With a new year, comes new ambition, right? On that note, I think I may be onto something. Although it may seem out of the blue, this idea has been in the back of mind for quite a while now. Only lately have I started to realize that maybe I should actually take action and explore the possibilities of….going to Culinary school.
Yes, I already know what you are thinking. People who are passionate enough go to Culinary school usually have disposable cash, and aren’t exactly worried about their financial future. Because lets be honest, its very expensive, and in the end, you may spend the rest of your life getting enough professional experience to actually make a decent income. In other words, a lot of people question wether throwing down the cash to learn how to cook professionally is worth the “investment.” This line of thinking is what has pushed this idea further away from my realm of reality in recent years. In financial terms, it was unthinkable. Would paying off loans for the rest of my life be worth it? Very recently, I have started to more seriously think about this question.
I don’t remember exactly what changed, but it was sometime a couple weeks ago, when someone asked me: “What are you passionate about? What is the one thing that gets you excited?” All I could think to say was, “food.” Not just simply eating it (which is obviously part of it), but besides that, I love reading about it, watching shows about it, creating it and talking about it.
When I really think about it, my entire life revolves around food, and it makes me happy. Food Network has become my favorite go to channel, and I even watch it every night at the gym. I read food blogs all the time (http://ny.eater.com/, and http://newyork.grubstreet.com/) and vigorously keep up with the restaurant business here in New York. I have become obsessed over what new restaurants are coming in, what chefs are working where, and when I will get a chance to try all the restaurants on my ongoing “Restaurants to Try” list I’ve created on my iPhone notepad. When a friend wants to get together to catch up, the first thing I think about is, where can we go so I can cross one off my list and review it online. I follow all my favorite chefs and food critics on Twitter, and the second new restaurant reviews are posted in the NYTimes, I am already there, ready to read Sam Sifton’s newest crash and burn experience (ok sometimes he gives a star or 2, but he’s difficult to impress!). Food has become my entire life.
I have also tried to start experimenting more in the kitchen, which is an overstatement considering the actual size of my “kitchen.” Using the virtually nonexistent counter space I have, I attempt to make due. My tiny studio with a kitchen IN my actual bedroom, is not the ideal place to try these experiments, but like I said, I am trying. I could probably write a book about how to use the smallest space possible to make a meal for 2. I am officially a pro: I can chop veggies on a small cutting board over my sink while the water is boiling on my mini stove, clean the dishes while I am cooking, and watch American Idol all at the same time. By the time my meal is ready, 95% of the dishes are already done, and I haven’t moved an inch.
My more recent triumphs have mainly involved desserts (which has made my boyfriend VERY happy). Recently for New Years Eve, I volunteered myself to make all the desserts for our weekend at camp in the Pocono mountains. After doing some research on both Epicurious and the FoodNework recipe databases I came up with some ideas. With my limited kitchen space, I have to scope out recipes that are even do-able with a tiny oven and no Kitchen-Aid electric mixer (I dream of having one someday, but lets work on the counter space first). These are the recipes I chose: Banana Walnut Chocolate Chip bread, Hazelnut/Nutella brownie bars, Peanut Butter Chocolate Kiss cookies and the now famous, “Brickle.” The funny part is, even though the Brickle was the easiest recipe to make, it was by far the biggest hit. It was my first time making everything, but the reaction I got from my Brickle was not expected. Not to toot my own horn, but it was gone in a second, and everyone was raving, the entire weekend. I have never tested my baking skills on a group of people before, and it was extremely gratifying.
Since that weekend over a month ago, I have been asked to make it again, for a friend’s housewarming party. This time I chose to alter the recipe a bit to give it my own touch, and I made twice as much since last time it was gone so fast. Again it was a big hit, all 3 of my new variations. Maybe I am better at this stuff than I thought. My boyfriend keeps telling me that I should give myself more credit. The evidence shows that maybe I do in fact, have talent in the kitchen. Of the few times I’ve made full course meals for him in my tiny apartment for one occasion or another, he tells me time and time again that I have impressed him. I only wish I had more space and the funds to make these elaborate meals all the time for him. Hopefully someday, in the near future, when we move into a bigger place together. I am sure he is looking forward to this more than I am because of the obvious benefits of being my taste tester.
Anyway, in more recent days I have really started to take this Culinary school idea more seriously. Although it involves a lot more money than I can spend right now, its really something I am very passionate about. I have started to research all kinds of programs here in NY and beyond, and like what I see so far. The one that has really caught my attention the most is a program offered at the Italian Culinary Academy, dubbed the “Italian Experience.” After spending 6 weeks or so learning the basics here in NY, they take you to Parma, Italy, where you spend the next 9 weeks learning amongst Italian chefs, visiting vineyards, farms, cheese factories. It all ends with working in an actual Italian restaurant for a couple weeks. Wow. I am drooling just thinking about it. I have never been to Italy before, and since its a part of my heritage, it could be the most amazing experience of my life. For now, I am just doing the research. I have started reaching out to everyone I know who has gone to Culinary school. I want to know everything about their experiences, whether or not it was worth it to them, and if they could go back in time, would they still make the same decision to go. Just thinking about this possibility is exciting to me. I can’t even tell you how long its been since I have felt that fire inside.
After all is said and done, I think I have found something that could change my life, for the better. Now I just have to figure out how and what I am going to do about it. Baby steps, right? For now, I will continue dreaming of living and cooking in Parma…
