Introduction to Culinary Skills

Three days before school was to commence was orientation. It was exciting and scary. It was real. I realized that I was going through with it. I was committing. Umm, what was I thinking? I still owe Sallie Mae from my undergrad degree and here I was willingly signing up for more school debt. (How come most scholarships are for high school seniors/incoming freshman? Why don't companies give out scholarships for people who REALLY want to learn?) After squaring up with financial aid, I received my uniform. Let's just say that this "style" will never grace the cover of Vogue. And the shoes? A complete 180 from anything designed by Blahnik or Louboutin. What can I say? I was about to enter a foreign world...


My first class was Introduction to Culinary Skills. It sounded elementary enough. How hard can cooking be? Let me answer that for you. Very. On my first day I sliced not one but two fingers and was sent to the emergency room. (I blame it on the onion!) Talk about being put in my place! 9 stitches later, an extreme amount of pain, and a good dosage of humility gave me a new found respect for working in the kitchen. Cooking is no joke and you need to focus and be on your "A" game at all times. Otherwise, you might lose a digit or two!



The next week and a half I had to wear a surgical glove to protect my injuries. Ugghhh! And that was the least of my worries. I was totally exhausted from my 5 hour a day classes/5 days a week. My previous office job did not prepare me for this! AND there was the homework!! Homework consists of reading, writing assignments, and bringing in cut vegetables. In a nutshell, culinary school had taken over my life! Luckily, I love it! My parents and friends, God bless them, have agreed to eat whatever I cook for them. And I'm finally getting some use out of my kitchen-like everyday!


At the end of 3 weeks/70 hours, it was time to say goodbye to Introduction to Culinary Skills. I'm walking away with 2 mean looking scars, a love/hate relationship with potatoes, and a deep respect for everyone with the title of Chef. Oh yeah, I'm also walking away with an A (by the skin of my chinny chin chin.) Maybe now, I can get a scholarship!