Saturday, 08 September 2012 00:00

Chef's passion is plain to see

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Today was another great day in the kitchen, I am in absolute awe of the regiment in Casa Gerardo. It is amazing to watch chef Marcos work, always ideas and experiments running through his mind, even if it's all in Spanish, I can see the passion flowing through his expression. A lot of excitement for his new project in London, England. He is consistently going back and forth between Spain and London at the moment working on new ideas and business plans.

I started my day much like yesterday as those things are becoming familiar to me. Preparing the meats for the faba dish and lots of vacuum sealing, something which I am not used to working with. There is an immense amount of cleaning daily here, hence why the kitchen shines beautifully!

I very much enjoy that the whole staff sits down for a meal before starting lunch service. Though I may not understand a lot of what is said over lunch, it's nice to watch everyone enjoy together like a second family.

I am slowly learning some secrets behind the masterpieces, like why the faba dish is so creamy and delicious with a nice hunk of butter making its way in the preparation. I also really enjoy the smell of burning sugar that fills the air during service of the brulee rice pudding and soaked bread dessert, must find the proper Spanish name for this dish!

Many sorbets are produced in the kitchen, some flavours being cherry, lemon, chocolate and passionfruit. One particular dessert is dredged in Bailey's, right up my alley, topped with chocolate ice cream.

I am also very excited for my day off on Monday, filled with friends, beach, food and drink! Not to mention a family who has helped me out very much and would like to cook me a Spanish paella! Mmmm! Everything is enjoyable, it's nice to be free of my Canadian mind and be caught up with an oblivious mind to beautiful culture :) Not to mention my favourite cervazas, Estrella, at my finger tips!

Cheers to my first Spanish weekend since 2009! Ciao!

Brianne Nash

Brianne Nash, head chef at Saucy restaurant in Mississauga, was our 2012 Discovered Culinary Competition winner! She won the contest featuring up-and-coming culinary stars competing against the clock, at  the Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association show in Toronto. Chef Nash's prize was an all-expenses-paid trip to spend a week cooking at Casa Gerardo, a Michelin-star restaurant in northern Spain.

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