Week Seven - Potatoes, Grains, and Pasta (aka, Starch Week) Lecture Night

Last night was lecture for this week and quite possibly the longest feeling class ever. I'm pretty sure Chef is tired of half the class not reading the chapters and just focusing on whatever recipes we're making for the week (if that), so he had us read the chapter aloud. Sigh. I'm fearful for our future if the kids in my class are a true representation of the current education system. Words they had trouble pronouncing:

• oblong
• mealy
• hull
• originating
• nuttier
• groat

I could go on, but I think you all get the point. Air Force and I were cringing most of the two hours it took us to get through the chapter. Sigh. We also watched a couple videos on how to fillet different types of fish (round and flat), the difference between opening clams and oysters (which, if any of you watched Top Chef last week, you know there is one), etc. in preparation for next week, which is Seafood. We went over how different produce is harvested and grown, what methods can be used for which grains (risotto is a cooking method, not a dish). We also got talking about where we live. Here comes the fun.

Uppity said something about my neighborhood, which as some of you know I lovingly refer to as "the hood." She got all up on me about how I don't live in the hood and the way she did it really rubbed me the wrong way. Now, I realize that my neighborhood is not the worst in DC. By far. However. I hear gunfire on the regular, either in the alley behind my house or near enough to hear. My house has been broken into. Cops have had to search in front of my home for a ditched gun used in an armed robbery three blocks away. There was a shooting within a block of the grocery store I frequent about three hours after I'd been there Tuesday. There are drug dealers and prostitutes and homeless people in the neighborhood who are around enough that we know each other to say hello in passing. All of which I pointed out to her. She continued to tell me I don't live in the hood. Air Force touched my leg and told me to let it go. I then told Uppity "You know what? You're right. You know my neighborhood that I've lived in for over five years much better than I do." Chef then said that he wouldn't walk through my neighborhood at dark. That shut her up. For the rest of class. It was vaguely awesome. Anytime after that she was asked to read she did so so quietly no one could hear her. Including Chef who was right next to her. I admit to giggling along with Cake Lady (who won the cupcake challenge!) when that happened...

So then we took a break and went down to GMC's class. They're making sausages this week so we got to observe the process. Quite interesting. And very...obscene. I'll leave it at that and let your 12 year old minds run with it.

Tonight and tomorrow we're doing the following:

• Lyonaise Potatoes
• Deep Fried Potatoes
• Gratin Dauphinois Potatoes
• Mashed Potatoes
• Risotto Milanese
• Rice Pilaf
• Basic Pasta Dough

On a side note, my four years of French in high school are finally becoming useful. Thank God. I don't know what I was thinking taking French in Southern California...maybe I knew 20 years later it would help me in culinary school...let's go with that, shall we?

Okay, off to get ready for class. More on starches later!

Oh, just for the record. My neighborhood is for the most part safe as long as you're smart about what you do where and when.