Check out my progress on Pressure Cooker
No worries, blog friends—I did not add another kitchen appliance to my already embarrassingly extensive collection. Rather, today’s title refers to the title of a documentary film I watched yesterday afternoon. Pressure Cooker follows three high school students as they simultaneously face the challenges of both the inner city and their demanding culinary arts class. The students’ tough-as-nails teacher enrolls all 13 of her students in local cooking competitions in hopes that some will gain scholarship money, thereby earning a means out of indigence.
While the film emphasized the incredible opportunity that the culinary arts provided for these students, I was most interested in the competition aspect of the story. These kids, at just 16 and 17 years old, managed to assemble professional-caliber dishes after just weeks of training. Watching both the cooking classes and the competitions themselves made me realize that I am not cut out for culinary school. Perhaps television and movies sensationalize the environment, but it appears that culinary school is a stressful place, where it seems that your professional success depends on your ability to make an even dice.
Considering my sometimes self-destructive perfectionist tendencies, I’m pretty sure culinary school would ruin me.
What about you? Do you think you could handle culinary school?
Although I may not be chef material, I did manage to put together some tasty meals today.
Due to an early class this morning, I had to put together a quick breakfast. Banana-Coconut Breakfast Pudding fit the bill, plus it satisfied my crazy craving for coconut butter.
For lunch, I packed a batch of Green Goddess Hummus.
Once home, I got creative in the kitchen. I dreamed up a spicy orange glaze, then set to work on a buttercup squash puree. The end result was quite fantastic, thankyouverymuch.
With that, I bid you good night!
Filed under: Meals
Caroline Yoder, dietitian-to-be and all-around foodie.
First off, love your breakfast pudding. That looks super creamy and delicious. The documentary sounds really interesting. I have a friend who went through culinary school and he said it is SUPER stressful. I would love to go through a portion of culinary school just to see what its like.
the banana coconut pudding looks amazing!!!
Culinary school has been a definite thought in m brain in past when thinking of what to do with my love of nutrition and healthy eating. However, now I no what to do with that- become a dietician! Who knows, maybe i’ll be the next Ellie on food network, sans culinary school.
Sounds like an interesting documentary. I don’t know if I could handle culinary school. I’m not creative enough in the kitchen to be a chef; I’m just good with following recipes.
ahh your brekki pudding looks AMAZING.. as always! sounds like a pretty cool documentary.. i would def love to watch that!
What a worthy film, and a worthy dinner!
For the record, pressure cookers are awesome
I’m not sure I could handle culinary school either. I would love to go, just to learn the nitty gritty details of everything and anything. But at the end of the day, I’m most happy cooking for family and friends in my own kitchen.
That movie sounds great! I flirted with the idea of culinary school for a while, but ultimately I don’t think I want those hours when/if I did get a restaurant job!
Your breakfast pudding sounds great! I know I would never make it in culinary school. Like you I’m a bit of a perfectionist which I think would only lend more to the stress of tackling cooking challenges for a grade. I am happily content with my self-taught experimental self in my stress free kitchen!
That movie sounds very interesting. I’ll have to look it up!
I’m interested in a spicy orange glaze! What’s in there? I make tempeh at home and am always looking for new ways to make it.
ooo I just love the meal, I love the broccoli! I have never heard of the movie, I will have to check it out!
that breakfast pudding sounds awesome!!!
i highly doubt i could hack it in culinary school! the intenseness of the professors would drive me balls to the wall haha