Stage (pronounced like the word mirage)::Staging is when a cook or chef works briefly, for free, in another chef's kitchen to learn and be exposed to new techniques and cuisines. A stage normally is used to see how a new chef or cook can adapt to the current environment in the kitchen. When a future chef is seeking an internship, often the stage is the next step after the interview.
Now that we’ve got all that out of the way…I had the opportunity last night to stage in the pastry kitchen at Spago Beverly Hills.
But wait! How did I accomplish this you ask?? Welllll Last Saturday I got to work an event at LA Live for Los Angeles Food and Wine. What event you ask?? It was Decadence! LA’s sweetest afterparty! It was all desserts, pastries and chocolates. I was in heaven! And if that wasn’t enough I had the honor and privilege to work with the woman who hosted the entire event Ms. Sherry Yard, the High Priestess of Pastry for Wolfgang Puck!! She and her staff were wonderful and I had a blast! It didn’t hurt that ?uestlove was the DJ and it was a full blown party when they opened the doors! This event was $125.00 to get into and I got to check it out for nothing AND meet a lot of cool celebrity chefs! Duff Goldman, Zac Young and Lincoln Carson to name a few. I was exhausted after the event but it was well worth the energy. I got Chef Sherry’s number and it took me 3 days to work up the nerver to call her and the rest is history!
Now back to last night. I was absolutely terrified going in but once I got there it was great. and not difficult at all. They started me out dicing strawberries and juicing lemons. Easy work I know but I did it with a smile on my face. I was in Wolfgang Puck’s kitchen! If they had asked me to babysit boiling water I would have done it! After I got finished with the fruit I got to assemble little date cakes and make toffee sauce…I was thrilled! All the while I was watching the other pastry chefs assemble cakes for birthdays and whip up bases for sorbets and ice cream. I asked as many questions as I could and made sure I paid close attention to the all of the instructions I was given. It paid off when I was allowed to help plate desserts for a large party and then, I was moved up to the line to plate individual desserts for patrons in the restaurant.! Buy the end of the night I was plating desserts by myself and calling tickets.! Wooooo Hoooo!! I killed it all and I’m ready for more. Patiently awaiting the call back and in the meantime I’ll just keep reliving this night in my dreams. Well back to the mundane, stay tuned and until next time remember,
Make Life Delicious!
Michelle
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