UPDATE

Great song eh? If only wishes came true by wishing upon airplanes Haha. The world would be a mess.



Today I met with the owner of Cynthia's Chinese Restaurant. We were chatting and having a general conversation but something he said made me feel real great. I asked him "Hey chinese new years is coming up, you're going to be really busy right?" He replied "No, my clients don't celebrate chinese new year. But its okay, we just have to wait till its our next peek."

After I heard that, I felt very inspired and motivated because I've been to that peek before and now I feel that I'm only half way there. But I am on my way, I just need to finish my cook book and make sure I practice healthy eating. =)

On another note, I went to kitchen stuff plus today to buy some materials for my class. When I got there, I had to go to the washroom Haha but afterward the fun began. This girl was helping me find some items that I needed and she asked me what school I go to. I told her and she replied "cool, cook something for me!" I told her that I am never going to see her again LOL.

Anyways, today I am baking the rest of my left over meringue and so far it doesn't look that great because the egg whites seem dead. I'll try it anyways.

Update you guys in a bit. =)

UPDATE

Even tho I declined it because it didn't work out in my favour its okay. I know a better opportunity will come along. I am probably going to kick myself in the ass sooner or later but its okay. Everything will be fine, when are things never fine?

I have so much on my mind I want to put down but I can't. One day I am going to explode. Haha. Guess I will just keep doing what I do best.

Hehe, so happy today. Never been so satisfied! My cooking / baking is finally getting some recognition! I am going to challenge him in making creme brule and I am going to show him how a "real" chef does it. Haha. Right back to the top.

At chapters today, I picked up a really nice noodle book. The editorial design work was just so simple and clean. Suits me and my style, I had to pick it up. Guess how much. TWO DOLLARS!!! What a steal eh? =) Soon I am going to make a cook book for myself entitled "daniel oliver" and with my graphic design skills I will make it a book that can be used by anybody. Now I just have to fish out the time =)

Two thousand eleven is going to my champion year. Remember this. =)

my personal knife, her name is harmony

Oh my goodness, I am so tired but that is ok. I am use to it. Yesterday I made floating island and it was a long process because I had to make the meringue , custard and caramel sauce.

Here's how you do it:
make your custard recipe

then make the caramel sauce
1 cup of sugar
1 cup of water
bring it a 325F boil. ( thats when it turns into caramel)

meringue:
make your meringue recipe but instead of baking it, put 5 cups of milk in a deep sauce pan and heat it up. Put 3 heaped tablespoons of meringue in. Cook for 30 seconds each side and then take it out and lay it on a paper towel.

Put your custard in a bowl, place the poached meringue on top and lay the caramel sugar on top.

Then enjoy. The taste was quite smooth but it was a little sweet according to my sister but then again that's how much sugar jamie used. I will adjust for next time. =)

my cookbook (working) cover / title

custard in the making

POACHED meringue!

floating island =)

in a bowl =)

UPDATE

Hi guys!


I had such a wonderful weekend! How was yours? Haha obviously you can't answer me that. My weekend was so great that I couldn't sleep last night at all, I just rolled around in bed and thought about yesterday. So awesome.

For some odd reason I've never been so nervous before, maybe it's because of the pressure I give myself. Oh well. I have a secret to tell you guys, I have a dilemma that I can't seem to figure out or come to a conclusion of. What should I do?

Word from the wise:  

Knock the "t" off the "can't." =) 


I can. 


Tonight, Amazing herb salad on a tomato bruschetta. 

we are going to have our own show soon haha

My hands! They hurt so much from lifting weights. I think I need to invest my money on some gloves but then again what am I not investing on nowadays? Funny thing today, I was at the gym and I saw some really old school friends and they commented on my cooking! They were like "Hey daniel! your cooking looks really good man, whats going on? are you doing it for fun or is it a career now?" The answer and question will always be the same. Its just a hobby, nothing serious.

Got home today made a "Amazing herb salad on a tomato bruschetta."

Here's how you make it:

roughly cut the tomatoes
add salt
olive oil
balsamic vinegar
chilli
then let it sit for a while so that the juices come out of the tomatoes

dressing:
three times the olive oil
half a lemon
salt
pepper

then toss in:
arugula
mixed fresh herbs

Toast your bread, stack the tomatoes on it and then top it off with the mixed salad dressing.

Lastly enjoy!
The taste was quite zingy with the chilli and lemon. I downed it so fast after my work out I didn't know what else to say. My sister and grandma had some and they loved it.

blurry picture! sorry =(

Today was so cold! Shopping at no frills with a bunch of friends was not a good idea. It was so packed because of this one dollar deal going on. So not cool but you know what I noticed? I stopped eating junk food, seriously. After cooking for so long, I felt that whenever I need to snack on something, I would just make something healthy instead of eating chips or candy.

Anyways today I finished the Ultimate fruit meringue for my uncle's friend; Charles. What I learned this time was how to perfect the CARAMEL sauce!

Turns out this is how you do it:
one cup of sugar
one cup of water
bring to a boil
and slower let it simmer and let it thick a bit in low heat of course.
before you pour it on the cake, let it cool a bit first so that it thickens.
then go crazy =)

I felt so satisfying mastering this technique. Now I don't always have to guess or fluke it. It takes time you know. Haha.

When my uncle saw the cake, he was so happy and he showed it off to his friends when they arrived. Charles was so happy and he asked me when did I start cooking/baking and that if I would get into it seriously. I told him it was just a hobby and was just for fun. Charles was happy, my uncle was happy therefore it made me really happy and it felt great! It felt like I made my uncle proud.

Welp, I delivered like I said I would. Enjoy these pictures my friends. =)

my fav!!!

the caramel sauce! i should have cooked it longer but its okay

he was bending far backwards but I took the picture a little late 

another look!

UPDATE



Hey guys, I came home late from a birthday party and my uncle wants me to make a birthday cake for his friends birthday. He requested the "Ultimate fruit meringue with vanilla cream." So I spent the night baking the meringue but its not finished yet because I still need to make the cream and buy the fruits. He wants it to be fresh!

I will keep you guys updated. =)

So today was my first day at SJB and it was pretty confusing. First, my friend and I got off at the right station but then we didn't know that we had to walk a bit to the campus. So we were asking for directions and people thought we were tourists or something. Clearly we didn't know our way but after stealing some wifi at starbucks, we finally made it to class late.

Our teacher is pretty cool, she works at four seasons hotel as a head chef and she used to go to SJB. Very laid back person and her tools were just amazing.

This is whats stupid, the hidden fees. We have to buy our own tools, like knife, grater etc. But oh well its okay. Kinda expected it. Through the 12 weeks, we are baking a lot of different things ranging from pies, cakes and bread! Which is really cool. I can't wait.

In the class there's a lot of asian girls but no young asian guys like me. So I feel kinda of out of place but that won't stop me from being the top.

My goal is:
Finish this course with high standards
Meet everyone in the classroom
Help out and learn from others
Just overall be friendly and approachable. =)

When she went through the course syllabus, I was quite scared of the amount of work but I know for sure, I will make it! Just wait and see. The fire burning inside of me is my motivation.

Some fun:
My friend noticed this guy who looked korean or japanese and she asked me or dared me to ask if he either of them. So I walked up to him and asked him "excuse me, are you japanese of korean?" He was like "neither" LOL

Turns out he is cantonese with awesome style.

My arms and chest feel like jelly but its a good thing right? Haha. I would assume so, you know what I learned? I learned how to enjoy myself along with food. Yesterday when I came home late, it felt really great to actually come home and cook something good for myself and myself only.

Right now, I am just chilling, on youtube, drinking green tea and thinking about what to cook tonight. Actually, I know what I am cooking already. This weekend is going to be an AWESOME weekend and tomorrow is my first day of class! I can't wait. I heard great things about it

Let me tell you, take things easy and relax. There is more to life than increasing its speed. So take it slow, whatever you are doing that is or going to do. Be patient, it takes time. That's how I see it. =P

i heard this is a great movie! i am going to check it out