•9:18 PM
Well, what a blast I had today. For the past couple of years, we've been giving the big kids events instead of stuff for their birthdays, and today James and I enjoyed his most recent gift. We spent six hours at the New York City branch of the Culinary Institute of America enjoying the semi-private tutelage of a team of chefs. It was a class for parents and teens--twelve students in all--with the theme "Thanksgiving Favorites," and it was fantastic.
We had a workshop on knife skills; I've always wanted to learn how to dice, chop, and mince like the pros! We made apple pie, duchesse potatoes, green beans in a butter pistachio sauce, and the central jewel in the crown: a turkey breast that we boned, butterflied, stuffed, rolled, wrapped in bacon, and roasted. Afterwards we got to eat the products of our labors: heaven!
James soaked it all in and was a terrific student. Near the end of our cooking time, the chefs were counting down the minutes until we had to plate our creations, and it felt just like we were in Kitchen Stadium. Some of the other kids got a bit snippy under stress, but not James. He stayed calm and cool as he piped the last few of his potato rosettes and finished the pistachio sauce. I was and am immensely proud. We're both excited to try some new things at Thanksgiving this year!
10 comments:
What a fantastic day--one you'll both remember for years, I'm sure.
How cool! What a wonderful way to spend a day and I'm so glad you both enjoyed it.
What a fabulous idea!! He looks like he had a blast.
(mmmm.... bacon wrapped turkey.....)
What an absolutely wonderful way to celebrate a birthday! I'm sure that you both had a real treat.
James is one unique kid! -- In all good ways!
okay now that is just cool! My husband would kill to be one of your kids. He loves cooking and his big dream is to be able to go to culinary school.
That sounds like a good time and nice you have some new things to try at Thanksgiving.
That sounds like so much fun! What a great way to celebrate his birthday! And he's so darn cute!
That's a lovely birthday present. I would love to do something like that, and so would my eldest son. Hmmm, I wonder...
wow I'm jealous. That sounds like a fabulous event to participate in. It must be so much fun.
did I mention already that I'm jealous :). Very very cool that you got to do that with your son.