Week 4.

DAY 1

PASSION FRUIT MOUSSE WITH RASPBERRY COMPOTE
Light, creamy passion fruit mousse with a tart raspberry topping. The perfect combination. 

DAY 2

CELERIAC VELOUTE
Yep, that's how we serve it in the restaurant biz :)
To make eating soup less monotonous, we added a quinelle of olive tepenade and a lovely light, hazelnut dressing. Winner.

PORK WITH PRUNES
This is a classic comforting stew. Perfect for a rainy day with rich, sweet flavours.

DAY 3: POP UP RESTAURANT NIGHT (I'll tell you about it soon enough)


DAY 4

POTATO PANCAKE WITH POACHED EGG, GRILLED ASPARAGUS & HOLLANDAISE
The perfect hangover curing brunch. After a night of service, this is exactly what we needed.

CHICORY, BLOOD ORANGE AND FETA SALAD WITH SPICY NUTS
Doesn't this just look like summer in a plate?

PANFRIED SEABREAM WITH MIXED PEPPER ESCEBECHE WITH AN OLIVE TEPENADE AND FRIED CALAMARI
My favourite fish dish we've made so far. An escebeche is something mixed with oil and vinegar, like a relish. The roasted peppers taste delicious and with the fried squid, this is a restaurant dish.

STEAK & CHIPS
Classic pub food.

ALMOND & PISTACHIO LEMON DRIZZLE CAKE
My family just loved this cake. Dense, rich and comforting with a tang of lemon to compliment the sweet, rich cake. Love.

TART TARTIN
This is a classic French apple tart. Tedious, but delicious

So that was my last week at cookery school. I had the best time of my life here and will miss my fellow cooks and my mentors. It was a tiring four weeks but so, so worth it. I hope this isn't my last time in a working kitchen, I certainly hope not cause I love the #ChefLife.

A month of great food, work and happiness that I wouldn't trade for anything.

Hope you enjoyed my journey as much as I did :)

If you want to say anything, please do in the comments below!

xoxo
D

Week 3.

Sorry for being so late, but after I got done with school I got a little carried away having fun. So this is my third week at cookery school. I haven't missed day 3 but I was compromised with a huge cut on my right finger so couldn't make it to school. Yes, #ChefProblems :)


DAY 1

WELSH RAREBIT WITH POACHED EGG AND WILTED SPINACH
Oh god I just love this recipe. A mixture of cheeses and mustard spread on toast with a lovely, creamy poached egg and fresh spinach. I was shocked I hadn't tried this earlier. So simple, traditional and delicious.

ROASTED BUTTERNUT SQUASH WITH CHILI YOGHURT
This is one of the best salads we learned. So rich in flavour but so light. Warm, summery butternut squash with a cool chili yoghurt. AMAZING.

MIXED MUSHROOMS WITH BARLEY, FETA & CORIANDER
This is such a hearty dish. Woody, delicious mushrooms go so well with the barley and coriander, it's unbelievable. It's the perfect side or starter. 

MACKEREL WITH A CELERY, CELERIAC & FENNEL SALAD
If you aren't too fond of big, complex flavours, you'll love this. Just salt and pepper for seasoning, this dish is fresh, simple and light.

PRESSED CHOCOLATE CAKE
The trick about this cake is saving a bit of the mixture and top the cake with it a little later so you get a beautiful moussey texture on top. Such a simple trick, classic.

DAY 2

BRAN CRANBERRY MUFFINS
Let me warn you, these aren't as healthy as they look. With a good amount of creme fraiche and flour, this is as yummy as your other muffins. The crunch the bran brings is what makes them different.

THREE CHEESE RAVIOLI WITH BROWN BUTTER
Making ravioli is one of the most fulfilling jobs. It takes a lot of work, but the result is just beautiful. A perfect dish. You'll be seeing a lot more of it.

PORK BELLY
A classic dish, the key in achieving the perfectly cooked pork is the fluids you cook it in and the amount of time you give it.

RUSTIC OPEN APPLE TART
We've learned a lot of apple tarts and this looks one of the best. Fresh, sour apples topped with caramelised sugar and crispy pastry.

DAY 4

PRAWN STIR FRY
A combination of Thai flavours but I could really do without the curry powder.

RED PASTE BEEF STIR FRY
I loved this dish, hot and spicy.

MINT & CUCUMBER PICKLE
This was SUCH a brilliant accompaniment with the rest of the spicy food. So clean, so fresh, so yum.

STICKY JASMINE RICE

GREEN THAI CURRY
This curry was made from scratch with no shop bought curry pastes. The poached chicken and the chicken stock gives it a depth in flavour.

DAY 5

RASPBERRY JAM
Who knew making jam was so simple? Fruits and sugar, that's it.

CHICKEN LIVER PATE WITH ONION MARMALADE ON HOMEMADE BROWN SODA BREAD
Such a refined starter. The flavours go together so well it's unbelievable. Win.

FISH EN PAPILLOTE
Summery and fresh. Grilled fish with summer veggies cooked in a paper bag. Delicate and delicious.

ECLAIRS
These were just so easy to make and so so yum. With yummy fillings like salted caramel, lemon curd and cream, who won't like these?

That was Week 3. Delicious isn't it? Hope you enjoyed this, the delay was just my procrastination acting up again. Week 4 is even better ;)

Stay Hungry

xoxo
D

Week 2.

DAY 1

OATMEAL RAISIN SCONES
This was the first time I ever made scones and I loved them! Light, buttery goodness and so so comforting. I'm not a fan of raisins in my food so when I make these again, they'll be without them.

AUBERGINE & LENTIL MOUSSAKA
A Greek dish, this was really interesting. Vegetarians (not the picky ones) will just love it cause I sure did. French lentils sauteed in mild spices and then baked with charred aubergines, tomatoes and a bechamel sauce. Rustic and filling.

PECAN & COCONUT TART
Don't worry all you Bounty haters, you can't taste the coconut in this tart. It's plainly for texture. This tart is warm, sweet, rich and rustic- I just love it. Pecans and syrup go so well together and making pastry isn't all that hard (anymore ;)

 DAY 2

CARB LOAD
Day 2 of Week 2 was bread making day. So so stressful and so so time consuming. I'm glad we have people who do that for us. The ultimate result is beautiful so if you're fond of bread, which I'm not, you should definitely give it a try. Especially if handling sticky dough and getting covered in flour is something you think you'd like :)

CHORIZO, NEW POTATO & GREEN BEAN SALAD
I just loved this warm salad. Crisp, new potatoes fried off in some chorizo oil, fresh green beans and salad leaves to finish it off. Just great.

BRAISED DUCK LEGS
Perfect Sunday dinner. The duck was succulent, falling off the bone and went just really well with the cabbage and mash. Fulfilling.

CHOCOLATE FONDANT WITH SALTED CARAMEL ICE CREAM
Now that I have your attention, let me tell you that all you're thinking is true. This dessert was heaven. How could it not be? Warm chocolate cake with chocolate oozing from the middle with one of the best ice cream flavours ever. JUST OH MY GOD.

 DAY 4

SEAFOOD CHOWDER
I'm not fond of such creamy soups, but if you like chowder, you'd love this one. Smoked haddock and salmon in a creamy soup garnished with fresh parsley and Cayenne pepper.

CANDIED BEETROOT SALAD
This was such a pretty salad. Made with a combination of regular beetroots and candied ones which are a really pretty shaded colour, this salad was great. Feminine and delicious topped with feta and pecans.

VICTORIA SPONGE
Surprisingly, this was the first time I made this classic cake, and it's so bloody easy! Moist, sponge cake sandwiched with whipped cream and raspberry jam. Bliss.

 DAY 5

RISOTTO WITH PICKLED MUSHROOMS AND CAULIFLOWER PUREE
I know what you're thinking. You know I'm a Masterchef fan so obviously I am too. "No one's got a risotto right in the Masterchef kitchen." This one was close enough. Pretty good for a first attempt if I might say so myself. What do you think?

COD WITH CHARRED LEEKS AND PICKLED CAULIFLOWER
Delicate dish with delicate flavours.

MINI MERINGUES
I think I finished all of these that day. So light, crunchy and melted straight in your mouth. Love.

As you can see we definitely moved on to more complex stuff. Hard, hard work. I think that'swhy I haven't put on any weight ;) Well, works for me! Hope you enjoyed this pictures as much as you did the last. How am I? Exhausted. But you've got to work to chase your dreams. Did I just get preachy? Oh well, I guess that's what dedication does to you :)

Stay Hungry

xoxo
D

Week 1.

So those of you who follow me on Twitter and Instagram know what an amazing time I'm having at cookery school. I wonder what I was doing all my life, if not this. Working in a kitchen gives you a different high, believe me. Picture Masterchef without elimination- Heaven. It's not all fantasy though, it's a lot of hard work. How very cliche of me. But honest, you have to wash your own pots and pans and scrub your stations till your arms fall off. But it all seems worth it when you see that beautiful dish you manage to put up. I'm dead tired, but I've enjoyed my first week so much. Here's a look, throwback-

DAY 1

APPETIZER: SALAD OF PICKLED PEARS, WALNUTS AND CROZIER BLUE CHEESE.
An interesting mix of flavours, the pears were soaked in red wine to achieve the sweet, glossy finish which went really well with the tart balsamic dressing and salty blue cheese.

MAIN: PASTA WITH PARMA HAM AND PISTACHIOS.
The chili in this pasta is what livens up the dish. It compliments the heavy flavours that the ham and pistachios bring to this dish. Perfect comfort food.

DESSERT: CARAMELIZED APPLE TART WITH FRANGIPAN.
Frangipan is something I love and it goes just so well with the strong and tangy Granny Smith apples. Such a clever combination of flavours. If you're an apple person, you'll love it.

 DAY 2

APPETIZER: PEA, BEAN AND COURGETTE SOUP
This soup is such a winner. I'm definitely going to make more of it back home. Thick and creamy, without any cream. Just good chicken stock, potatoes and veg. Garnish it with a lot of fresh pepper and you're good to go!

MAIN: ROAST CHICKEN BREAST WITH PEAS AND SALSA VERDE
The clever chicken supreme cut instead of just the breast helps the chicken stay moist. The salsa verde tastes so good with the crispy skinned chicken. A classic dish.

DESSERT: IRISH APPLE CAKE.
This cake is one of my favourites, light and summery but still filling. Tart pieces of apple with the soft and sweet cake mixture just go so well and the almonds on top taste divine.

DAY 3

APPETIZER: HERB GNOCCHI WITH CHERRY TOMATO, CAPERS, BUFFALO MOZARELLA AND ROCKET.
This is my favourite dish. I never liked gnocchi until I made it myself. This is is so light, fresh and still incredibly fulfilling. I love the fusion of fresh, raw ingredients with cooked ones. Winner.

MAIN: BEEF RIB EYE WITH MIXED MUSHROOMS, ROAST GARLIC BUTTER, ONION PUREE AND POTATO FONDANT.
This is such a restaurant dish in which you can show off all your skills. The potato fondant is heavenly and the mixed mushroom sauce with sherry is unbelievable. The perfect Sunday lunch if you cook the steak properly. Love.

DESSERT: VANILLA PANNACOTTA WITH CHERRY JELLY.
I'm not a fan of pannacotta, but if you are, you'll love this dish. The tart cherry jelly goes so well with the smooth, rich vanilla pannacotta. The almond tuille is just amazing, my favourite part of this dessert :)

DAY 4

APPETIZER: POTATO AND JERUSALEM ARTICHOKE SALAD WITH SAMPIRE, SUGAR SNAP PEAS AND BROADBEANS.
Sampire is a really salty grass which grows near the sea. I liked this salad with its unique combination of ingredients.

MAIN: ROASTED VEGETABLE QUICHE.
I just love this quiche. The vegetables are roasted till the most amazing flavours appear. Charred, sweet and moorish. Add a little feta, ricotta, puff pastry, thyme and you've got a killer combination.

DESSERT: RASPBERRY AND ALMOND SLICE.
This isn't that much of a dessert as it is a tea- time snack. But it tastes just so great with the shortbread, raspberry jam and almonds. Love it.

DAY 5

APPETIZER: AUBERGINE ROLLS WITH MOZARELLA, PESTO, GARLIC AND CHILI.
A great appetizer with fresh, clean ingredients and olive oil. Yum.

MAIN: ITALIAN MEATBALLS.
This is such a hearty dish, everyone will love it. Strong, Italian flavours like oregano with a rich tomato sauce baked with a sprinkling of Parmegiano Regiano. Classic.

DESSERT: HAZELNUT DACQUOISE WITH FRESH BERRIES AND CHANTILLY CREAM.
My favourite dessert so far. It's all the best dessert ingredients put together to give you a light, moist and satisfying end to a meal. Best.

That was my first week at cookery school and I hope you liked seeing the pictures as much as I liked making and eating them. Okay, maybe a little less. But once I'm done, I'm going to give my own spin on these recipes and feed everyone I know, including you guys, ofcourse ;)

Until then,

Stay Hungry

xoxo
Chef D ;)