Not that I was overly concerned, but of course I was stressed and worried. Especially after the first day. For some reason, I'm just slow. And half way through the exam time I get really slow as I got hungry and find it hard to concentrate. I would walk to the sink and then wonder why I'm there. Oh right, to wash my hands. >.< I knew it was time to take a break, even if it was for only five minutes to gobble down something.
It's strange, we had made everything in class that we had to make on the exam, yet the stuff on the exam came out abut ten times worse for most people. One person was so confused she put a large amount of salt in her chocolate hazelnut cake. I heated my chocolate mirror glaze too hot (the recipe has it at the wrong temp and I forgot to write down the adjustment).
This meant that my glaze didn't properly cover my cake on the sides. See photo for evidence. The gouge on the side is from the trip home.
My buttercream cake came out freaking perfect! I was very happy with it and I have my experience at The Market and my past teachers to thank for that. And just look at that buttercream to cake ratio! I didn't measure or anything, I just put it on with a mini offset. Yay! I mean the buttercream cake and the gum paste flowers were essentially put together in the last hour of exam. I turned in my final stuff on time, on the dot. Which had our intern freaking out.
But we survived.
The rest of this weekend was spent volunteering and recuperating. On Saturday the FPS held their annual For The Love of Chocolate gala (8th annual). Many students from the school were recruited to work the gala, we had to be available from 1 pm until 1 am. It was fun at times, and of course some was tedious. But it was held in the gorgeous Union League Club. the Union League Club is 24 stories tall, each floor sports beautiful paintings and works of art. There was a rumor there was even a Monet, but I didn't have a chance to see it to prove its existence.
The gala took up several floors of the club and had a 1940s Hollywood Glamour theme. There was a fashion show with dresses made out of candy and napkins and other cooking items. Did I gt any pictures or take any? No, I only had my phone and the camera on that isn't very good. I took two photos and posted them to Instagram. One was of the dessert I helped a chef plate, the other was a rose I was given by a fellow volunteer at the end of the night. I did take a few photos with my camera, and when I get a chance, I'll post them.
I got home around 1:30 am. And I took it easy the next day.
Today we started our module on bread and breakfast pasties, which is being taught by Chef Patrice. Everyone loves him as an instructor so far - he's quiet, patient, and attentive. He's always ready to answer our questions.
But the only problem with this module is the amount of product we bring home. I was discussing this with Roomie and how there's the first world problems meme, but then there are French Pastry School Problems. I'll see about putting some meme photos together. :D
So it begins, the Dawn of the Bread!!
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