hellooooooo. this past week was Asia week, and we started with Japan: Japan: Sunomono (pickled cucumber and seaweed salad)

Okonomiyaki (cabbage pancake - yum!)
maki (sushi)
Tuesday was India week: Chappati, Lamb Roganjosh, aaaaaand Stewed Tomato Relish i think
Samosas!! yummy.

Aloo Gobi Dalna (Cauliflower and Potato Curry), Pork Vindaloo, Lemon Pulloa (rice dish)

Soup Mulligatwany, Naan, Mint Chutney, Eggplant Curry, Kachumber Salad

Fish Amrisari
Dal Panch Phoron (red lentil...stew)
Chicken Tikka

Wednesday & Thursday were China days: Stir Fried Lotus Root

Clams with Black Beans (i can't for the life of me un-underline these so we will all suffer through)
Double Cooked Snake Beans
Ginger Animal with a Shaved Head (lol)
Cantonese Style Steamed Fish

Deep Fried White Fish

Steamed BBQ Pork Buns - FAVORITE!!
(on the inside)
Mapo Tofu, Turnip Cake
Har Gow (chinese perogies w/ shrimp filling)

Shanghai Bok Choy

Spring Onion Pancake (more like a flatbread)

Phew. that is a lot of food. contrary to my thoughts before this week began, i actually enjoyed many (but not all) of the dishes! Especially the steamed pork buns...mmmmmmmm. This week we got Friday off because we had school on Remembrance Day. Phil also had the day off, so we went on a little adventure around our area. We went to a park near the ocean, up Cypress Mountain, and more inland to Deep Cove, where we had 'lunch' (it was 3 o'clock) at a Bistro. Here's some pics!

see the seals?

today i did an observation at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver. It is HUGE. and i only saw the food prep areas!! it's like 3 whole floors of kitchens! very easy to get lost. I started in the banquet department (which handles plated meals and buffets), and then spent the last 2 hours in the department that handles the restaurant and lounge. There wasn't a lot going on today, so it was a little slow, and i did a lot of cutting up vegetables. I enjoyed helping plate the lunch, which they do on a conveyor belt, and how nice everyone was. At the end the chef(s) graded me, and they mentioned that for the amount of experience I have, my knife skills are good! although i had an alright time, i don't think i'd like to work there; it's very dreary (not many windows at all) and i think i'd get depressed. Next weekend I'm doing an observation with a catering company. Should be interesting!

In other news, I'LL BE DONE IN 5 WEEKS!!!!