Philippine Markets

A trip to Manila during spring break to reminisce smells, taste, sounds and feels.A side trip to Seoul to visit a former student who opened a bakery in a trendy downtown Seoul neighborhood, and a stop in Los Angeles to have dinner with a chilhood friend.  All these in a few days got me exhausted and a lingering cough to this day.

Buko:  fresh young coconut, refreshing, healthy

Kamias:  souring agents for many Filipino food, including sinigang and paksiw

Philippine Avocados, Mangosteens and mangoes

But of course, the Philippines will have their own version of the ever popular cupcakes

Duhat, very similar in appearance to a cherry, but totally different in taste and is a member of the Myrtaceae

Shopping For Flowers

Shopping for Fish and Meat

and finally, at last, the beaches.......

Sadly, I left my camera at  home in West Chicago and had to give my borrowed camera back to my sister...so I do not have pictures of Korea other than those in my Tracfone, and they are impossible to retrieve.

Spring Bake Sale 2010

Pastillage Easter eggs filled with chocolate bonbons, decorated cookies, assorted chocolate bunnies and eggs, macarrons, souffle cookies, tool and equipment garage sale...all on sale...to benifit the Garden Club...

where.....Le Cordon Bleu Chicago Mezzanine Foyer, March 23 -24 10:00 am.  Please bring cash..

Changing Lives Through Education: Commitment to Excellence Conference 2010: Fajardo, Puerto Rico

The El Conquistador Hotel was the site of the 2010 CEC Commitment to Excellence Conference.  Six members of the Le Cordon Bleu Chicago, representated Management, Faculty, Admissions, Finance and and Career Services to the 4-day event highlighted by the attendance of Gary McCullough, CEC President, and William Bennett, former US Secretary of Education. The conference pointed out the importance of not just the business metrics but more significantly student outcomes.Most meaningful for me was learning about the other SBUs that comprise the entire CEC Company. Before the conference, I did not know who AIU was, nor Sanford Brown, or Instituto Marangoni or INSEEC.  There is hope that a better realationship and company pride is fostered because of these meetings.

Another highlight of the conference was the culmination of weeks of practice of Oprah's Mob Dance presented by our very own SBU Culinary. Anna Vasquez led the entire team in our performance of the dance to the Black Eyed Pea's I Gotta Feeling. We rocked.  The crowd was so surprised with the presentation that we were given a standing ovation.  People talked about it til culmination of the conference.

The Beach Olympics was also exhilirating, competitive, but  all for fun.  I could have died of laughter from the coco loco game.  Everyone complained of body pains and muscle aches day after the event at Seven Seas Beach not far from the hotel.

Fancy dinners, great people, awards, you think you do a good job,  but you meet some of the best in your field,  and you are humbled....

Chicago Foodservice Managers Club

Two students:  Kiki Chritophalos (Culinary) and Tiffany Helms(Baking and Pastry) were awarded scholarships by the Chicago Foodservice Managers Club during a dinner banquet held at the corporate headquarters of Eli's Cheesecake.  Chefs John Montanile and Mike Salzinki were present with the students at the award ceremonies.  To showcase their skill, Kiki prepared a few hundred  hors d'oeurves for the invited guests and Tiffany selected a variety of petit fours for her sampler.  As always, our table was the best, thanks to flower arrangements by Chef John.

Chocolate Bacon Bar

http://www.time.com/time/video/player/0,32068,6807851001_1870752,00.html

Chocolate vs the Drug Lords: Peru's move from Coca to Cacao

http://www.time.com/time/video/player/0,32068,6807851001_1870752,00.html

Cacao Farmers

One of my goals of retirement is owning a farm in my home, the Philippines, specifically, cacao trees.  Cacao trees are easy and fast growing.  They thrive under taller trees and can be productive only after 5 years.  They also produce pods all year, and there is always a market, domestic or international.  The World Cocoa Federation is well represented in poor countries all over the world.  It encourages small farmers and coops to grow trees and they also provide resources for interested governments and farmers.