culinary school- week 6 (143 lbs)

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During a four-month break in filming Raging Bull, Robert De Niro ate his way from 160 to 215 pounds, loading up at some of the best restaurants in France. All this to play the older 'Jake La Motta'. Renee Zellweger had to really apply herself to plump it up, acquiring some 20 extra pounds in preparation for her starring role in Bridget Jones Diary. As I see my own weight continue to climb (3 pounds since week 3), I can’t help but think that I'm destined for the same rotund reality….less the starring film role and the accompanying large sums of cash....

This week started with 2 days of vegetarian; for me a welcome reprive from butchering and eating all those animals. On Tuesday we had our first day of menu development, an excercise I thoroughly enjoyed. We were assigned some set ingredient and technique parameters, but were otherwise given the autonomy to create as we wished. Jorge, my stove partner for the week, proved to be both a very capable and delightful collaborator.

The latter 3 days were spent working with fish....another complex, morally challenging subject. Farmed (environment, parasites, dyes in feed, over crowded pens, poorly regulated operations...) vs. Wild (sustainability, by catch, toxins, poorly regulated operations...). Some days, it's just really hard to be a human (though I guess that it is also really hard to be a fish). We de-boned 4 fish this week, the wild ones being the sole and the snapper. The farmed trout had an especially curious and unnatural pinky orange hue to them; due to the fact that their feed had been tinted with dye. Farmed fish can actually be ordered by colour, just as if you were to walk into a paint store (if dye is not added, their flesh will be grey and visually unappealing to the consumer). I'm pretty sure that our trout was Benjamin Moore- col. 3007 'Navajo Sunset'.

Smoked Trout w. Ginger-Tomato Consomme & Japanese Spinach Salad.

Monday:
Vegetarian….
Pita Bread
Romesco, Baba Ganoush, Humus & Tapenade

Tuesday:
Menu Development…. By Diane & Jorge
Appetizer- Zucchini Basil Pancakes w. Romesco Cream Sauce. Roasted Red Pepper Garnish.
Main- Puy Lentil Terrine w. Roasted Portobello Mushroom & Spinach. Served w. Roasted Fennel & Squash Quinoa and a Carrot Ginger Coulis.

Wednesday:
Fish….
De-boned a Salmon, Trout, Sole and Snapper
Gravlax (Salmon)
Bouillabaisse

Thursday:
Fish….
Poached Salmon w. Ginger Beurre Blanc
(Wok Smoked) Trout w. Ginger-Tomato Consomme & Japanese Spinach Salad.
Seafood Chowder.
Trout Meuniere

Friday:
Fish….
? (I was absent)

Trout Meuniere

Gravlax (Salmon)