New Year New Me

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Hello everyone, its been awhile since I last posted. A lot has happened since then. The larger than life photo is of my graduation from Culinary School. I graduated with honors and I'm extremely proud of myself. I have also taken then steps to lose weight and do better for myself as well as my family. Which is huge for me. Taking each day as it comes hasn't been easy for me. I have been working for the Lake Austin Spa Resort since 2017 where I was working full time up until Sept 25, 2018. I then went to the AISD as a food Service Manager so that I can concentrate on my business and get my catering up and running. I have weekends and holidays off so it gives me plenty of time now to get my business up and running.
Through this last few months I have updated my website, created new business cards, hired a marketing rep, updated my yelp, etc. Learned so a lot from my Executive Chef Stephane Beaucamp from the resort. He taught me a lot and I have learned how to be a better person and chef. See he is a Scorpio just like me. We are the same and it was a learning experience to have a "mirror" looking back at me. It taught me so much about myself and I am so grateful for that. He has also taught me how to respect the ingredients I use. I am a better Chef because of him. I will always be grateful to him. I find myself thinking often of what he has taught me. I apply it to my career daily. 
                 The last two weeks I have been working on new desserts for my business. I have finally done two desserts that I have gotten rave reviews on. The photo's left to right: Caged Mini Cheesecake, Goat cheese Panna Cotta with a Guava Gelee, & White Chocolate Junmai Sake Mousse*Citrus Udon*Junmai Sake Macerated Berries. I am very happy with the way they turned out. I will be adding edible garden flower pedals to the mousse and a flower to the caged cheesecake. something that will bring them up a notch. 

                        We spent Christmas Eve evening at Fogo De Chao. That place is really nice and the food is so good. I highly recommend it of you are ever in the Austin, Tx area. Just keep in mind to bring your wallet and have plenty of room on your credit card. It was well worth it though. My family at Fogo De Chao. From left to right: My mom, Alex my baby brother, my nieces Merissa and Sydney. My oldest grandson Ruben and my Nephew Tristen. Only 7 of us but we had a good meal. This restaurant has a farm to market bar where you go up and get what you want. Then when you are ready you flip over that red looking coaster so it will then show green. The waiters will then come around with meat on metal rods and they will cut you pieces of it. They have sirloin, bacon wrapped chicken, beef ribs, pork ribs, etc. for the sides to accompany the meat they are garlic mash potatoes, plantains(yummy) and fried polenta sticks. absolutely delicious. It's a Brazilian Steakhouse so as I said worth the money you spend there. Ill definitely go back when I have time and a little extra cash. You definitely want to do the full experience. Oh and don't forget to have dessert. :-) 

                I also worked on new regional menus and a cocktail party menu. I cant wait to start cooking them for clients. I'll be working on a tasting menu tomorrow for Sunday for a potential client. I'm hoping I can get them signed Sunday. would be great. They are wanting a Tapas buffet, which I love tapas(small plates). Will post pictures when I have the test plates done tomorrow evening. Looking forward to this meeting. The first dish I will be presenting to them is Garlic Shrimp & Mango Shooter. Next will be Prosciutto Purses w/ mascarpone cream & honey drizzle. The last dish will be Balsamic Beef Crostini w/herbed cheese and arugula. I will then have them taste a couple of different mini cakes to decide what they will want for the wedding cake plus the cheesecake for the grooms cake. Busy weekend ahead of me. 

Top Photos: Fresh made Rice Pudding and Eggnog Bread. absolutely delicious & fresh banana bread. as I said the last two weeks I have been cooking. I'm turning into a pastry chef so I decided to go back to culinary school for pastry. I start back February 18th. Cant wait to start so I can start learning all things I still don't know and relearn what I already know in order to be better at it. 

                  For now I will say goodnight, it has been a long day getting my school kitchen ready for the kids to come back to school on Monday. Have a great weekend and remember those less fortunate that you are. Always make time for those you love for tomorrow is not promised. 
Be Blessed everyone. 
Executive Chef Eve Loftus