Winter Break

Sometimes you don't realize how tired you are until the break starts. I've been enjoying the last few days and I have to admit that I am just being lazy and enjoying my time off. It's wonderful when you have no appointments, no due dates, no classes, and no homework. I still have to go to work but that's a breeze right now. It is great to simply relax and I really don't understand why so many students pick up extra hours at work during the break (part from money, of course). I need this time to recharge and to get ready for the next quarter. I've picked my classes and ordered my packs, and I've put away my notes and books from the last quarter. I am ready to learn new things.

Claudia (December #2)

December

December is always a slow time at Sullivan. Not that many activities because everybody is already busy with Christmas preparations and office parties and finals and then there's the Christmas break. So there is not really that much to report.
I've been busy with my final papers and studying and looking forward to the break. So far we have bee lucky and the weather has kept us from any delays or missed classes. That's always a plus.
I can't believe that 2014 is coming to a close and that 2015 is just around the corner. I have four quarters or 12 classes left to finish my Bachelor's Degree. Only one more quarter left with a night class and then I go completely online - I can not wait! I do not like my night classes and I like online classes so much better. It seems that  have such a hard time concentrating in class after 6 o'clock and the night classes are from six to 9:40 p.m. I really admire people who complete their whole degree with night classes!
Anyways, Merry Christmas, everybody.

Claudia (December #1)

Internship Time

I started my internship today. After a lot of deliberation, I chose to intern at the Seelbach Hilton Hotel in downtown Louisville. I had been asked to interview for a position in Las Vegas at the Cosmopolitan Hotel; however, my parents were not crazy about me moving there alone, and I also would have to buy out of my lease here and find somewhere else. The timing just wasn't right. I still wanted to get some experience at a hotel, and the Seelbach is the perfect spot. I made mirror glaze and helped in plating desserts for New Year's Eve parties today. My boyfriend will begin his culinary internship in Key Largo soon as well. For three months we will both be busy bees far away from each other. But it's still so exciting, and I think I will really enjoy the hotel business.

-Kate Richter

Saying Goodbye.

Now comes my time to say goodbye.  After 15 months here at Sullivan University, I'm headed back to Michigan.  Today I cleaned the lab for the last time, started to say goodbye to some of my instructors and classmates.  Now I'm in the process of studying for my exams tomorrow and getting ready for my farewell dinner with friends tonight.  It's bitter sweet today.  I have been looking forward to moving home for so long that now that it is here, I'm not sure what to do.

I do want to say that being here at Sullivan has made me grow in more ways than just in my Culinary career.  It has made me grown up, and learn more about myself and about those around me.

I am extremely excited about the next stage in my life, but I do have to say goodbye now.  So thanks Sullivan!


Lauren Steele

Last Practical

This week marks my last practical ever at Sullivan University. That means that it is the last time that I have to bake something in a certain amount of time of a certain quality for a chef to grade. Surprisingly, they seem to get easier as you go. Last week, I had one, but it was pretty much a review from the last few quarters. This week, I am doing a group practical. My group is pretty much already done and we have two days left to work. We are doing a Disney themed buffet with foods from a few of the different countries that Disney princesses are from. It has been a lot of fun. This Thursday, I have an interview for interning at the Seelbach Hilton hotel in downtown Louisville. I am really excited! It will be a great experience in the hotel business!

-Kate Richter

Things People Don't Understand About Culinary Students

I wrote this post on my personal blog, thought I would share!

We have real college degrees. 
We took English and math classes just like you.  I will not use my intro to physiology or religion classes in the kitchen, but I still had to take them.

We love it when people cook for us.  
Please don't be scared to make us food.  We are food lovers not food critics.

We have weird names for things. 
"Robokus" are food processor.  "French" means knife. "Up at" means serve. "Side towels" are pot holders.

We talk fast, use a lot of French terms, and don't measure.
Get used to it.

We laugh at one-use kitchen tools. 
Apple slicer? We have a knife for that.

We are passionate learners.We learn best by mistakes, so expect some experiments that are disgusting or delicious... and if its good, don't ask us to replicate it the next night.  We weren't paying that much attention, we won't remember.

We can work noon to midnight and still have energy to burn.
Our jobs are exciting and hard.  Adrenaline gets us through a shift and it hangs around for a few hours after.  If you want us to come home after work, we are gonna make noise... let us go out with the gang and grab food and drinks before we come home.

We hate being still.
Don't ask us to sit till the job is done.

We call things out.
"Sharp! Hot! Open! Behind! Hot and sloppy!" When we yell, pay attention.

We love people and serving them.
Which means working nights, weekends, and holidays.  Don't get upset about us missing Mothers Day... again.

We hate doing dishes, but we hate not doing them.
Things have to be clean, and it drives us crazy when they aren't

We don't like people to touch our knives. Don't.
Our knives are an extension of our arms.  We know when they need to be sharpened, how they should be weighted, how the grip should be molded, and how we liked them cleaned.  Taking our knives is like taking away the keys from a teenager on their sixteenth birthday.  Expect some screaming.

We will ask you to do things, but if you aren't fast enough, we will do them 

ourselves.
Don't get upset with us... we are just trying to get the job done.
We keep the sinks empty unless washing something.
If we find something sharp hiding under the suds, you will get yelled at.

We have a flow.
If you mess with it, we will get flustered.  It's just one of those weird ticks we have.

Here is the link if you would like to read some more! Click HERE!

-Lauren