: literal, very self explanatory
   metaphoric or the poetic level
   political or the ethical level
   mystical or more commonly called the anagogical level.

Now, you know of the four levels, what do these have to do with cooking? That was my question. I soon found the answer. Thinking back to Dante, I realized that in order to inspire i had to understand, but in order to understand i had to try. Now that is where the title of this post comes into play. "New" I've done a post on new things before, but that was my new literal life, now this is the three deeper levels of new. From here on this blog will no longer be about my literal life, but the deeper more who I am and what I'm doing to inspire others and myself.

I leave you for now with a task and a blessing. First the task. Share this with others, I'd love for people to read and hopefully benefit and be inspired by this as i live and write it.

Now for your blessing. May your hunger for food be satisfied with wholesomeness, and your hunger for life, love, and happiness satisfied with knowledge and enlightenment.

wow

2010-01-09T23:36:00.000-05:00

sorry i haven't post anything in forever to begin.

i would like your permission to give a brief summary of some experiences that have happened to me up to this point. i've made some major decisions on my future that i hope are the right things to do, i've made some good and great friends (who i feel will be in my future because they are just like that), and i have an amazing opportunity right now to start "making a name for myself".

since you are reading, i obviously have your permission to continue.

one of the decisions i've made basically is to not continue on for my third degree. for those that didn't know i was going to go for a fifth year to receive a third degree. my degrees would have been an associates in culinary arts, a bachelors in food service management (a business degree), and an associates in nutrition. i'm no longer doing this route because i feel better opportunities are to found on an alternate path.

the friends i've began to form relationships with are the kind of people you want your children to be friends with, on most days. they are there for me when i need them, and i them. we encourage each other, help with problems, and also are forming bonds daily.

the afore-mentioned opportunity is that JWU & the nutrition club that i am a part of are holding a "Nutritious CookBook Competition" and we are in full swing of creating this cookbook. a little more about it, basically any JWU student of faculty member may submit a recipe for editing and testing to the club. once we have received the recipes we "run them through" a program called ESHA. ESHA breaks down the nutritional values of each ingredient and also the dish or food item as a whole. after ESHA if the recipe is "up to par" we then test the recipes that made it to "level 2". in testing we are in the kitchen making each recipe if they make it past level 2 then they are in the final draft. then off to the publisher!

so that's just my little amazing opportunity!

i'm thinking of starting on a cookbook...BUT i need recipe testers. i need about 25 people who are willing to test the recipes that i email to them and write reviews on them. my idea for the book is start with novice recipes and techniques then build up to more advanced recipes that require advanced techniques. my reason for the gradual progression is to take the novice on a journey from the stage of basics to the stage of a "home chef".

i want to spread this process out over six months to a year so that the testing has time for details and it's not expensive for the testers.

can i get feedback on this idea, if you can tell your cook friends about the idea and see if they are interested in testing. if you are interested e-mail me at cb.recipe.testers@gmail.com

Some of the foods i've made

2009-10-18T17:21:00.000-04:00

i realized that i've posted no pictures on here, so i'm going to now!

these are just some of the things i've made.
(from top to bottom in order - chocolate babka, hala bread, pastry i don't remember the name of, garbonzo bean salad, greek salad, french onion soup, and creamy corn chowder)

some photos of johnson & wales life

random stuff that i've done thus far, just a note, the last picture is a classroom.

hope you enjoy, if you want some more pictures i'll email them to you.

Thus Far

2009-10-12T17:07:00.000-04:00

amazing things happen when you strive for them to happen...beginning thought.

why do i say this, you might ask. well, to this point, things have happened that i never would have thought to be possible.

examples, you might ask for...well i'll give some. lol

some of the people i've met are some of the best...some of the nicest...and some of the most unexpected people you will ever to be who they are.

for my elaboration.

i've met people such as donald shives, mr. shives is the account executive for a catering company, this company is the only company in nc that has a kitchen and banquet hall in the same building. they will also do external events. the smallest event this company will do is 500 people. the largest they've done to date is 15,000, but aren't apposed to doing larger. their events range from 5 star to 1 star, high class to low class and themed, whatever you want they will do. the company is on the governor's preferred catering list.

another example of some people i've met are dean weinberger & richard kaiser, business partners from charleston south carolina. these fellows are the proprietors of a few companies. one of which is called "filling station patio bar & grill. these partners drove from sc to jwu for a class that a chef was offering. i worked for this chef in this class.

speaking of this chef, he is another unexpected person that i've had the privilege of working with! the chef of whom i'm speaking of chef peter reinhart. chef reinhart is a chef working for johnson & wales, he owns multiple restaurants and is an all around amazing guy. chef reinhart has traveled to various places searching for "the perfect pizza" he accounts for this journey in one of his books, http://www.amazon.com/American-Pie-Search-Perfect-Pizza/dp/1580084222/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_4. on october 17, i'll be working with chef reinhart again in his next class called artisan breads everyday, in honor of the release of his new book. which is already the number 4 bestselling book on amazon, and it doesn't release until october 27.

finishing up with my intro statement again, amazing things happen when you strive for them to happen.

i came here with a dream, a goal, a plan, and an idea of what i wanted and how i was going to get there, but all of these things were blown out of the water when god presented me with his own plans, goals, ideas, and dreams for me. i'm now striving for however he wants things to fall into play. left with these thoughts.

thanks for reading thanks for love and thanks for being there. tell a friend about my blog.

okay wow

2009-09-26T15:51:00.000-04:00

uhm where to begin???

let me start with "new".

new webster defines new as: not existing before; made, introduced, or discovered recently or now for the first time.

new faces...new people...new home...new school...new life...new ideas...new education...new everything...

new faces... i've realized how much i suck at remembering names. i really do. it's sad. some of the people i hang out with daily, i can't remember their names. it's horrible, i love meeting new people, but i just wished i could remember them.

new people...everyone is new, no one i knew came with me, no one to be that security from day one, so i started "new".

new home...wow moving from cc to charlotte is a big difference, but it's good to get away. i definitely see myself living here. there aren't many places i see myself actually moving too, but here is one place i love.

new school...wow campbell county high to johnson & wales university.....BIG difference. let me just say. the people here care, but they don't care who you are, you are no more special than the next guy. we all paid the same to go here, and they don't care who your related to. you are the same...can i say that for campbell county........NO.

new life...it's scary starting a new life i mean moving alone to a completely new city and not knowing what is gonna happen is something i wasn't ready for, but had no choice. i needed that though, it made me a little more confident, yeah i know i'm confident enough but i needed this form of confidence.

new ideas...the idea that people aren't all bad is something i'm having to let go of, no jk. the idea that people are there to help if they can is the problem for me. i've known a hand full of people who would help a complete stranger in anyway they could, and here everyone is so ready to help, it's just amazing.

new education...uhm...what to say...i'm pretty excited about this part! :) the education here is what i'm looking for, and what i put into it, is what is going to determine my future.

as you can probably tell at this point everything is new...new...new....oh yeah don't let me forget....new. what's the same, that i still know what's important, and that i still love everyone....well most of the people from old home.

i've begun

2009-09-01T22:43:00.000-04:00

i've moved in, i've made friends, and my roommates will be here the 4th and 5th. i'm stoked for it. this place rocks, and i feel that i've made the right decision.

i was really scared at first, but now i'm not. everything is good to go. i can't wait to start classes.

i'll post some pics tomorrow.

tomorrow

2009-08-30T15:34:00.000-04:00

tomorrow morning i leave for my new life. some of the questions i've gotten, i really can't answer, and some i can. examples? sure.

"are you ready?" "no, i don't wanna go now that it's down to it. i've made sooo many new friends, and i've found so many things that i don't want to leave behind." now while that's true, i'm really ready. "yes i'm ready, i'm ready to begin a new life, a new chapter to my story, and a make new friends that i don't wanna leave."

"are you scared?" "really did you just ask me that." no that's not a question, it's a statement. "no, i'm not scared, i'm me i have no fear. *shudders*" "YES I'M SCARED."

"need anything?" "nope." "yep, all the prayer i can get."

"are you gonna miss me, even a little?" "no, really i'm not." "i'm gonna miss you sooo much you don't even know."

"if you need to talk, you know you can call me, right?" "yeah i know that, thanks."

"are you gonna cry?" "i haven't quit since this morning."

so there's some "q's & a's" i don't have the first clue what i'm getting myself into, but imma go at it with everything i've got. *quavery smile*

tomorrow i'll post some pics of my dorm and the campus and whatnot. thanks for subscribing. it let's me know there is people reading about me.

9 days

2009-08-23T00:04:00.000-04:00

so with just 9 days left until i leave for college, i'm nervous. really, really, nervous. uhm...i've been doubting lately if this is the right thing, but that's just my fear. i know when i get there and i move in i'll be fine. can i put music on this page??? hm. idk. oh well. i just typed what i was thinking, lol. and again? anywho, uhm yeah. 9 days and i start. i'm sooo ready for this.

i really like that picture, it's probably my fave! it's just after midnight, and i'm thinking to myself that i'm probably a little crazy, but of course i am...

so i guess i just did this post to show that i haven't forgotten, and to say that there is only 9 days left.

you should sign up to follow me, that way i can know how many readers i have, and you'll know when i update. if you don't know how, it's on the top, in the blue bar, it says "follow blog". thanks! :)

the real begining of my journey

2009-05-22T11:51:00.000-04:00

school is over, graduation is quickly aproaching, and i'm getting nervous. i just got back from senior trip, it was great. i got my financial information today and that's when i realized that it was really here. i'm going to college. everything i've done up to this point is about to show what i've been made into. i was watching a movie and the line "who you become now will shape the man you will be", that line is standing out in my mind.

so on the 13 hour trip back from vaca, i started thinking about that line. (lots of time to think right?) who am i? i've been thinking about that a lot recently and i've come to a realization that i'm not ready to find out who i really am. i'm afraid, i'm not ready to find out what is coming.

so me being the person i am...i'm going to go full force at it. i'm going to find out who i am. i thought i knew, but thinking (for 13 hours) i realized i didn't. i'm giving myself this summer to figure out what i can. :)

then at the end of this summer i will start the begining of the rest of my life. i'm going to college.

i hope that this blog will help me to find out who i am by posting thoughts and whatnot and getting your feedback.

Day 2

2009-05-07T14:13:00.000-04:00

so, it's day two, and i'm just going to put this short little post on to let people know some more about me.

for the past three years (my high school career) i have been in culinary arts courses. these courses have helped me to learn many things that i didn't know about the culinary world. in these courses, i have competed in the "star events", that's to say that i have put hours of work into representing my fccla chapter. for the past two years, i have competed, to be more specific, in the culinary competition. my team has done fair both years, in our minds, coming from where we come, we did great.

so now to continue on. i'm taking my dreams and running for the touchdown, i'm going all the way. i don't plan on letting things obscure my vision, there is a plan for me, and i plan on going with it. i'm going to write my own destiny.

i have to add some people to a special list that is close to my heart. on top of the list of inspirations, i want to add my closest friends. beging this list is my family, yes i know i said friends, but they are my friends, then mar, amanda, lilly sue kunsman, dalton, auntie angie, the "library crew" my life has so many people in it who i know love me, and i've just started considering that. yeah, i'm growing up. lol.

that's all for today, i'm not going to post everyday, some days i may have something small to add, or i may add something like i've just done.

Begining

2009-05-06T17:36:00.000-04:00

so, i begin my journey. i don't really know what to put yet.

uhm, i guess i'll start by saying a little about me.

my name is danny wilhoit, i'm graduating high school early. i'll receive my diploma early. i'm going to be attending johnson and wales university. (in case you haven't noticed, i don't like to capitalize anything). i've taken the hardest classes, and tried the hardest(lol) in all my classes, to get to where i am today. as a teen would i do that by choice? no, i wouldn't. i'd rather take it the easy way. who do i have to thank for all that hard work? my mom. she alway pushed me to succeed, she was my "pusher" she pushed me in everything i did.

inspiration, yeah that can't go to one person or thing, so let's start with people. my mom, of course, my nana, mrs. nancy rutherford, and anyone who asks for something cooked. now, for the "things" that inspire me... many things, a sunny or rainy day, a picture, a compliment, or sometimes even an insult. inspirations are everywhere, there is no reason to not be inspired in life.

i know, i've written a lot at this point, and if you've read to here, thanks. i'll be blogging frequently, especially when i go to college, i want the people who i love to know what is going on in my life.