Wednesday, January 9, 2013

So you wanna be a cook (pt 5) conclusion

Try and try again! it is the only way to learn.

I suggest a "test feast" you don't have to do it to scale but maybe as a dinner for some friends if you have time. You will be tempted to cook all your dishes at once because of the available space in the oven or on the stove. DON"T DO IT! you will not likely have that option on the day of your feast, force yourself to do it 1 remove at a time like you need to on the day.

When it is over you are still not done. If you can make notes while you cook, what is going well, what is giving you trouble, what is good, bad or ugly. What takes too long to cook what cooked too fast. All of this together will help you for your next experience. Take a day or two but no more after you get home to put notes together, if you wait longer things will blend and not be as clear. Every detail is important no matter how small you may think it is. Talk to people who were there, get their opinions. Encourage them to be honest! Don't argue or make excuses while they are expressing their opinions, listen and make notes.

While attending the feast of another it is OK to make notes, mental or written. Ask questions and get as much information as you can. This will be helpful to you as well as to that feast cook should they ask for your opinion.

You can do it! It is a process and if at first we don't succeed, try and try again!