The Good Rabbi's Blog

Well, I've made it through the first block of courses in culinary school. Thus far, I've completed Skills, Safety & Sanitation, Food Science, and Nutrition. I've managed to do quite well. I'm ranked number 2 in the class (behind my study partner), and I've managed to maintain at least an A- in all my classes.

After a refreshing trip back east, I'm back in California now, starting the next block of courses. First up on the docket: Butchery. In this class, I'm learning about the various cuts of meat and fish, and which cuts are best suited for which cooking methods.

Today, my housemate Michael received his first serenity gong. It sent his two cats, which I have named General Tso and Stir Fry running for the comfort of the other bedroom. Frankly, they probably would have been better off with the chinchillas (of which we have three).

The New York Times had an article the other day regarding some individuals in New York who are eternally unemployed. The interesting thing is that I've seen a lot more of these people since I moved to the west coast. While it's no secret that people out here are not as fast-paced as those back east, it really startles me just how lackadaisical these people are, and how disinclined they are to actually do anything.

One of the things that I missed yesterday, which I had intended to share (from that article) is the following quote:

Ms. Trunfio got up to leave, and Mr. Melnick walked her out. They stood by his black Vespa, which has custom black matte rims, racing tires and a pipe that makes it sound like a Harley.

There's not much more to say other than that. He bought a Vespa, tricked out the rims, and put a pipe to make it sound like a Harley. The sad fact is, it's like an ice sculpture at a wedding: a completely pointless waste of money. No matter what he does to it, he's still driving a Vespa. You just can't be taken seriously if you drive a Vespa....

Well, it's that time again. That time when Jewish people all over the world will ponder the essential question of our faith: Why are we alone faced with the burden of eating gefilte fish? Thus far, I've had the occasion to ponder some of the musings that come every year at this time.

You know, sometimes it's comforting that no matter how far I am from "home" (wherever that is), there are some things that just don't change. I suppose that's even comforting when those particular things infuriate me. For example, one thing that I've always said unites us as human beings is that we all consider ourselves good drivers. I've only met three people in my life who have actually claimed not to be a good driver.

Well, I finished my first course after the skills block - butchery. In this class, I learned how to break down various animals into the cuts that we see in the grocery store, and in restaurants.