Knife Skills

I am a klutz in the kitchen (other places, too unfortunately.) Just last night, while attempting to play sous chef to the person actually making the tuna casserole (with artichokes, delish), I knocked over several things, and I could tell that I was in danger of being yelled at Gordon Ramsay* style (except I bought the groceries, which I think gave me some credibility). Yet, here is my honest-to-goodness secret dream I have cherished since before I fell in love with Sabrina, even. I wish, wish, wish, I could go to cooking school. I want to make meringues, souffles, cassoulet -- I want to sear foie gras and braise rabbit. I want to chop onions so fast you might mistake the sound for percussion, and I want to peel an apple in one long lovely loop of skin. Sigh. I'm afraid that loop of skin would be mine. Enter Kathleen Flinn. Upon finding herself downsized (while she was on vacation, no less), after some encouragement from her boyfriend she indulged her secret dream of attending Le Cordon Bleu. (Yes, the same place that Audrey's souffle fell, and she was rescued by the Baron and La Vie En Rose.) On top of that, she wrote a book about the experience, The Sharper Your Knife, The Less You Cry (In my case, I seem to cry no matter what). I spoke to Kat about her book, and asked her what I could do to make myself more comfortable in the kitchen. She told me that knife skills were the answer, which I actually had suspected. So -- I'm indulging my secret dream, partway, and signing up for a class. Soon, that apple skin will be sitting in a spiral on the cutting board. What have you always secretly wanted to learn?

*The British version of Kitchen Nightmares is much better then the American, FYI. You will fall in love with him, even when he is screaming obscenities.

Barrie Hardymon

Tags: Le Cordon Bleu | cooking | knife skills | life changes