My Grandma 70th Birthday

G’day Mates, recently I celebrated my grandma’s (abuela) birthday in Chicago! Since being away from my family for a long period of time, I make sure I found an excuse to visit them. Although I have school and work during the week I found a way to make a quick trip to sweet home Chicago. As usual I drove down to Milwaukee to catch a Greyhound bus down to Chicago, but this time I made a detour to Potawatomi Casino in Milwaukee. I didn’t stay long because I had to make sure I didn’t miss my bus. I didn’t win or lose much, but it was enough to get the casino rush in. Afterwards I got on the bus and headed down to Chicago. It is always nice to get away and do things that I can’t do in Fond du Lac, such as Chicago style food, more shopping options, and of course check out the city life. As I arrived in Chicago my mom picked me from the Greyhound station then we headed to the store to pick some items for my Grandma’s birthday eve dinner. We made tacos and fries and for dessert we made an apple pie and it was delicious. The following day I made a birthday breakfast for my grandma and family. We had pancakes with applesauce, sausage, and eggs. Once we finished breakfast we got ready to take care of some errands. Although we didn’t do anything huge for my grandma’s birthday, I had a great time spending time with them. I am jealous my mom and grandma are going to the Bahamas for my grandma birthday gift in two weeks. I am hoping we all can do a family trip to Hawaii next summer, especially since I have not been able to do a family trip since I was in first grade. We have a lot of catching up to do. Later on my family dropped me off at the bus station so I could head back to Fond du Lac, and finish the rest of my week off. I am already looking forward seeing my family again in January and to start planning my trip to Hawaii! Until then catch you soon! Cheers, Lee IV

Chicago in August

To kick off the month of August I headed down to Chicago to visit my family and enjoyed being outside of Fond du Lac. Like usual I took the Greyhound bus from Fond du Lac to Chicago to avoid driving, traffic, and to save on gas. For a round trip it cost $65 which is a great cost for a nice getaway. Shortly after I met up with my mom and step-father as they picked me up f

rom the train station. We caught up on the latest news in the city and checked out the newest stores. My mother made sure I went to this one donut shop called Dat Donut who is known for their delicious donuts. They have huge cinnamon buns and donuts that are the size of my head. As you can see in my pictures they are beyond huge. The following day we traveled around the city and I was able to see my brothers and grandma. My day in Chicago was beautiful and the weather was warm with blue skies, I couldn’t ask for much more. One of my favorite places to visit in the city is the north side because it filled with restaurants, stores, beautiful homes, and parks. One town in particular I recommend visiting is the Lincoln Park area. Once you visit here you’ll probably fall in love with this little town in the city. On my last day in Chicago I went to watch my favorite baseball team the Chicago White Sox play against the Kansas City Royals. I went with my girlfriend, mom, and step-dad and we had some great seats on the third base side. I haven’t been to the Sox stadium in years, so it was great being back and cheering on the White Sox. They played a great game and they ended up beating the Royals 4-2; I was ecstatic I couldn’t ask for any better game. As all good thing come to an end we all headed back home, and started packing for my return to Fond du Lac. Now it is back to reality to get ready for another week of work, but I’ll catch you soon in my next blog. Cheers, Lee IV

Soccer match in Chicago

The one thing I love about summer is the endless possibilities of things to do at the spare moment. For example, one of my friends posted on Facebook asking anybody if they wanted free tickets to watch a soccer match in Chicago at Wrigley Field. Within seconds I quickly responded and got four free tickets, and the only thing I had to purchase was the bus ticket from Milwaukee. I asked three of my friends to join me and they quickly responded as well. As we arrived in Chicago I was excited to watch one of my favorite Italian team AS Roma play against a Polish team Lublin. The city was filled with people dressed up in their team uniform and colors. Another remarkable thing about this event was this was the first soccer game at Wrigley Field, and I was able to witness a historical event. Once the game kicked off AS Roma scored within a minute, and they didn’t stop there. Throughout the match both teams played a tough match, but AS Roma played harder. I made sure since I was in Chicago I ate some of my favorite dishes such as the Italian beef sandwich, a real deep dish pizza, and a Chicago hot dog without ketchup. The second half of the match AS Roma still controlled the game and was able to shutout the Polish team 4-0. My friends and I were glad we had the chance to watch an awesome match and be in Chicago. After the game we walked around the city before heading back to Wisconsin. It was a fun day trip, and I am looking forward for more random days of summer.

MPTC Culinary Club goes to 2012 Chicago Food Show

G’day Mates! Recently, members of the culinary club and I headed down to Chicago for the 2012 National Restaurant Association at the McCormick Place. In order to participate in this trip we had to volunteer forty hours throughout the school year as part of our club dues. The National Res

taurant Food Show in Chicago is similar to Wisconsin’s Food Show, but is triple the size and I mean literally super massive. We stayed at Hotel 71 which is a prime location in downtown Chicago and minutes away from the food show. I was excited to stay at this hotel because this is the same spot where the film “The Dark Knight” was filmed. As we checked in I found out my room was on the top level on the 39^th floor, and the views were amazing.

After checking in we got on a shuttle bus to attend the Food Show at the McCormick Place. When we entered the building my eyes got huge because I realized how big the Food Show was. Numerous food companies were everywhere including food products, drinks, and even marketing firms. There were so many things to see that I didn’t know where to start. We decided to divide and conquer to see all the attractions and sample the various products. Throughout the show I talked to different people and networked to hopefully find a potential career in the near future. After awhile I got tired because of all the walking. We were there for seven hours and we still didn’t see everything. I recommend if you have the chance to attend the Chicago Food Show to attend at least two days so you don’t have to rush through things and can enjoy the time there.

When the food show came to an end we headed back to our hotel to change clothes for dinner. We attended a restaurant called Vermillion, which is located a block away from Michigan Avenue in downtown Chicago. Vermillion is a fusion type restaurant that specializes in India and Mexican cuisines. I was excited to check out the restaurant because I love both styles of cuisines, and combining these two was amazing. There were eleven of us and we basically tried everything on the menu. The food was amazing. For the entrée I decided to try a Red Fish mixed with vegetables. Although the waiter said this was the spiciest item on the menu, I didn’t believe him because I love spicy food. When my food came I dug right into my food and the waiter was not lying this dish was beyond spicy. It had great flavor but the spice behind the meat was so overwhelming I began to sweat. After that I could barely finish my meal, but I kept going because the flavor was delicious although the heat kept coming back hotter. As we finished our entree we ordered desserts and they were beyond amazing. The flavors were out of this world, and the decorations were fantastic! Once dessert was done we were full, but a healthy full since all the ingredients were freshly made. We decided to walk back since the weather was nice. We even saw a super nova moon, which is when the moon is closest to the Earth’s atmosphere than any other time of the year. I wish I had a better camera because this moon was beautiful, and I couldn’t get the quality picture I wanted. After a successful fun day it was time for bed. Until next time, ciao!

Cheers,

Lee IV

My South Korea Restaurant Day

Ahoy Mates! May 3 was the day I have been waiting for all semester. I had my restaurant day with a South Korean Menu. I was nervous because I wanted to make sure the food was tasty and the appearance of everything was pleasant. At the same time I was super excited to have my day because I was able to use my own creativity and show what I learned in class. Another reason I was excited was because my family from Chicago came up for lunch. Since I barely see them; for them to come up was an honor to show off Moraine Park. In the morning I set up decorations for my restaurant and set the task for the team to start to get ready for cook off time. When lunch time came I was ready to shake and bake! Me being the host/manager I was able to greet people and talk to the guests. Halfway through my family came; we hugged one another with joy. As they received their food, I checked around with people to see how their food was and people loved it. My family adored the lay out of my food, center pieces, and choice of ethnic region. After this I felt confident that I have the potential of owning a restaurant one day because I love making great food and speaking with people. After my restaurant class was finished I took my family to Blessed Bee Cupcakes on Main Street. They loved the little shop, and the choices they had. Shortly afterwards I showed my family my new house. They loved it especially since it is a upgrade from the previous house. Once the tour was complete my family headed back home to Chicago, and I finished unpacking my boxes. After a day like that I was finished and was completely wiped out. I’ll catch you on the next blog as I head down to sweet home Chicago. Cheers, Lee IV

Visiting the Windy City

Howdy mates, on April 5, I traveled down to Chicago to visit my family and to celebrate my religion Feast of Unleavened Bread. I was super excited to see my family and people I haven’t seen in a long time from church. I drove down to Milwaukee to take the Greyhound Bus to Chicago. The reason why I took the bus is because I hate driving through traffic, so I figured it would be easier for someone to do the driving in heavy traffic. As I entered the Windy City of Chicago, I realized how much I love big cities due to skyscrapers, variety of food, and the numerous things to do. Once my parents came to pick me up we headed to church to feast. I had a great time with everyone talking about the past, and discussing future events to do as a family. After we finished our meal I was super stuffed, but everything was delicious. Afterwards we headed home, and since I was super tired I fell asleep immediately when I got in bed.
The next morning my mother made breakfast for the family. We had eggs, beef bacon, potatoes, and coffee. I must say nothing beats a home cooked meal, although my family misses my cooking as well. After we finished breakfast we headed downtown so I could catch the bus back to Fond du Lac. I decided to hang out with my family a little longer to check out stores, and shop around. Of course when you are having fun time goes by fast, so I had to sadly leave. As I was walking to the bus station I made sure I stopped by my favorite places before going back to Wisconsin. I stopped at a restaurant called Pre-A-Manager which is a place where they serve fresh food daily, and the left over foods are donated to a local food pantry. Next I stopped at my favorite coffee shop Dunkin Donuts; I love this place because the coffee and the price are amazing. Afterwards I continued my journey to the bus station to head back to Fond du Lac. The ride back was smooth and the weather was very pleasant, and I finally made it home. I was a bit tired from the journey, but hopefully next time I will to see my family longer. Well mates I guess it is time to dock the ship, for the weekend ahead.

Cheers,
Lee IV

Week 2 of school

G’day Mates, after a busy weekend of working and playing soccer it was time to get ready for week two of school. In my Food Principles class we went over culinary terms, and talked about how we can use these terms in our career. There were a lot of terms I was unaware of because I haven’t had much experience in the food industry, and some of the terms originated from French or Italian cuisine. Nevertheless I gained knowledge of using these terms to communicate with people, and utilize culinary terms into my writing. After class I had a two hour break before my next class, so I decided to get a haircut at Techniques salon on campus. The cosmetology department offers a hair salon that is open to the public for a reasonable cost. This allows the students to gain more experience cutting and styling hair. I figured since the students don’t get much experience on men’s hair I would assist by letting them cut my hair. The one student was a bit nervous, but I told her no worries it’s the only way you have to get practice so no pressure. During the haircut the instructor kept checking to make sure everything was going well, and to say the least, I was satisfied with my haircut. After my haircut they shampooed and conditioned my hair all for seven dollars which is a great bargain. I told them I would come back and recommend others to come here for haircuts. Click here to see a list of their services: http://www.morainepark.edu/services/techniques-salon/#student-labs

Afterwards I got some lunch in the cafeteria then headed into my Food Styling class. We went over our recipes and ideas of how we wanted to design our plating for the food competition next month on March 12 in Milwaukee. With the students in class we have a lot of fun making jokes and coming up with new ideas to have the opportunity to win and place in the competition. I am super excited and nervous but this will give me more experience and make me a better person by challenging myself. After class I got ready for our first culinary club meeting. In this meeting we introduced new members to the club, and talked about our plans for fundraisers this semester. We have to do with a busy schedule ahead, but that is what we best working under pressure and getting things accomplish. Our main goal is to raise money for our Germany trip which is open for everyone including nonstudents, and our food show in Chicago. Both of these trips will be held in May, if you want more information check out the culinary corner board or contact me for more information. Our meetings for the culinary club will held every Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. in room A111, so don’t hesitate, come join the fun! Well mates after a long day, it is time for me to do some homework. I’ll catch you on the next voyage!

Cheers,
Lee IV

Hasta Luego Chicago!

Well today is my last day in Chicago. Every time I am having fun time always tends to go fast. My mom was kind enough to drop me off at the bus station in the Chicago. As we drove through the city the skyline is one of the beautiful scenes than any other city I have seen yet. I gave my mom a hug as she dropped me off, then I quickly jogged to the bus to make sure I didn’t miss my bus. Then another surprise came along as my friend Tyler decided to come back to Fond du Lac, Wisconsin for a couple of days to visit. He is one of the fewest friends from Chicago who actually came up to visit me here in town. We both got on the Mega bus and headed off to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. During this time we were catching up on the present and past. Another reason why Tyler came up was to DJ with me at Slim and Chubby’s so I can learn more about DJing. We got into Milwaukee in no time because the traffic was smooth and the weather was sunny. I then decided we should go to the casino especially since Tyler has never been to one, so we went to Potawatomi Casino in Milwaukee. The best way to describe a casino is like Chuckie Cheese for adults because of all the noises, lights, and people. It was a good time; we walked around and played a round of roulette which is my favorite game to play. We didn’t stay long because I had to work, then we got into the van and drove up to good ol’ Fond du Lac. Once we got back home I showed him around the house and told him to make himself at home. Afterwards I headed off to work for a couple of hours. Once I finished I headed back home, and by then some friends from school came over to play board games. It was a good time; we all laughed, told jokes, and just enjoyed the night. We then decided it was time for bed since we had a big day for the next day. Well mates that completes another fun adventurous day, until next time Ciao!
Cheers,
Lee IV

Chicago Part 2

January 17 was round two for me in Chicago. That day I woke up to my mom and step-dad making breakfast, and it smelled so good. Nothing beats waking up to a hearty breakfast; we had turkey sausage, potatoes, eggs, croissants, and a cup of coffee. This was a perfect way to start the day off especially since I haven’t had anybody cook me breakfast in awhile. Afterwards I got ready to go visit my grandma before she went to work. I gave my grandma the nickname of Clarice because our favorite film is Silence of the Lamb, so for years I have been calling her that. Since my grandma works third shift she went to bed. Then I decided I should go out and shop around to see if anything was on sale at the stores. I caught some decent deals on random things that may come in handy when I go traveling. Shortly afterwards I headed back to my grandma’s house and watched television until my dad came to pick me up for dinner. I haven’t seen my dad in awhile since we both have busy schedules. Once my dad came we decided to eat at Chili’s in town. It was nice catching up with each other and seeing what was new. I ordered a guacamole burger with fries, and my dad ordered a sample platter, both foods turned out well, and the service was good. The hours flew by and it was time for us to leave because the restaurant was about to close. Afterwards my dad dropped me off at home, then that pretty much completed my round two in Chicago. Nothing too big today, but seeing my family is what matters the most. Well stay tuned for my final day in Sweet Home Chicago!
Cheers,
Lee IV

Sweet Home Chicago!

January 16 was the day I finally got the chance to take a small trip to Chicago to visit my family. The last time I was in the windy city was last September when I went to watch the Bears game with my friend Tyler at Soldier Field. I decided the best and cheapest way for me to travel was for me to drive to Milwaukee and park at the Amtrak parking lot then take the Mega bus to Chicago. Mega bus is a bus service that offers cheap prices to various locations throughout the Midwest region. My bus ticket only cost me $12.50 for a round trip from Milwaukee to Chicago. After a two hour bus ride I finally made it to sweet home Chicago. As I arrived in the city my family came to pick me up. It was great seeing them because I missed them a lot and I have not seen them in awhile. We decided to head out to the mall in Orland Park, Illinois. Compared to Fond du Lac’s Forest Mall Orland was twice the size and has stores on two levels. I forgot how busy places in my hometown can be, but I wasn’t complaining. I miss all the loud noises and so many things to do. My family and I did a little shopping around checking the latest deals and clearance. We found some good stuff ranging from shoes to clothing items. The shopping made us a little hungry so we got some food from the food court. Afterwards it was time to head home to get ready for dinner. My mom and I have this little competition of who can find a restaurant that one of us hasn’t tried yet. So she picked this restaurant named Tuscany which is an Italian restaurant located in the city of Chicago. This place was amazing; the atmosphere was unique because it reminded me of being in Italy. The people were friendly, and most important the food was fantastic. I decided to get veal ravioli served with Alfredo sauce, my mom got a chicken dish served with potatoes and vegetables, and my step-dad got a rack of lamb ribs from New Zealand served with vegetables. Like I said before everything tasted great. I tried to utilize some French words I learned and remember, and the people working there were impressing. Although I know very little of French any attempt is always appreciated. We ended our meal with Tiramisu for dessert; if you never tried this dish then you are missing out. This dessert is delicious, soft, and full of flavors so don’t miss out on this amazing dessert. We were super stuffed, but in a good way. I will definitely come back to this place and bring others. Well after an amazing day, I call it a day. Until next time, I’ll catch you up on my voyage in Chicago. Cheers, Lee IV