I've Finished Reading "COOK"

Hehehe last Monday, July 28,2008, I finally read the last part of Jamie Oliver's "Cook". Well, I actually plan to read it all over again. Jamie had no dull "moments" on every page of his book. He's generous on giving tips and some other ideas. I am a chef but I am still surprised whenever I get insights about some other things that I don't know about food.
My favorite part of the book is the PASTA section. Aside from being a pasta lover... I think most of his recipes are really really good. I want to try the "black angel tagliarini with scallops". And of course, the MEAT section won't be forgotten. I really like the way he mostly prepares and cooks the dishes of meat, poultry, and game... slow... precise... delicious. Even though I'm not that seafood lover... after reading the Seafood and Crustacean section of the book, I was like a pregnant woman craving for shrimp, lobster, and crab... And thanks to Jamie, now I know how to prepare lobster and crab the right way!
Hehehe... this just made me thrilled of working under Jamie Oliver... Hehehe I think I'll gonna learn so many things from him. Well, let us see... maybe one day I'll work with him!!!

Waiting Won't Make Any Progress

Yah... I know that... waiting won't make me any good. All of my colleagues advice me to stop waiting for it to come. Well, I am really looking forward to that thing to come as soon as possible.
It really makes me stressful every time I ask myself why aren't I receiving any calls from "them". It will be almost a month since I have passed the tests and had an offer. But why is it taking so long. I am really pressured since this is my way of helping my family out of misery and yet in the same time fulfilling my needs and dream of becoming a good Chef.
I'm really excited about working abroad. But a funny thing happened earlier. On my friendster account, there's a message from someone working in Dubai warning me not to go there anymore. It is for my own good. The person said that I am not aware of what could happen to a young man like me in Dubai. And most especially, the people working there, according to that person, is somewhat different. I think that is because of the "competition" and the "survival" of having a good job. Well, I am ready to fight with anyone just to reach my dream. I am willing to wound myself, bruise my skin, and etc if that takes on working abroad. Hmmm... if I am not ready yet for those things, why the hell did I look for a job abroad right? Hehehe but knowing those kind of people, there are a lot worser everywhere in the world... and also here in my country.
In fact, every time I go to work, I come across to several churches... and you know what... I always pray for the "thing" to come. And I always say to myself that God might loose patience on me already so He is punishing me. Hehehe what a weirdo right... But I always ask God to give it to me.
I am still hoping and praying for that to come. I just don't want to put in my mind some other bad things might happen on the way. And I wish that I'm not waiting in vain.

COOK With Jamie Oliver

Hehehe... Finally, after three days of craving for this book, at last I was able to buy a copy. In fact, the copy I bought this morning was the last one according to the sales clerk. Thanks to my lucky charms, it went down to my hands.
I finished scanning the whole book, and just by that, I am so excited to read every page! Jamie Oliver is my Chef-Idol, he really serves as a guide for me. I look up to him as one of my inspiration and instigator for my culinary career. Actually I want to be just like him, so famous, a very good chef, "good looking", funny yet superior, and above all, he is helping those who would like to be a good chef. I just wish I could be one of his students and be an apprentice on one of his restaurants abroad. Hehehe... How I wish I could work with him?
Well, I finished reading just the introductory part... I am now at the "pasta" part/page and really, I am getting so much from Jamie. I really love Jamie Oliver!!! I'll share to you guys whatever I'll learn while reading this book. But for now, this is it... I'll start reading the book and dream with Jamie.

My Dog Is An Actor???

Hehehe... just to let you know guys... this specie is one of the reasons why I missed my home a lot and why I decided to go back. Well, one time-but I think all of the time I come to our house for a visit during my day-offs, hmmm... I don't know if this is real but my lovable and ever-be-loved pet is crying... Huhuhu... it is a scratch in my heart every time I'll leave our house and my dog will howl a very sad tune. It really makes me sad knowing that my dog is missing me as much as I do. I don't really know why I have this tie with him. Maybe because I was the one who helped his mother lay him, I was there while he is growing, and I was there when the sun is too hot and the rain makes him so wet. That could be he reasons why my pet dog really became a treasure to me.
Hmmm... my dog is indeed a great actor! For he made me decide to go back. But actually I really missed him, in fact, I always see my pet dog in my dreams every night. I am really close with him and every time I go to work and come across to other dogs, I always see a reflection of my pet. Hehehe and there is a time, one night, that I miss my dog so much that I thought he visited me in front of my room... hehehe but wrongly believing, it was my neighbor's dog... same color of same breed... hehehe. And now, I really treasure the days left with my dog. I always see to it that before and after work, I really need to hug him, and do whatever I could to make him happy. Well... my dog is always by my side whatever happens and whenever in time. In my saddest and happiest moment, he was there... he's never been absent.

Finally I am Home Again...

Finally... I am home again! I'm so happy staying again in my room... in our house. Hmmmm... it has been a month and almost fifteen days more since I've rented small room near my workplace. Well, nothing can't be compared to the comforts our home can offer right?! Being independent for a while let me see and appreciate the things that I have back home and I proved that I am lucky enough to have a place to stay at. But there are also things outside, like what I've experienced while renting, which I'll be missing like no curfews, no limits, no rules, do what you like and live what you want... and etc. But again, here I am now, back in my room. I just finished cleaning and putting my things back in my closet and fixing my room to what I am used at. I am so tired since we have a good service this dinner back at work. Well, I need to have a rest now... on my own bed... hehehe I missed my bed so much!!!

July 4... and about my birthday...

Saeng-il chukka haeyo!!! Happy birthday to me!!!
Hehehe I'm really happy last Friday (July 4) when I celebrated my 20th birthday with my new family, my Gaudi Greenbelt family. Of course, I've invited my past-colleagues back in Gaster Deli so it doubled my joy of seeing my friends all in one venue. Hmmm... but celebrating this occasion away from my family is really a sad thing for me but the show must go on... I'm so thankful to what everyone has given. The greetings and the gifts is more of a "plus" for me. In fact, I'm contented enough for partaking the food with these people. As what I've said to them, if there is an exact word to translate "thank you" in a thousand fold manner, I will say it to them for making me so much happy on my special day. Add it to that, God gave me a very special gift... but He says that I might receive it later on... so I'm so excited about that gift from God...
I just hope that my high school friends are also present that day but I know the they are all busy on their studies. Well, I have to make another celebration just for them... maybe a "bon voyage" party for me soon...

BURJ AL ARAB! Here I come!!!

God is really good and gracious! I'm so happy to inform you guys that I have passed the interviews and trade test for this establishment, the 7 star Hotel in Dubai- The Burj Al Arab. I got a Commis II position, right enough as my entry point to Burj which is so hard to penetrate. Of course the bottomline here is the salary... even it's not that high compared to what I earn here in the Philippines, as like they say, the "service charge" will bring me to cloud nine. Hehehe but believe me or not, im not really after the pay... I am going to work in Burj because of the "7 star" experience and the training that they could offer me. Well, it is really good as a benefit for me! Hmmm... I'm so excited for this thing... and knowing that this is my first work overseas, my first escape from the Philippines, my first air travel, and I'm going to be a real independent soon... I'm so thankful that God sent me this as my birthday gift. So Burj al Arab... Dubai... I am coming soon!!!

Level Up! My Culinary Affair!

Each and every time I see food presented nicely, the fiery feeling of becoming a better Chef bursts out of my heart. In the near future, I want to be one of the best French Chef in the world... or if not, I just want to see myself skillfully and creatively doing my own dishes. Hmmm... I may say that I have an eye for art. I am easily moved by wonderful and beautiful things. Well, I guess that is why I'm so fascinated about the cooking world. Just by watching some shows makes me out of the couch to try those food and the way they do their plating. As of now, while working as a Chef in a Spanish restaurant-that is Gaudi Greenbelt, I'm taking most of the opportunity to enhance my creative side of cooking. But there is more waiting outside and beyond... Actually my plan is not only to be a good French Chef... I want to be a more rounded, a more versatile Chef focusing on the European Cuisines but still considering my native cuisine, the Filipino dishes. Maybe after that, I want to experiment more about the fusion of cuisines, specifically French and Korean. Well, that's a dream I also want to pursue one day.
Anyways, why do I go loco these days on this way of cooking. Ahhh... maybe I'm so challenged by what I'm hearing on the News that more and more Filipino chefs are taking a higher notch to their respective positions. I myself also want to do the same thing. Unluckily there are fewer resources and time shared with me. But I am doing my best using most of what I have... and soon after I'll be happy to surprise everyone that I will be there too, soon!
It is really a long long way to go for my career as a chef. The competition is high, the chances given are too rare for everyone to have. Nevertheless, I'm still on my grip and believing someday I will get there.