Rehearsal for the Birthday Dinner

David has requested veal piccata for his birthday dinner next Monday, and serendipitously, we made it today in class: sautéed veal scallopini with lemon caper sauce. We served it (on china plates: a first) with roesti potatoes, and lightly seasoned green beans and carrot batonnets, and ours rated a 10. Our salmon (with spinach and orzo, to which we added toasted pine nuts) got a 10+, because Chef Glen "liked how it tasted." That's the goal, no?

Our objective today was to do all of our prep work (mise en place) in advance, in order to quickly put the complete plates together when the proteins were ready ("fired" in kitchen lingo). Aaron and I worked well together: without even discussing it, the only ingredients we both collected were green beans. This bodes well for our finals next week, as one of the four dishes we have to make is the veal. I'll get to practice at home on that one, too, thanks to the b'day wish.

According to the Wikipedia entry, the concept of "mise en place" works outside the kitchen, as well. "This constant attention to having everything in its place is rich in philosophical value." I learned this the hard way at six thirty this morning, outside my locker, when I reached into my book bag to pull out my apron, side towels and hat, and found.... nothing. Well, actually, a once-worn hat, and a not-too-dirty side towel, but NOTHING resembling an apron. The office, where you get sent to see the Dean for such infractions (and where they presumably have piles of uniform parts to loan underdressed students), was not yet open. I ran into Tashana and Rudy in the cafeteria, and asked them if perhaps they were carrying a spare. "No," Tashana said, "but there's one in our classroom, folded on the counter. You should grab it." I did, and I was ready to be busted for it all day, because I'm pretty sure it belongs to Chef Joseph. It has fancy black and white ties and it's made of soft cotton, not like the cheap ones we were issued. Once it's washed, I'll put it right back where I found it, I swear.

When I got home from class today, my own supplies were neatly stacked on a chair, but not where I needed them. Mise not en place.