Today was another lecture day with Blethnaid, The Restaurant Advisor. We talked about menu costing in quite a bit of detail, as well as different aspects of catering. Both topics were very informative, and although it was a long day, I do feel that I got quite a bit out of it.

After the lecture I went to shape my sour dough, which takes about 40 minutes. Every day after demo there are people in Kitchen 3 working on their sour dough, all at various stages, some just starting their starter, some making their first sponge, baking their first loaf, or some who have been doing it every week. It’s great that we have access to the kitchens after demo like this, and it is a fun experience to be with others as they make their first dour dough babies, it also teaches you a lot as you hear or help others. Bread is a very satisfying thing to make, and generally even the people who have very little interest still manage to get excited at each stage.

The Playroom invited us for dinner tonight, Erin and Jo made a delicious Vietnamese noodle salad, with beautiful pork, and an Irish twist by adding some pennyworth to the final dish. Erin also baked a loaf of sour dough that she made using beer, it was darn tasty, and very interesting to see how the beer changed the colour, texture and flavour! Max and Theresa made fortune cookies…. Of course it was Max who came up with the sayings inside, and we all had a great laugh as we went around the table reading out our quotes. As cliché as it may sound, I feel so fortunate to be here, living on an organic farm, with like minded people, cooking and eating great food whether it’s cooked at the school or in the cottages in the evening, laughing, chatting, and almost always enjoying some wine!

Looking very forward to tomorrow’s morning of cooking, and then heading into Cork to see mum and dad who arrive just after 3. Will be a great weekend showing them around Cork, Ballycotton and Shanagarry. Can’t wait!

“ Love is the only game you lose if you refuse to play – like alcohol.” My fortune cookie by Max