The Rest of the Alphabet

Today, I came upon two fascinating on-line pieces, directly related to my recent experience in cuinary school. The first is a video clip which accompanied an article in the SF Chronicle Magazine earlier this year. It's a round-table discussion with six female Bay Area chefs, who are sharing ideas about how women chefs differ (or if they do) from male chefs. There's a good segment about "the problem with culinary students these days." Then, when I was updating the CUESA guest chef database, I ran across a blog written by Shuna Fish Lydon, a local pastry chef who writes a blog called Eggbeater. She's got quite a lot to say about how culinary students often fall short, out in the real world. I wonder how my classmates are doing this week as they begin their internships.

I myself, on the fringes of the culinary world, spent another day with Excel and Google, finishing up the database. I went down to Book Passage and reviewed their cookbook section, adding a dozen names of people who'd be interesting guest chefs. I also talked briefly with Maggie, CUESA's Special Programs Manager. She gave me a writing assignment (500 words to go into the weekly CUESA e-newsletter, due in two weeks). I'm glad to have a challenge.

I skipped lunch today, but I stopped in Boulette's Larder for a couple of tiny cookies for the ferry ride home: a peanut butter "with sea salt," and a coconut macaroon, dipped in dark chocolate. I highly recommend the peanut butter.