So... the first post of 2011, happy new year to the readers! It's late, but still better than nothing! The pic on the top is not a great picture, but best bites from CJWDT'10. Guess what? This is "Bonjiri" which is chicken "tail" yakitori from Toriyoshi restaurant in Kichijyouji. Wonder how many people ever eat this, but it is SO GOOD!! It's like eating bone marrow with super thin crispy chicken skin, super juicy, fatty and melty... When I bite it, it's like explosion of fatty chicken jus full of flavor!! I can't wait to make new dishes inspired by this!!
Anyway... let me start here... It has been quite tough time for me and I just need to have a distance from cooking itself. I mean I have been no employee over 6 months(!!) now and no place to cook professionally, what I would think or write on this blog? But here I go again!!
CJWDT'10... Charles John World Domination Tour'10 (Actually I think the name sounds stupid, childish and cheesy, but what I should call then since the name perfectly describe what it is!) is officialy OVER, finito. It has been rough ride.... 11 countries in 6 months. Through the Journey, some Michelin star dining, tried many regional specialties, seeing local markets, discovering new ingredients, got so many culinary inspirations, made some connections over the world. As a result, I got 11 stage, 6 official job offers and 4 unofficial job offers in CJWDT'10.
There were many issues in this journey, as follows:
1. The journey was way too long. >> It could be 3 months, need to research and plan out ahead much more efficient and PUSH!
2. Lost my wallet, broke my camera and cell phone through the journey, >> MORE FOCUS, period.
3. Sent back from London to Barcelona by the immigration >> UK immigratations are idiots, but I should use train or boat to get in next time(if there is).
4. No stage in Barcelona, 11 total stages >> It should be DOUBLE at least. I should write down "I'm willing to stage despite the job opening" on my resume which I didn't. Next time.
5. Luggage was too heavy for little American, 27 kg, half of my weight >> I should cut down the kitchen tools and knives(maybe 2 knives!), also need Mac air or smaller and lighter laptop, should be only one shoes and others. I would say 17kg is my goal for CJWDT'12.
6. No job eventually >> I must admit I was extremely picky about my job, but alsoI think I just had no luck and bad timing like December and January. CJWDT’12: VENGEANCE IS MINE.
Just seeing the result itself " I couldn't find my job in Europe", I failed my mission, no excuse. Right now I'm a shameful garbage, fatal failure and miserable loser, that's what I am. But I'm sure that all these experiences will help my culinary journey in the future. Next round, I'll take my vengeance. So I gonna just hold my head up and moving forward.
And... yesterday I arrived at Los Angels, California! Get real to find a job, the priority is not where I work, it’s what I can learn. And to find my job, the U.S. have better chance than Australia, so I decided to come to the U.S. I don't care where I go at all, I just want to work the restaurant where people work with passion & spirit(mentality) and inspire my culinary creativity. Let me hope very soon I can go back to where I belong, my sanctuary, the kitchen!! Destination anywhere...
Labels: CJWDT'10
