Month: August 2010 (Page 3 of 4)

Hey Soupers,

So, it has been a while since I had a good culture clash with my French friends here in Lyon. Who would have thought that it would have been a soup that would bring it on? You learn something every day in a French kitchen, and generally, you don’t see it coming.

Since the economy tends to slow down in France this time of year as families escape to beach-front towns and other vacation hot-spots all over the world, the restaurant currently only offers a limited menu and no buffet. As a result, less food needs to be prepped, and I get more time-off.

I enjoy working, but I don’t miss the 66-hour weeks. Even the Chef is taking his vacation during this slow season, which is not great for me because it means that I am on my own dealing with certain cooks who think that they own the place. A few of them assume that my language deficit correlates with my cooking skills (false), but I use this to my advantage. If they try to correct me on something that I know I’m doing correctly, I simply pretend that I don’t understand them and finish the task my way.

Of course, most of my colleagues are wonderful, and I enjoy talking to them about my culinary program at home. One of the major things I am looking forward to when I return to the States is my Senior Practical Dinner. It is sort of a final project for which I will have to pull-off a multi-course, themed meal for eight people of my choice. I like to throw around ideas for the menu items I might serve and get my colleague’s reactions. This led to an interesting discussion about Vichyssoise.

In America, we are taught that Vichyssoise (a cold potato, cream, and leek soup) is a traditional French soup. But, if you ask the French about it, they will look at you like you’re talking about burritos.  I found this out the hard way.

I was shocked by the reactions of my co-workers when I brought up Vichyssoise. Not one of them had ever heard of such a dish! It actually made me a bit hot and caused me to question their knowledge of their own cuisine. That is until I did a little research.

Turns out that while the French use a lot of potatoes and leeks in their cooking, and probably do make soups with them, the name of the dish and the service style was most likely formalized by a French Chef, Louis Diat of the Ritz Carlton in, get this, New York during the 1900s. He named the soup Vichyssoise after Vichy, France a town not far from where he grew up. The verdict is still out on the facts because Internet resources can be sketchy, but I think I might be on to something here… It sure explains the looks I got.

I know I said I would do more traveling in the coming weeks, but I thought it might be a good idea to explore and appreciate Lyon. I mean, it has been my home base for the few months, but usually when I am here, I am working so much that I don’t get the chance to explore.

While I was out I wanted to try a new restaurant, and I was going to attempt to find a place that served something other than French cuisine. It’s hard to deny myself all the French food I can stand while I am here, however, so I settled on a modern French restaurant called La Clé A Noa.

I like to eat well, but I also can’t afford to blow half of my paycheck each time I go to a restaurant. Luckily, I have learned some secrets to stretch my Euros. One of the best ways to experience the cuisine at a restaurant is to order the menu du jour. This usually consists of three courses of some great, seasonal dishes and is generally quite reasonably priced.

My meal at La Clé A Noa for example only cost me about 15Euro. I started with a salad of mixed greens, hardboiled egg, tuna, cucumbers, and poppy seed vinaigrette. Next came a filet of halibut with coconut milk sauce, served over a bed of rice and mixed vegetables. At that point, I was starting to feel full, but I knew that the best was yet to come—my grand finale: delicious chocolate cake with a warm fudge center served with a crème anglaise and raspberry sauce.

I’m sorry for making your mouths water Soupers, but as a culinary student, I feel that it is my duty to eat well and embrace flavor and technique.

Well, that just about covers my lazy week in Lyon, but I will surely have more adventures to fill you in on soon!

Coty

Read all of Coty’s experiences in Lyon by clicking here

Bonjour Soupers!

I just finished yet another week of working in the kitchen. As you probably already guessed, I love every minute of it. There are still occasional misunderstandings, but I feel like I have come such a long way.  

I rarely have to take a minute to translate what is said to me. My reactions are just automatic now. I felt my victory over the language barrier this week when our style of service and menu changed which meant that conversations were full of new words and commands. Surprisingly, I was able to keep up and understood nearly everything I was told! Of course, it helps that my culinary instructors back in the states taught me many classical French-cooking terms.

I am now a regular fixture on the line, and my speed and skill have increased to such a level that nobody has to bail me out anymore. I am also starting to earn the respect of my co-workers. One of the cooks often asks me to taste things she is cooking and if her techniques are correct.

Life outside the restaurant is just as good. I have met so many new, interesting people who love to travel and appreciate new experiences. This has really been a month of self-reflection as I realize how far I have come not only as a culinary professional, but also as an individual. I am so glad that I came to Lyon on my own. While it was intimidating at first, living without a net forced me out of my comfort zone. I had nobody to rely on, so I was forced to be proactive about my living situation, my job, and making friends.

Speaking of friends, I don’t think I could have gotten by without the ones I have made here. Circumstances have brought me so close to the friends I have met abroad, that I feel like I have known them forever. Take my friend Brianna for example. Our friendship blossomed because I recognized a lost, little American like myself.

I was on my way to the movie theater during some of my precious free-time and decided to stop at a nearby smoothie shop first. While in line, I noticed that the girl in front of me was completely confused. Since I know how it feels to be lost in translation, I helped her order. We ended up seeing the movie together and hanging out afterward. The next day, Brianna introduced me to a girl in her study-abroad program, Viar, who was from Jakarta. Since that day, the three of us have spent many nights hitting the streets of Lyon and having a great time. We definitely plan on staying in touch and meeting up for more adventures.

Regarding the French… I love ‘em!

In my time here, I have not come across a single one that fits the stereotype Americans cling to. In fact, I have found quite the opposite to be true. The French folks I have met have been nothing but kind. Though most people in Lyon don’t speak English, those that do speak it love to practice. They especially like my American accent for some reason.

My experience has also made me more passionate about cooking. Unlike most of us busy-Americans who often eat just to fill our stomachs without truly savoring our food, the French really appreciate the art of cooking and eating a great meal. Eating out at restaurants is a special event. Despite the existence of tons of great restaurants, fast-food, and microwave-dinners, people still seem to prefer cooking at home. I guess that makes the job of a Chef in a country like this even more special because people can cook and eat good, basic dishes all week, and then go out on the weekends and experience the wonderful ambience of a restaurant surrounded by good friends and the artistry of food prepared by professionals. I just love to see people around a table having a good meal, sharing good times, and making memories.

In the end, it’s all about the memories, and those that I have made in Lyon will stick with me for the rest of my life.

Coty

Read all of Coty’s experiences in Lyon by clicking here