Carrot Cake

Carrot cake with a cream cheese frosting...delicious...and you won't believe how heavy this cake weighs!

Sacher Torte

This is a chocolate type of cake with hazelnuts which has no chemical leavening agents...raspberry filling...and chocolate ganache topping.

Croissants

Today we made croissants and puff pastry in class...boy oh boy is it harder than it looks. Below is a raspberry and chocolate croissant with a raspberry sugar glaze.

Brick House Tap & Tavern

This is a fairly new spot on Dale Mabry that has a really nice layout. The bar area has an outside opening to it and the decor and music are nice touches. Numerous beers on tap and they even serve beer bongs! The menu is fairly small consisting of "comfort" foods. Below is the calamari that was served with a marinara sauce and cherry peppers. It was decent calamari but was a little too greasy for my liking.

The Lime

Located on south howard in south Tampa...offers a mexican latin fusion cuisine. Live DJ on the weekends and plenty of TVs to watch the games. An array of menu choices...drink specials...and 100 ounce draft beer spouts that are brought to your table. Watermelon salad with arugula...manchego cheese...lime vinaigarette and chicken nachos below. FYI the queso blanco was fantastic!

The Lime cont'd

Grrrrrrrrr

Work really stresses me out sometimes...I'm so thankful that cooking is so enjoyable to me that it takes my mind off things. Soon to be living the dream.....*sigh*

Just Another Manic Monday

I'm so gonna get fat being in this pastry class...chocolate, eclairs, ice cream, meringues....what have I got myself into? But it's a lot of fun working on the other side of the culinary world that I normally am not that too familiar with.
Below: Tempered chocolate cut-out used for garnish purposes (much harder to accomplish than it looks)

Another Day, Another Dollar

Worked today and no classes until Friday (classical European) so be prepared for some picture updates. Another day of work and the usual prep for a Wednesday night. Managed to keep my time busy by prepping some strawberry mouse and fresh strawberries in a glaze for a strawberry parfait that is being served at a party tomorrow morning...layered inside of fluted champagne glasses : )

Fresh Fruit Tart

So today I used the pastry cream as a filling to my sweet tart dough, garnished with fresh fruit and then an apricot glaze. The apricot glaze not only adds a shean but also helps to enhance the shelf life.

Back to School Day 1

So today was an introduction to the world of pastry for me. First day of classes and I made some pastry cream that is going to be used to tomorrow to finish off our tarts (pictures of final product will be up tomorrow). Most important thing to know about pastry cream...is to whisk constantly while it is on the stove.

Pastry Cream = delicious eats : )

The Rack

Located in the Soho area...good food...good sushi...good drinks...all with an awesome atmosphere. Check it out!!!!

Another Day of Work

its so beautiful outside and i fortunately get to work out in this lovely weather. classes start next week so stay tuned for pictures of food that i create