Saturday, October 16, 2010

Call me Neil.

I haven't posted on here in a long time, and I think that's for a lot of reasons. But first, I want to get back to the main question here; Am I a chef yet?

I have been called a chef on numerous occasions, (here's a good one!) but I don't feel like one. Whenever someone calls me 'chef' I will very quickly correct them, asking them to call me Neil. I didn't really realize it as it was happening, but over the past year and a half, I think that has become one of my legacies. I'm a cook, and I always will be.

No matter what anyone says, i'm still an archaeologist, i'm still a trombone player, i'm still a kid that grew up in Connecticut and spent his summers on a cattle ranch in Oregon. I'm still all these things, and I always will be. What will I be in the future? I don't know exactly, but I have a few things that I know I would like to be. One thing for sure that I would like to be is a person that supports the people around me, whether it be friends, family, coworkers, or strangers. Basically, if someone has a question or needs help, I want to do everything I can to help.



















Ad Hoc has been incredible, and now I am in the process of moving on to the next adventure. A lot of people have been asking me what I'm doing next, and the answer is; I am going to cook.

I love to cook. Some people tell you that if you love to cook, don't do it professionally because you won't like it anymore. This didn't happen to me. All i've been doing for the last two years is cooking. When I wasn't at work (Ad Hoc) I was cooking four course dinners with beer pairings with a friend at Mission Gastroclub. All I've wanted to do is cook, and try new things, and just make really good food that hopefully people will enjoy, because I enjoy making it.















































































































































This all feels really weird, telling everyone what's on my mind, but a lot of people are asking, and I guess that's what a blog is for: telling. So right now I'm looking for a cooking job somewhere in the San Francisco Bay area. Of the ten places i've lived and numerous places i've visited in the 28 years of my life, this is definitely one of my favorite, and the environment is incredible. I am so happy here, and i'm making a living here.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Good job not using gloves. I am glad you call you self a cook.

Anna said...

hey neil,
thank you for writing this blog and congratulations on persuing your dream to become a chef and finding yourself in the end. I hope you are still as good and happy as you look in the pictures from 2010.
I came across your blog while researching the LCB. I am a twenty-something German girl finally realizing that baking is all I ever wanted. I am thinking about applying for the grand diploma at the LCB London.
It would be great to hear if you are still happy with the choice you made and if you could recommend the LCB or if there was anything you would do different.
But more importantly I just wanted to let you know I´ve read your blog and liked it! I can clearly see from the before and after picture how happy you are with beeing chef neil and it makes me want to go and bake even more!
Best Regards from Germany
Anna