I'm really enjoying it; and I've actually got to do stuff that I've never done before. Yesterday, literally the first job I was given was to de-vein 4 massive foie gras. Holy smells they stink. And the texture.... bleurgh. My ever present gag reflex and I had a blast with that one. For those of you who don't know what foie gras is, it's the liver of a force fed goose or duck. Oh yes, oh so very natural and delightful... not. Anyway, it is a delicacy (apparently, I don't think I've ever tasted it, and after yesterday and today, I don't want to either. Just thinking about the smell makes me gag) that is served in Andra Mari with dried apricots and nuts.
Anyway, you start with a foie that looks like this:
Then you get in there with your fingers and find the vein. It's really mushy, and breaks apart easily, but it's kind of gnarly. Then when you've found the veins, gently start pullinng them out. There are two large ones. Once the foies were veinless, we poured salt, sugar and port on them, and left them for 24hrs to marinate. Today I had the delighful task of rolling the foie gras into 4 tight rolls so that they can be served all nicely. So imagine something akin to poop, then the smell to go with it, triple that and that's what I was dealing with today. SUCH FUN. Anyway, the foie were rolled up nice and tight, and can be served when needed. Hands
up how many of you are gonna eat foie gras in the near future?
Anyway, on to more pleasant things! The people at Andra Maria re really nice; I would list their names but alas, my ability to remember names has failed me yet again. There are 4 chefs working there, one is on holidays at the moment, so it's the three chefs and little old me. I get there about 10 in the morning and we work through the day until about 5pm. Lunch service is from 1pm-4pm. The atmosphere in the kitchen is really good; it's easy to ask questions, and they have patience with my Spanish. Most of the time they do end up repeating themselves because I don't always understand everything the first time, but I haven't screwed up yet! Except today I almost electrecuted myself (to death) with the old hand held whisk. Not even joking. Plugged it in, and turned the bit where the chird is attached to machine to get it out of the way, and a sound almost like a gun shot (been watching lots of CSI lately, every bang is a gun shot) and a massive ball of light just happened infront of my eyes. I think I was blinded for a second too. I'm okay, still alive, and there is new electric whisk which doesn't have the potential to kill people.
In Finland, what you wear in the kitchen is very important, and it's really strict too. Hats and aprons are required, and absolutely no piercings (apart from teeny ones in the ear). Here it's so much more relaxed; we don't wear hats in the kitchen, and I've had my lip piercing in and nobody has said anything about it either. Also, we are allowed to smoke during the day if it's quiet (I have a rule to never smoke when I'm working no matter what job it is, HEALTHY LUNGS AHOY. Not) but seriously, do you want your chef's whites to smell of smoke? Euww.
On Tuesday, Ana took me around the Casco Viejo (the Old Town for you non Spanish speakers) and the center of Bilbao. We walked around in the pouring rain (it just doesn't stop raining. Ever), but my brolly is good and I was dry even by the end of it. I got myself a local SIM-card (call me or msg me +34662562165), and Ana kindly pointed out where the sex shop was if I happened to need anything from there. Not sure what to make of that. She also showed me the area where all the Asian shops were, as well as the Indian and African shops. I, like any good student, stocked up on noodles and sweet chili sauce. And the Indian shop had PG Tips. Yay, tea! Also there is a shop in Bilbao that sells leather shoes, belts and bags and holy cow they're all so cheap!! A leather satchel was about 50€. Yo I'm getting me some leather goods before I return. I just have to try and remember where the shop was. Meh.
Still not hissing my s'.
Haha, the last part about the "hissing s" :D I studied Spanish for a couple of years, and it seemed to be very important to the teacher that the s went right... She told the whole class to just put a pencil in their mouths, leaving the tongue beneath it, and then try to say the s. And that's what it's supposed to sound. Hope that helps :D
ReplyDeleteHa thanks! I learnt my spanish in South America where they don't hiss the s', so i still speak like i did then. and it's so much easier as well :D
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