since i know you just visit to look at pictures...

i didn't bake the cake. i just iced & decorated it.

"swans". pate a choux body & wings filled with vanilla pudding, topped w/whipped cream, white chocolate head.

an army of cream puffs i made at home.

leaving on a jet plane (maybe?...hopefully...?)

"does anyone want to go to spain next week?"

::raises hand:: umm, yes please.

"room & board is taken care of. you just need a current passport, some spending money, & to purchase the plane ticket...which is around $1400 since it's last minute."

::lowers hand:: i thought this was a rhetorical question.

our program was invited by the spanish consulate to partake in the tapas & wine festivities going on next weekend. so sad that i have neither a current passport or $1400. free housing, food, & wine!?!

oooh, chef harris, why did you tell us about this amazing opportunity? it's like you've poked me in the gut with a stick, repeatedly, for your amusement.

chances to cross the ocean are not yet dead. the baking/pastry program is working out the details for a study abroad/exchange program with a school in florence, italy. once they finalize the details (mainly regarding how credits would transfer/classes correlate to what quarter), i'm signing up. the cost would be the sscc tuition + room/board + spending money....an amazing deal since tuition would normally be around $2200/month + $1300 for housing.

fruit tarts

these were done last week, i've just been lazy about getting them posted onto the blog.

aren't you impressed by my flower shaped by plum slices?

both tarts are decorated with a combination of kiwi, peach, & plums.

gateau aux noix

a trio of lavender-walnut tarts.

gateau aux noix (walnut tarts/cakes) originate from grenoble, france (located at the foot of the alps) -known for their walnuts. this particular variation of gateau aux noix was often taken on longer trips & up the alps because it does not require refrigeration.

simple & lovely

i wouldn't have thought to combine the two flavors. the lavender is very subtle & doesn't leave that "i have perfume in my mouth" taste on your tongue.

"i'm a little tea pot..."

i got the job!

project education tea begins friday. over the next few weeks/months i will be tasting and learning about the 150+ teas the teacup carries.

you know how your heart does that power-beating thing in your chest & you get really warm when you're really anxious about something? that was me when i looked at my phone & saw there was a voicemail from a missed a call from the teacup.

friday had gone REALLY well -at least, i thought it did. at the close of the interview, the owner & manager said they had narrowed their choices down to 4 people (including me!) for the two positions available & were pretty sure they could make their decision by that evening & would be making calls during the weekend, or at least notifying the potentials of their status by tuesday (which, by the way, i appreciate. i hate it when you have really awesome (1st, 2nd, 3rd) interviews, then never hear from the company again).

when i didn't hear from them friday evening, i began to (over)analyze the interview like it was a first date, wondering why he hasn't called yet. did i have something in my teeth? was i not the definition & perfect balance of wit & intelligence? was my enthusiasm read as desperation?

did i say something wrong? maybe i came across a little cocky & not humorously confident ["since i know you're going to hire me, what is the process of getting to know all these teas?"] or, perhaps more or less bribing them wasn't a good idea ["tea+me= cakes/goodies i'm working on...::wink,wink::"].

so. back to the voicemail. once i heard "we'd like to offer..." i was elated. i did a hop, skip, & a jump & rode that through sanitation class (which is taught by, in my opinion, a fear-mongering, intense bigot).