Flatmates

I live in a house with 9 other people and all of them are from different countries!  It is really cool talking to them.  Most of them are here to learn English.  I don't usually see any of them much during the week but the weekends they are all here drinking and having a blast so when I get home I get to talk with them.  One weekend night I got home from work and they all were about to go out to the clubs and they all encouraged me to join them (even though I had to work in the morning).  Wow!  The night life here in Sydney is crazy! 

The Girls

At the train station

At a bar

Pilar and me

Caro and me

Vincent, Paul Qui and me

Waiting on the bus to go home
 

 This was actually the second time I went out with them.  The first time was for Caro's birthday...

Mamoun and me he is from Algeria

Alejandra and me she is from Columbia

Pilar, Alejandra and me

Vincent (French) Marc (Spain) and Me
 

We went to Kings Cross and that is the part of town that is the main strip for clubs.  After being there that night I know I am over the club scene.  I like bars better.  Pilar, Alejandra and Caro are all from Columbia and they all three share a room in the house.  Vincent is from France and he has a private room.  Paul is from France and Marc is from Spain and the two of them share a room.  The other flatmates did not come out with us on either night.  Mamoun is friends with all the flatmates he lives in Bondi.  This house is crazy and loud but it is a lot of fun.  This definitely an experience I will cherish for the rest of my life. 

Sunday Nights

Cala Luna is closed on Mondays so all of us Chefs have this wonderful day off.  On Sunday nights after work we usually go out for a beer and just relax from a long hectic week.  This has been a great bonding time for me to get to know the Chefs outside the kitchen as well as able to actually have a conversation.  These guys are lot of fun to hang with.  Here are a few pictures from some of our Sunday Night Adventures:

This is how the night usually starts: beers and shots of Tequila

Davide and me

Chef Alessandro, Davide and me after a few

us three again and the guy in the white shirt I don't remember his name but he is french. 

Alessandro and me (he use to work at Cala Luna but hated it too and left.  He is one of Davide's flatmates and best friends
 

Chef Alessandro and me

What a night
 

After we drink a bit we do get hungry so luckily this place has a dumpling bar downstairs.  Johnny Wongs!  Yummy dumplings

 

I do enjoy my Sunday nights out.  This first time we went out I did not have my camera.  There is another Chef that came out the first night but he hasn't since.  His name is Anthony.  Chef Alessandro, Davide and Alessandro are all from Italy and Anthony is from Ireland.  It is pretty cool meeting people from all over the world.

Depression OVER

Yes my friends it has finally happened!  My depression is OVER!  YAY!!  It was getting really bad there for awhile.  My attitude and look on life has changed so much since my last post.  I have been keeping very busy over the past month and now I am going to share all the adventures I have had thus far. 
Firstly, work is getting better.  I have really been bonding with the other Chefs so that has helped. (More on that in another post).  I have changed my attitude on what I am actually doing at work and instead of resisting I have opened my mind and took on the challenge.  I am actually working as a Chef de partie, which means:   A chef de partie, also known as a "station chef" or "line cook",^[2] is in charge of a particular area of production. In large kitchens, each station chef might have several cooks and/or assistants. In most kitchens, however, the station chef is the only worker in that department. Line cooks are often divided into a hierarchy of their own, starting with "first cook", then "second cook", and so on as needed.  (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chef)  I am working the entree section at Cala Luna and one cool thing is as we get new chefs I am training them in "my" section.  I have come along way since my first day at Cala Luna seriously 2 months ago!  Here are some of the dishes I make

Sformatino di Melanzane
Eggplant Sformatino, Buffalo Mozzarella, Tomato Coulis

Saltimbocca di Quaglia
Quail, Guanciale, Beetroot, Polenta & Olive Jus

Carpaccio di Manzo
Pasture Fed Beef Carpaccio, Walnut, Pesto & Testun Di Barolo

Carpaccio di Tonno
Yellow Fin Tuna, Balsoy Citrus & Capers

Gamberi
Yamba River Prawns, Avocado, Tomato & Chilli
 

this dish is not on the menu online so you don't get the fancy Italian name for it and description.  This this the Sea food plate.  One prawn, scampi, deep fried oysters, scallops and a piece of fish depending what the fish of the day is.

There are more plates I just have not been able to photograph them yet. Some of these pictures were taken in a hurry because it was during service.  I know what you are thinking, are you not on a pasty externship?  Well I also get to do some pastry as well.  Here are a few photos I have been able to take:

Millefoglie allo Yogurt
Phillo Millefoglie w/ Yogurt Mousse, Raspberry & Berries Compote

Torta al Cioccolato
Chocolate Tart w/ Chocolate Macaroon Disk, Cashews, Caramel & Chocolate Gelato

Cannolo al Torrole
Sesame Seed Cannoli stuffed w/ Nougart & served w/ Coffee Anglaze & Chocolate
Crumbs
This plate was request for a Happy Birthday message so I got to play with Chocolate too!

Crostata con Crema al Lime
Cream Lime Tart w/ Pineapple & Mango Gelato

I am for sure learning a lot.  More than I thought I would. This is crazy, hard and very hectic, but you know it is growing on me.