Getting schooled
Posted by Chewy on Tuesday, April 17th, 2007
So during my second trail, the chef and sous chef were telling me how I did better at my first trail then two Culinary Institute of America graduates, who had also trailed last week. Not so much as taking it as a complement, I was more dumbfounded. The sous chef asked me if I knew the internal cooking temperature of chicken. I replied, “Um. Like 165, right?” He shook his head and said one of the CIA kids told him 135. I don’t understand how one of the best cooking schools in the world could turn out someone like that with their seal of approval. I mean, the internal cooking temperature of chicken is something a lot of avid home cooks know. Especially someone who wants to do it for a living. Obviously, that CIA kid doesn’t really love to cook. Then why the hell did he go to a prestigious cooking school?
I’ve had two people tell me, that in terms of culinary school, you only get out what you put into it. But why would you half-ass it? I mean, it’s not like business school, where you can coast by with a 2.0 then get a job with one of your dad’s companies. Cooking is a skill and you can’t fake that. I really don’t understand most people. I thought I would escape those spare parts in the kitchen, I but guess I’m wrong. Again.
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Spare parts are the worst. Toss them in the shed and leave them to rust. I mean, even I know the internal cooking temperature of chicken. And I forgot to buy celery when making chicken soup the other day!
Comment written by Vincent on 2:32 pm on the 19th of April, 2007
Hey, I forget to buy things at the market all the time. You should make a list before you go.
Comment written by Chewy on 2:41 pm on the 19th of April, 2007
I DID make a list! I just left off the celery.
Comment written by Vincent on 9:03 pm on the 19th of April, 2007
cia students are exactly like mba graduates, actually.
they are so self-important with their supposed “knowlege” that they think they know much more then they actually do, and therefore believe they’re own hype and make crappy stupid mistakes.
at least in my experience.
i once saw a cia grad slice four onions they were supposed to dice for a pretty important chef’s demo for food & wine magazine. i think even my seven year old cousin knows the difference between slice and dice. she probably even knows what mince means.
but i am pretty positive she forgets celery once in awhile. carrots too.
Comment written by stephTM on 10:55 pm on the 23rd of April, 2007