Whirlwind.

It's been more than a month since I moved to a new country to learn more about my passion and to be honest, I have no idea where the time went! Seems like only yesterday when I was unpacking my suitcase and getting ready to start my new life; apprehensive, nervous. Now, I'm smack bang in the middle of it and absolutely consumed by it. My first month was so eventful. It was a month of firsts and a month of exciting celebrity run-ins. I'm going to tell you all about my first term at culinary school, and my life in London.

Don't worry, I can see your attention wavering trying to figure out which celebrity I ran into, so that's the topic I'm going to broach first. I remember a few months ago, I watched The Duchess and was absolutely in love with Keira Knightly's object of affection outside her passion-less marriage to Ralph Fiennes. Then, I watched Summer in February cause Dan Stevens from Downton Abbey was in it and fell in love with the ruthless painter in the film instead. Then, I watched Captain America and simply adored Howard Stark and his genius. Any guesses? That's 3 films and 3 clues I've given you. So there we were, a group of exhausted, budding chefs at our usual pub having pints cause we deserved them after our long day and there was DOMINIC COOPER!

I quite honestly, forgot how to act civil and was fangirling to the highest level. In Bombay, we see celebs around all the time and somehow we're used to it. But here, in London, an actual Hollywood actor, I just couldn't believe it. I told him how much I loved him in Summer in February and he said,"Oh thank you! Barely anyone's watched that!" Then my friend said she'd take our picture and I said no, I look fat in pictures, I'd rather take a selfie and he said,"Don't be silly! You're lovely!" (In his British accent, yes) and that's how I went home with a selfie with Howard Stark.

Hello Howard Stark!

Okay, on to Fangirl moment no.2 : The Time Nigel Slater Called My Lemon Meringue Tart Beautiful. For those of you who haven't watched the film Toast, do so now. It's based on Nigel Slater's life and you'll know the significance of the Lemon Meringue Tart then. So I made my first ever lemon meringue at school and the only thing I could think of was the film so I did what I usually do when I feel strongly about something: tweet. I tweeted the picture of my lemon meringue and added that I was having a Nigel Slater moment. I posted this tweet at night after school and went off to sleep. I woke up to a tweet from Nigel Slater saying my meringue looked beautiful! Nigel Slater called my lemon meringue beautiful. When I open up my own place, that's the validation I'm going to boast about when people ask me about my lemon meringue. Nigel Slater liked it, do with that what you will. Hmph.  

My lemon meringue tart with confit lemon julienne.

The stampest of approvals <3 

Deep breaths. Okay. Okay, I'm good now.

 Let me talk about the rest. I made my first ever Creme Caramel from scratch and my first ever Creme Brulee. I even made puff pastry from scratch. Also, I now know how to fillet all kinds of fish, thank you very much. I also murdered a crab by throwing it into a pot of boiling water so I'm also equipped to see Thestrals now. It's almost the end of my first term and it's been amazing. The exhaustion is so fulfilling and I am now two more terms away from being a chef. Amidst all this work, I've managed to find time to explore London, my favourite city. I also had my best friend come live with me for ten days and it was amazing. I have so much food to show you and so little space, but here it is anyway-

I took this picture cause it reminded me of that part in the movie Notting Hill when Hugh Grant walks Julia Roberts home and made me feel all fuzzy inside.

Crepes au citron

Pear & Almond Cream Tart

Regents Canal looking like something from a fairy tale.

Me having some leftover apple tart that I made at school.

Super sexy filet of trout with lemon, almonds, beurre noisette and some badly turned potatoes

Best friend visits

This is a recommendation right here: The regular Cod and Chips (with a side of mushy peas) from The Rock and Sole Plaice in Covent Garden, since the 1800s. 

Fruit tart. Made with puff pastry from scratch.

Clearly, I need to improve on my masking and piping.
Genoise a la Confiture de Framboise

Apart from making all this gorgeous food at school, I've had to feed myself as well, on a budget. What I usually do is club two meals together and make one giant plate of food, balancing the nutrients as much as I can. My next post will be about exactly that; quick, easy and affordable meals students or just busy people living by themselves can make. I'm really looking forward to writing it.

Hope you enjoyed reading this and I plan to come back with my next post real soon! Until then, follow me on Twitter & Instagram @devikambing and let me know any other thoughts in the comments below.

xoxo

D