Firsts of all kinds.

Good morning!

I had the best intentions to come home last night and write a bit before bed, but after an hour long conversation with Christina about my first day...another of our roommates was on Skype in the living room so I didn't want to just plop down next to her and start typing. I suppose part of having five roommates means getting used to that, but from someone who lived alone for so long it is just taking a little time.

I started at my restaurant last night. I was really nervous going into it, more because I wasn't sure what I'd be doing or where they'd put me. Everyone here so far has had such different experiences, it's hard to have any real idea of what is going to happen when you haven't done it yet. I still had a little bit of e-learning to do, but they left me in there a lot longer than I needed so I spent the first half hour or so emailing with my better half (you know it's true, Val). Afterward, my trainer walked me upstairs and gave me a tour of the kitchens. Yes, I said kitchens. This place is huge and there are four kitchens that basically all link together. Once she'd shown me where the exits were and all that safety jazz, she released me to my Chef.

I've never been more nervous and excited all at once before. Everyone in the kitchen that I met was so nice and welcoming and they all greeted me by name (wearing a nametag comes in real handy). One of the women in the kitchen kind of took me under her wing and showed me around a lot, so I'm really excited to be working with her. After I helped Chef Matt and Suzie peel some tiny heirloom tomatoes he handed me off to my trainer for the night and told me I'd be on pantry. For those that don't know, pantry is generally cold appetizers and salads but here it also includes dessert.

One of my favorite things about the restaurant that I'm in is that they change the menu so frequently, they print it every day for the cast. We do a lot of seasonal items and right now, it's heirloom tomatoes. If you've never had an heirloom tomato, I suggest you go and buy one, slice it up drizzle with some olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper and just dig in. Oh. My. Tomato. It's one of the most delicious things you'll ever taste. In school, there was one day that I think Christina, David and I polished off two or three just while we were cooking.

And if you want to learn about heirloom tomatoes, that's great too. There are so many varieties, and they're just gorgeous when you cut into them. And juicy...and fresh....and tender...okay, sorry. I got carried away and now my mouth is watering. Moving forward...

So, heirloom tomatoes and then these peaches. They are specially picked by this man who has a peach orchard in California. He will only allow his family to pick them so every year during harvest season he flies them out to his farm and they hand pick these peaches. My Chef described it to me like this...imagine the best peach you've ever had. One where you bite into it and the juice is running down your chin and it's tender and sweet and perfect....this is better than that.

Did I mention that I want to eat one of these peaches? Ohhhh my. Just the smell of them got me drooling on myself.

I suppose the fastest way to explain the next seven hours of my day is this....I learned how to work the pantry station. My trainer showed me how to make everything and I took a lot of notes and pictures and after about half an hour, he started letting me make things myself. About an hour later, he would just randomly leave me alone at the station while he went to do other things. It wasn't a terribly busy night, but it was a wonderful way to get my feet wet. I had an absolute blast and my feet hurt at the end of the night and I was so tired I basically came home and went to bed after sharing my day with Christina.

I was given the opportunity to stay for a little extra time so I could help everyone clean up and shut down the kitchen, so of course I took it and I'm actually excited about going back and learning more tonight. Despite my crappy shoes and the fact that I woke up this morning to a note from our complex explaining that they are replacing the carpet in our bedrooms so we had to move everything out (there's a surefire way to get me to finish unpacking).

Here are just a few of the things we offer at my place, if you make it to the Orlando area you should come and say hello and eat some delicious food.

This is one of our signature desserts, it is a blueberry cobbler with fresh berries and raspberry ice cream that is made in house.

This is a no sugar added dessert. It's a raspberry mousse, fresh fruit and no sugar ice cream.

The heirloom tomato salad with thinly sliced sweet onion, seventeen year balsamic, olive oil and buffalo mozzarella foam. Ohhhhhhhhh my sweet baby tomato. So delicious.

So, at the end of the day, I'm a happy girl. I work with really wonderful people, I live with even better, and I'm getting to expand and explore into a world that I've only dreamed about being a part of. I was going to indulge you all with a recipe today, but I think I've rambled on enough and will give you one tomorrow. My mind is already wandering to Vietnam and some of the best caramelized chicken I've ever had (or made, for that matter). I hope you have fish sauce.

"If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world."-J.R.R. Tolkien

Happy eating,
Lauren