Well, that was a lot of fun. Pastry Chef Shuna Lydon of Eggbeater held her Pate Choux class yesterday in Berkeley. We got to hang out all afternoon in Poulet’s fancy kitchen. I have to say it sure is nice cooking in a large kitchen. The work areas have plenty of room, the stove and ovens are powerful and the capacities give me the chills.
Shuna sat us down for some lecture action. She had a few major points that she felt if we got nothing else, get these. After the lecture it was time for us to get some hands on experience wrangling the choux. Yee haw!
She ran through a large batch on the 20 quart Hobart. Man, she wrastled that beast like a pro, she’s no slouch. The large batch filled some pastry bags so we could all practice squeezing out the choux. And brother, or sister, we needed practice. While this was going on several students were getting a second small batch going. And then another made with a milk base so we could do donuts! The afternoon flew by while she talked, conversed and taught. Questions were asked and mad pastry skills demonstrated. Everyone pitched in and did their part to learn. This is far better than attempting something on your own. There’s only so much you can learn from books. Being able to have someone there saying, “That’s how it should look like, right there.” is invaluable. A great day.
If you’re in the area and not signing up for her classes, you’re out of your fricken mind. This woman’s passion for the pastry, the teaching, ingredients and their roots is amazing. Shuna understands completely the relationship of the ingredients and this all comes together in a class worth more than double. Yesterday’s class held a few professional cooks, a caterer, interested bakers, a few bloggers, home chefs and a hillbilly with his wife. We all had a great time and learned to listen to your dough, touch your dough, feel your dough, keep yer eye balls on it and last but not least, taste your dough. It tasted pretty darned good too.
Before I leave you for today I wish to express upon you a point of my own. Listen up, Shuna’s classes aren’t on a schedule. She does them when she sees fit. The topic covered yesterday may never be taught again. If you’re thinking to yourself, “Ahhh, I’ll just catch the next one.” You’ve lost.
So, don’t be a loser and keep your ears piqued over at Eggbeater and don’t miss out.
Biggles