French Chef Alexandre Gauthier–a Dinner in My Top Ten

Jan 30, 14 French Chef Alexandre Gauthier–a Dinner in My Top Ten

Posted by in Restaurant Reviews

  Last night we had a meal that made my top 10 list.  It was a meal like nothing I have experienced. Alexandre Gauthier came to the Stratford Chefs School bringing his front of house manager and his pastry chef.  Gauthier is a Michelin Star chef with a restaurant called La Grenouillère.   Sela was lucky enough to be the student chef during the dinner we attended last night.  It was a snowy night but thanks to some great driving by our friend, we made it.  There were 7 of us who added to the festivities, and the meal was a tasting menu that knocked our socks off.   I can’t tell you how many courses there were. I can never figure out how to count the amuse-bouche at the beginning and the petit fours at the end. There were 12 distinct dishes that we ate plus delicious dark bread.  There wasn’t a menu, just a list of ingredients and we continually got the unexpected.  What we had:  there was a corn tart, a veal and sardine tartar with cauliflower, scallop and avocado roll, a souffle with crab, beet ravioli with eel, a lobster salad, lamb with broccoli puree and wheat berries, an apple curl with celery cream, butternut squash ice cream with meringue, a strawberry gelée, and a truffle that exploded in my mouth.   The pace was faster than any meal I have ever enjoyed and the drama of each course kept me on the edge of my seat.  I felt excited each time a new course came out.  I couldn’t wait for the description of what each dish contained and had to hold myself back.  The colors and textures were striking and the uniqueness of each dish was remarkable.  Several of the dishes were a little intimidating–it was a little scary to take the first bite of the blood red eel ravioli.  But the flavors in each dish were so deep, rich, balanced and satisfying that the food provided a thrill and a world class...

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21 Day Yoga Challenge: Day 20

Nov 17, 13 21 Day Yoga Challenge: Day 20

Posted by in Fitness

We have a big family excursion to Stratford Chef School today to experience my daughter’s first Stratford Chef School lunch.   I have prepped everyone that we will leave very shortly after my return from yoga.  It feels like I am taking a lot of time for me with yoga.  I am not used to having so many activities just for me.  It feels good and like I am prioritizing my health.  Going first thing in the morning means not having to disrupt anyone else’s day.  Also, it is hard to find distractions and conflicts at 6:30 am on weekdays or 8:00 am on weekends.  I am feeling successful at setting my practice for the early mornings and sticking to it.  I am usually up at 5 or 6 anyway so it really is a great time for me. I enjoy my workout.  I am getting bendier.  There are many of the poses I am better at but I am still struggling somewhat with Child’s Pose.  It is hard for me to sit back on my knees.  I do notice that when I am tired and am pushing myself, it hurts more to be on my knees.  When I am rested and “fresh”–usually from an hour of Shavasana the previous day, my knees hurt less and I can do more on my knees. I take my towel “donut” every day and use it if I go down on one knee.  It works.  I am also starting to try to push back and sit further back in child’s pose, stretching out my knee.  I have a sense I will eventually be able to sit back on my knees again.  It will be a long, slow process, I imagine. Like what you are reading?  Sign up for a free membership (Tire Kicker’s Membership) to the Crucible Bookii and be notified about new posts.  Want to read all the content on the site and support this project? Sign up here for founding membership ($9.95 per...

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