...life is good!!

Our petit fours' teacher, for this week, is: Chef Kristen Ryan.

As she said so many times, the right ingredients in the right application, make this job a true art. We got to combine flavours that some of us were afraid to even try; and we had the opportunity to learn how to play with textures as well.

Chef Kristen, it was a true pleasure to be your student... I just hope I have another opportunity to share a kitchen with such a brilliant Artist, and remember once again that "Life is Good"!

Have a sweet one,

Xocolatl

I know, I know... This is kind of an unpronounceable word, but I didn't make it up... I swear!! ..That's how chocolate translates in "Nahuatl", and it means "bitter water".

This week we learned all about chocolate... Were it came from, its properties, how to play with it, how to temper it.. And so on.

I must say that the most important lesson learned during this week, was how to resist temptation. Because let me tell you, having delicious chocolate all around, for 6 hours, and not being able to have even one bite (since eating in the kitchen is big no-no at school), was the most dificult test I have ever had to pass... Of course, I failed... That's all I can say...

Stream 5

That's how we are called at school..stream 5..

Although it's true that we spend the whole morning between demos; rolling out fondant; conditioning gum paste; mixing; cooking sugar.. And so on.. It's fair to say that, as we perform all these tasks, we still have tons of fun. We really get along well, and although there's sometimes drama, {yesterday, for example, two students bumped into eachother, and the final project of one of them "died" in the fatal accident..}.. we still manage to laugh together..

This relationship that is growing as the days go by, is what makes this experience so rich.. We are definitely learning much more than just cakes..

I love you Cakelings!!

Have a sweet one!!

A Royal Week...

Finally, the week I have been waiting for since the begining of the course... It's gum paste, piping with royal icing, and rolled fondant week with Chef Nicholas Lodge!!

Chef Nicholas is a true cake star!!.. I mean, he made one of the cakes for Princess Diana and Prince Charle's royal wedding... Do I need to say more??

The most incredible thing, is that he doesn't have an ounce of arrogance. In fact, he is really humble and generous, he's shared with us every single tip and secret he has, and he couldn't be more patient.. I am thrilled to be his student!!

Here are some pics..

Yep.. Every day, at this time, I am already having my coffee while waiting for the brown line train to theloop.. Life's tough..

Chef Nicholas, giving a demo on frosting a cake with royal icing..

Our roses...

Close up of my full blown gum paste rose..

Cake... Step by step...

Piping details of my Valentine's cake..

Me and my little baby...

Chef Scott just decided to stop by, and enjoy his favorite treat.. CAKE POPS!!!... =P ...your face, Chef... PRICELESS!!!

Have sweet one!!

Cake building.. And a field trip..

This week's project involves baking, whipping, filling, piping... In short, it's what's better known as Cake Building.

...And Chef Josh Johnson is in the house!!...

I must say that this was the smoothest, easiest, and most relaxed week we've had yet, and I think it's because Chef Josh never hurried us, and always repeated, time after time, that we needed to explore and fail to really learn our lessons.. So, we had a fun week trying his experiments, and ours as well.. =)

Beautiful and golden Vanilla Genoise... Mmmmm.... I can almost smell it!

Chef Josh, giving a demo on piping..

One of my experiments..

Every Wednesday, we have to deep clean the kitchen, which means moving all the tables, cleaning all the drains, inside of the ovens, and so on.. It's insane!!...

By 12.45 we are ready to go!!

I had time in the afternoon to do a little field trip, so what best than visiting Magnolia Bakery??

Have a sweet one!!