(I'm a) dorkface
Like the true nerd I am, I have created a bread blog: http://flourwatersaltandyeast.blogspot.com You will be exceedingly bored if you are not obsessed with chemistry, bread or food. Or me, I guess. But check it out! Read all about my successes and failures manipulating simple ingredients.
Overall, my winter term is going well. I really like my job, except that time between when I get up in the morning at 4:05 and when my car finally heats up, about 10 minutes into my commute. Every morning I think, man, I really should have gone to bed earlier, and count the days until Saturday, when I can at last sleep in. But when I get to work, all of that goes away. The smell of bread and pastry, the warmth of the oven, blues music blasting, and just an energy that defies the time of night. Most of my (2 or 3 on any given day) co-workers get to work at 1 or 2AM and are still in their stride at 5 when I come in. Everyone there loves their job, loves what we make and are willing to go great lengths to give the people the most delicious bread and pastry possible.
My specific tasks at the bakery are not terribly difficult. I make a few deliveries, sell stuff to people, use a power slicer, spread nut cream on day-old croissants, package frozen pastry dough, and occasionally watch YouTube videos of Roy Orbison at my boss's request. But there are days, when things are going well, when someone will say, Hey, come here and try this, and I'll get to shape a few loaves of bread, or make a custard, or squeeze out puff pastry into little cream puff shapes. I live for these moments, and for the times when I really get to see the love and care that goes into the food we make. It's really inspiring working directly for someone who owns his own business, and is nowhere near sick of it.
The rest of the day I sometimes try to do things that are productive, but usually fail by watching crappy tv or making food (which I guess isn't really failure :-) I keep meaning to watch the MTV show "Bromance" but keep missing it. Has anyone seen it?
Tonight I'm going to a ballet class for the first time in almost ten years. It should be exciting, and humbling. Here's hoping I can walk tomorrow. Ha.
Overall, my winter term is going well. I really like my job, except that time between when I get up in the morning at 4:05 and when my car finally heats up, about 10 minutes into my commute. Every morning I think, man, I really should have gone to bed earlier, and count the days until Saturday, when I can at last sleep in. But when I get to work, all of that goes away. The smell of bread and pastry, the warmth of the oven, blues music blasting, and just an energy that defies the time of night. Most of my (2 or 3 on any given day) co-workers get to work at 1 or 2AM and are still in their stride at 5 when I come in. Everyone there loves their job, loves what we make and are willing to go great lengths to give the people the most delicious bread and pastry possible.
My specific tasks at the bakery are not terribly difficult. I make a few deliveries, sell stuff to people, use a power slicer, spread nut cream on day-old croissants, package frozen pastry dough, and occasionally watch YouTube videos of Roy Orbison at my boss's request. But there are days, when things are going well, when someone will say, Hey, come here and try this, and I'll get to shape a few loaves of bread, or make a custard, or squeeze out puff pastry into little cream puff shapes. I live for these moments, and for the times when I really get to see the love and care that goes into the food we make. It's really inspiring working directly for someone who owns his own business, and is nowhere near sick of it.
The rest of the day I sometimes try to do things that are productive, but usually fail by watching crappy tv or making food (which I guess isn't really failure :-) I keep meaning to watch the MTV show "Bromance" but keep missing it. Has anyone seen it?
Tonight I'm going to a ballet class for the first time in almost ten years. It should be exciting, and humbling. Here's hoping I can walk tomorrow. Ha.