Class Sit In

Last Tuesday, I had the great pleasure of doing a class "sit in" at the culinary institute. I wasn't really sure what to expect from a class sit in, especially given what I had already heard about the classes I wasn't sure how a class sit in would work.

I quickly learned that "sit in" was the wrong term. When I arrived the admissions counselor threw a lab coat on me and quickly shuffled me off to the where the pastry students were. There they were working on Petit Fours.

I was really shy at first I wasn't really sure what I was meant to ask. After a moment of standing there and watching all of them work a very nice young woman had placed her chocolate decorations in the freezer and took a moment to discuss what she thought about the program. Overall she seemed to enjoy it, she told me the program is really fast paced but at the same time you use the same techniques over and over so you get used to them.

All the students were really nice and even offered me a mini Opera cake and a mini Lemon tart. I must admit I had some difficulty understanding the Chef as he has a very thick french accent, but the students assured me that if accepted I would get used it.

I spoke with one student who actually just left her job in a marketing industry to come. She said it was competitive and interesting but it wasn't satisfying. I told her about how I was finishing business school with a marketing degree and she just smiled. I told her about how long I've known that I wanted to be a baker and she wished me luck on my application.

One guy told me about how he was on the team for the school and how they've begun team practices. I really like the idea of trying out for the team if I get into the school.

At the end of my sit in everyone pulled out cameras to take pictures of their work which put a smile on my face. It's good to know that if I get in I'll be able to take pictures of all my work.