Learning Languages

 Here in the LRC, we get lots of inquiries about learning or brushing up a foreign language. I myself have very rusty French that I practice with Karine from time to time (merci bien, Karine!).  I also study Norwegian on my own (Hei! Jeg snakker litt norsk.)

Some ideas for studying and practicing the language of your choice:

1. Listen to and study with language podcasts such as The French Pod Class or Coffee Break Spanish.
2. Read blogs in your language. Try commenting and see if you get a response.
3. Find a language exchange partner on Craigslist (check the “activities” area) who speaks the language you are studying and needs some help with English.
4. Listen to online radio and read online newspapers.
5. Find online study groups and forums. I participate in Norskklassen. 

CECybrary also has a great collection of online language dictionaries. Follow the electronic books link to Oxford Reference Online, Bilingual Dictionaries.

 Bonne chance! Buena suerte! Glück!

Truffle Pig

Truffle Pig is a site devoted to “sniffing out the very best in food, wine and travel.” Published in South Africa, the site features a great section on food pairing, a culinary glossary, a cheese glossary and more.

I attended culinary school with a couple from South Africa. They planned to return to SA to open an artisan bakery. At the time (199 the concept of artisan bread shops there was very new. I often wonder if the bakery was a success.

CHIC Student Newsletter Survey

CHIC president Lloyd Kirsch has asked a team of staff to design and launch a student newsletter.  As a first step, we are surveying the CHIC community to get a solid idea of what we as students, staff, faculty, and alumni want and need in such a newsletter.

Please take a few moments to complete the survey. Your input is essential to the success of our future publication.

Michigan Wines

I’m feeling a little homesick today so I thought I’d shamelessly promote my home state, Michigan.

To learn about Michigan wineries and vineyards, click here.

Green City Market & New Blogs

Summer is in full swing now and the markets are overflowing with locally-grown product. My latest find? Gooseberries. I made gooseberry curd and spread it on warm-from-the-oven spice cake.

Chicago’s Green City Market features cooking demonstrations by local chefs. This Saturday, July 21, features Heather Terhune of the Atwood Café. See Heather’s demo at 10:30 a.m.

Chef instructor and tech guy Tom Beckman shared these blogs with me yesterday. I’m adding them to Bloglines today!

http://www.slashfood.com/
http://www.tastespotting.com/ 
http://www.onfoodandeating.blogspot.com/

Ratatouille

Who has seen Ratatouille? What did you think?

I really enjoyed this film, particularly Colette’s commentary on women in the professional kitchen and Remy’s choice to serve “peasant food” to Ego.

And of course my favorite Remy line:

No, no, no don’t just hork it down!

Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité, Barbeque

Aux armes, citoyens !
Formez vos bataillons !
Marchons ! Marchons !
Qu’un sang impur
Abreuve nos sillons !

Grab your weapons, citizens!
Form your batallions!
Let us march! Let us march!
May impure blood
Water our fields!

I don’t know if we will sing the Marseillaise today, but do enjoy the Bastille Day barbeque that begins at 11 a.m.

Library Pathfinders & Books on Reserve

Assignment: herb report. 

So you’ve selected your herb and head to the LRC to check out some books on the subject only to find that a few of your classmates beat you there and cleared the shelves.

But that won’t happen because….

The LRC now has books on reserve that can be checked out for in-library use. We have pulled a selection of books on herbs, spices, and exotic fruits/vegetables to start. You leave your student ID at the desk while you use the reserve books in the library for an hour at a time. That way, everyone gets a fair chance to use the books and get a big fat A on their report. 

We also have pathfinders (research guides) for many of the regular CHIC assignments like the herb report. You can find paper copies in the LRC or print them from the student portal, library tab.  Add them to your mise.

HotChocolate’s Mindy Segal

Chicago’s own Mindy Segal, chef/owner of HotChocolate, will participate in a live chat tomorrow from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Log on at pastryscoop.com to ask your baking questions and get Mindy’s responses in real time.

Clip art courtesy of http://www.countryheartdesigns.com/

 

Two Cool Sites

Daily Olive

CHIC president Lloyd Kirsch first brought Daily Olive to my attention. What a great site! Here is the Daily Olive about us:

Daily Olive covers the intersection of food and design featuring news, stories about food trends, wine, entertaining, travel, restaurant design, and kitchen gadgets for the foodie and casual gourmet.

TastingMenu

I linked to TastingMenu from Lampreia restaurant’s web site. Chef Scott Carsberg of Lampreia has a free, downloadable, digital cookbook, All About Apples, available there. Turns out the site offers not only the download, but a blog about restaurant experiences. The authors — one a chef and the other a “professional eater” — are both from Seattle.