Hear me out... it's time I said something!

Goodness Gracious! Where have I been?? Not here, that's for sure. And for that, well, I'm sorry!

I've been thinking lately about what I really want to do with my life. And it has finally been decided. I am going to pursue my goal of becoming a chef. That's right, I'm going to go to culinary school. But here is my fear. Where I come from (both my hometown and current place,) people that go to culinary school, or study culinary arts, well, they are slackers. In high school, the people that took culinary arts classes were the kids that took them to avoid having to take foreign languages or gym class. And in college, the people that dropped out of school to go to the local culinary school usually did so because they were failing miserably in their studies. I don't want people to think that about me. And that is why I do not want to start school around here. I want to go away, start somewhere fantastic! A great school with a great reputation, that churns out great chefs, not ones that go on to work at Olive Garden (no offense to the OG, I LOVE that place!! It's just not the same kind of cooking that I want to do...) I have a dream about opening my own authentic Italian restaurant. Not with extra cheese pizza and spaghetti loaded in sauce (They don't REALLY eat it that way over there!) I want to make authentic Pizza, baked in a real brick oven, with just the meager toppings that the Italian version is served with. I want to make Spaghetti Alla Puttanesca, and Maccheroni con la ricotta (the dish that America would later ruin by turning it into Macaroni and Cheese.) I want to have a wine specialist, and an offering of authentic Italian Beers (all Bud Light drinkers will have to just find the nearest Macaroni Grill.)

And yet I feel like I am never going to get there by studying anywhere but the best. And if one more person recommends Sullivan to me, I might get sick (I live only a few short miles from there, and I have seen the kind of students that go there. I'm sure Applebee's is never at a loss for new cooks.)

It has occurred to me that I might sound smug right now. Maybe I do. But I just really know what I want to do with my life. I want to be the best. And when I hand over ownership of my incredible restaurant to my able son or daughter, I want to have my own Food Network show! Just kidding. Okay, maybe not... :-)

Buon Appetito!