It's Been a While...

Since i updated the blog last, and it has been due to work I just havent had the time to stop, i work go out drinking and then sleep and have repeated this god awful process more times in the last month than i can remember.

It involves knocking off work having 2-3 beers out the back whilst we wind down, then heading upstairs on the gaming floor to velvet bar. Coz its open 24hrs most days, cheap drinks and we can get 20+ people in there no probs. And they sell massive cocktails (get the toblerone :). So work has been really good even though there is just myself and one other on the section at the moment its all going well.

As we are shut sundays we have had a group of 8-10 everyweek we plan to goto a restaurant, and as saturday night ends up so big we are all hungover for lunctime and it just gets messier, the first week we went to pearl then last sunday we went to circa and this week we are still undecided but the week after we are going to goto the footy to show some of our interstate/international guests the great game that is AFL.

There are some more things id like to post about work, but one of the waiters found my blog whilst searching nobu melbourne lol. Hi ben! So id rather not knowing some i work with is reading.. never mind.

The Vic Champs are on and i wont be playing any events by the looks of it. But ill try and play some events during the PokerNews Cup.

The blog is def on its last legs and will be put to sleep shortly, hopefully i can still sell it to yoyo for $24! I just dont have the time nor the motivation to update it constantly.

Vlado's

Just remembered i had this photo on my phone, Vlado's is awesome and there is a huge chance ill be eating there again this weekend :D I was also quite happy at how easy it was to get some mustard to take home, especially after hearing about the story of emad wanting some mustard. But then again our waiter loved me :S

Dan

Update + Photo Dump

Sorry for the lack of updates ive just been really busy with work and couldn't be bothered to be honest.

Last two weeks have been freaking awesome, I'm loving every day of work and haven't been happier in my life.... I run so good :P.

On friday a bunch of us from work went for some drinks at The Pub @ Crown, which was good but it's over priced and too loud, have to find another after work boozer. It's great having so many passionate chef's @ work and their skills are beyond most I've worked with so i will be trying my best to learn a ton.

Then after work i went to matty's for some drink's and stillman arrived not long after me, then as usual the talk turned to somewhere to go for dinner, we decided on Vlado's we made the call and they could fit us in, We headed off for dinner The cabbie scared the shit out of me by the way he was driving in the rain, but i was too drunk to give a shit. As im talking about work he pop's in and start's telling me this great way to cook Quail, If we weren't on the way to a restaurant we would've been tilted because it sounded so good, Table was going to take 10mins so we headed to the pub across the road to the pub for another round before dinner.

Off to Vlado's we went, Now this was my first time and id heard alot about it. We started with a round of drinks and a bottle of red. And i was well on my way to shit faced and it wasn't even 9:00pm now a notable mention must goto the hottie with a huge rack who was exiting the restaurant as we walked in, Now in my state i probably made it quite clear i was staring at her rack but what can you do?

Anyway moving right along, The food was insane, its too hard to describe the taste when you eat it so i just recommend you all go there. The steak was by far the best steak i have ever eaten IN MY LIFE! neil perry can shove his $60 piece of charcoal up his ass, what full grown man has a ponytail anyway? FAG!

Obviously the luck didn't stop there because i received the best steak EVER! with matty nearing tilt at the better cut i received lol. Then we realise they have wagyu available but we have already had our steak but we decided to share a piece, shame it wasn't as good as the other meat. So then we decide to head back to matty's then head out to the Mahogany room :D

First time ever ive just rolled into mahogany with no probs. Such ballbreakers.

So we hit the bar, and numerous cocktails, cigars and other alcoholic beverages are consumed, One of my old high school mates Dad's was dealing the baccarat table we were at he first screwed it up but then shipped some luck.

By this time it was nearing 6am we decided to head back to matt's for more drinking. I just ended up passing out on the couch lol.

Other than that saturday was a quiet one. And today was spent watching my football team still lose matches.

Photos.

From Top to bottom : Vegetarian Sushi Plate, Another Sushi Plate, Black Cod with Miso and Mixed plates of Food. Sorry about the Quality only had time to grab the camera from my phone.

Nobu

Will write a full update on the new job tomorrow or the day after, time to get some sleep.

Dan

My Last Day At Souk

Yesterday was my last day at souk, and usually on thursdays or fridays i do something a little special for staff meal, So yesterday i went one more and went and bought $50 worth of souvlaki meat, and we made souva's for dinner. As an extra for dessert i made a bread and butter pudding.

The night itself was very uneventful my section was very quiet and once the night was over the drinking begun. I started with a few beers, and then Aiden the FOH manager gave me a bottle of wine for my going away present, it was from S.A The whalebone winery and a Shiraz, and it was beautiful, such a great wine.

we just chatted away until about 3am, when the security company called asking why the alarm wasnt set lol. We then decided one more bottle and then we would call it a night, So we had another red and hit the road. Goodbyes were said and then i split a cab home with Angela and once we dropped Ange off i just started to think about where my life is headed and i couldn't be happier.

Plus BBQ + UFC PPV tommorow.

Hope everyone is well.

Dan

Independent....Almost

Well now with the new job about to start, im starting to look for a place to live close to crown. Probably start looking a bit harder next week, when i have the week off to look at places. Finally decided to make the jump as i will know be earning more $$ and working more hours, the amount of money ive spent on taxis all the way home would easily pay for rent.

Also UFC PPV is comin up this weekend, so there is a fair chance i will be drunk for the entire weekend.

Pics and trip report to follow.

Dan

Change of Plans

I got woken up by a phone call at about Midday today, It was Scott the head chef from Nobu just ringing to tell me building is behind schedule and we cant get into the kitchen until a week later than first thought. So now i start on the 25th of this month, Ill probably be heading upto Sydney for the weekend beforehand just to relax and take it easy before getting into the swing of things. This weekend i have been so lazy cant wait for this week to be over.

Dan

June 18th...Judgement Day

I found out i start at Nobu on the 18th of this month yay :D.

It was my best mate Gaz's going away party last night, ive known gaz for about 4 years now, Gaz is a chef and we met at TAFE then i helped him get a job at pearl and he has worked there for a almost 2years now. So he is heading over to europe for a holiday and to work. So there was plenty of drinking taking place . But i was too tired from a shit saturday night at work, one of the apprentices called in sick so i had to do her section and it was completly in the shit. So i finish up this friday.

I also found out my Sous Chef from Pearl, has taken the Sous Chef position at Nobu. So should be good we always worked well and got along.

Here is a pic of us partying together lol.
Other than that not alot else has been happening. I went over to the pond earlier in the week for dinner, just a small BBQ with myself, Arul, Nick and Luke. Where some gambooling took place on the tennis.

Take care.

Dan

BBQ Trip Report & Pics

Well on sunday i woke up quite hungover from a big saturday night, called gaz and arranged to head to his place at bout 1:30 grabbed my knives and away i went, Got to gaz's and a friend of his Nick was down for the weekend so off we went to do the shopping for the most anticipated BBQ in the history of BBQ's, At fidels on thursday night i was wondering what kind of hole id dug myself into with the amount of food i said we would get and cook. Anyway we goto prahran market and all the good places are shut so we goto the Vic market where gaz stalls in the middle of the road on the way into the carpark and screwed with this guy trying to get past, this guy was mega pissed off. So we head into the meat and seafood area and away we go.

Lobsters

2kgs Prawns

1kg Scallops

3kg's lamb cutlets

12 pork chops

A massive rib eye roast prob 4-6kg's

Plus Mash Potato

So then we go back to gaz's to pick up matty then we head to vintage cellars to get the booze.

Slab of coronas, couple bottles of wine, bottle of champagne and a bottle of coke lol.

Then we arrive at The Pond, this was my first visit to the pond but i had heard alot about it. This place is very nice. Big appartment etc. Nice pool and spa. So as we arrive Nick has just woken up and doesnt look too good, He had a big night out for his birthday the night before.

I get to work on setting up the BBQ and get the rib eye on. As people start arriving. There was 10 of us in total. Gaz, Nick, Matt, Arul, Nick(seawasp), Cory, Duzh, Rosa, Luke And Me. And we had enough food to feed 25 with leftovers lol.

Also the UFC Pay-Per-View was on, we missed the live telecast and the first replay so we watched the second replay. I havent watched UFC for a few years but god this sport is awesome. And of course instantly prob bets are on.

Once the rib eye was ready it looked something like this.

I was suprised how good the food ended up being, Many thanks must goto my right hand man. Gaz, Even though all i think he did was chop chilli and eat the lobsters lol.

Cozza and Me enjoying Dessert :P

Random Shots

What a Feast!

More pics amd a trip report too follow

Nobu

I got the job @ Nobu and im so fuckn happy right now. Oh and got a BBQ on sunday which ill be doing the cooking for. Photos + Trip Report to follow. Bout it to report for now.

Take Care

Mmmmm Duck

Med-rare duck breast, duck dolmades, watercress & pomegranite salad, duck jus

Best night of my Life Trip Report.

Ok i hope i do this night justice in the form of words.



On Monday night i get a text from Matt downing asking if i wanna joing him and some others for dinner at crown at 8pm, i accept and we decide rockpool is the venue. Matt informs me if i pick him and Andrew up on the way in im freerolling for dinner....Umm OK! so i swing the cab past Matt & Andrews place a little before 8 and we meet Marcus collins at rockpool. As we arrive i see Georgia is working at rockpool now (old friend from pearl) and we get show our table, outside area but is well covered and heated so you never feel like your outside.



So we sit down get some waters and Matty hits the wine list orders a bottle of wine and then decided to hold the wine for now and order champagne cant remember what bottle but it was damn good. we also have some beers and look at the menu. We start with a ham plate which had some chorizo, ham, prosciutto. Then we have some lobster cooked in a herb butter sauce... Now Andrew hasn't had lobster before and had stated he wasn't keen on fishy tasting things etc.



So once the lobster arrived Andrew try's a piece and announces along the lines of "that tastes like crap" Marcus, Matt and myself cant believe what we are hearing but decide "oh well...more for us!!" We had also ordered a beautiful pork belly dish which was confited then had the skin crisped up and then sliced and served with mustard fruits (which were a stupid garnish because this pork was beautiful on its own) Also the service and everything about rockpool was awesome up to this point. Matt couldn't remember the type of wine he had last time, and asked to speak to somellier, well the person who last served Matt. Wasn't actually somm. tonight but had his own tables to wait on. But he took his time and looked after us also and found the wine Matt wanted.

Next to arrive was the best steak i have ever eaten in my life and 400g Rib Eye bone on cooked med-rare and we had some sides which were good.

Then Matt called a guy he had met during the week John, who joined us for some drinks and he ordered some food too. John had bought a 10K bottle of cognac the other night and was telling us he gave what he had left of it including the bottle to a chef from koko's as a tip, that's easily a 4-5K tip. So anyway we have another bottle of champagne and head to Fidel's bar. Were john decided to buy a bottle of Louis the 13th bottle of cognac only $3K, Matty buys some cigars and we head to a smoking room. So here we are drinking this cognac and smoking these great cigars ( i don't normally smoke cigarettes,but have a cigar every now and then) when a debate comes up of if someone could skull the rest of the cognac at this stage there is just over 50% of the bottle left and Andrew is saying he could do it easily whilst Marcus and Matt disagree and I'm just laughing at the $ figures being thrown around in prop bet madness. In the end Andrew gives up because the other 2 aren't listening to his reasoning. Basically he was saying he could beer bong it. so it wouldn't touch his mouth (coz its so strong) and the boys were even allowing in the bet he could throw it straight back up he just had to skull it in one go.

So they decided its not going to happen obviously lol. and matt and john decided to order a 98' bottle of grange hermitage by far the best bottle of win Australia has produced. And we then deicded to take it upto the mahogany room. So up we go, im not allowed in because my jeans have some torn patches etc on them. Marcus who is staying at crown hooks me up with a brand new pair of jeans he had just bought lol. (thanks marcus) And back we go. I had never been to the mahongany room before but it is great any drink free nice room big TV's so we get some more champagne and start drinking by a TV showing horse racing, and prop bets begin. the boys start at $100 a race were they all picked a number for every race and matty starts cleaning up, i sat back and laughed And decided to join in but for micro stakes. After that some baccarat was to be had and im glad i wasnt in on it. i have no idea about the game, i just kept hearing "legs, 2 side 3side etc." and so i just kept drinking and laughing as the boys scooped some cash. I had to work the next afternoon at 2pm so i decided at about 5:30am it was time to call it a night and head home. I was soooo tired after a busy mothers day at work, i tell ya waking up with cigar breath and red lips and teeth from wine is NOT a pretty sight thats for sure.

Hope i did it justice, was a great night.

Dan

Brief Update + Best night of my life !!1!!!

Just a quick one, got an interview for Nobu in the morning :D

Plus had the best night of my life by far on monday night/morning. Include congac cigars, dinner @ rockpool plus more. Full trip report to come.

Dan

Bad Case Of Sour Grapes....

It appears the Sri lankan cricket team is the biggest bunch of sooks since the whinging poms. They are saying that adam gilchrist was cheating in the world cup final because he had a squash ball in his gloves whilst batting. In my opinion this doesnt seem like it would help alot, but apparently it helps grip the bat. Either way this doesnt look good for the ICC after the numerous scandals surrounding the world cup. Either way im not sure what the Sri Lankans hope too acheive from lodging a formal complaint

My sisters favourite food

PHAT!

Gino you are awesome bro!

Blog is now mobile thanks too my new mobile phone, i can take photos and send them to the blog. The pic above is from a car park in prahran just off chapel st. Obv!

Josh as a rabbit

Hey look its an update

Well i applied for a job at Ezards yesterday and had an interview today, And have scored a trial next Monday Yay! link: http://www.ezard.com.au/ After the interview i went and did some shopping and spoilt myself, i bought a knife wrap, 2 new aprons a speed peeler (best peace of equipment for $5.95) I then went and did some food shopping for Easter weekend, We have a seafood wholesaler round the corner, and scored some great scallops for $30 Kg I reccomend if anyone wants scallops to ask for frozen Canadian Scallops they are well known and are snap frozen at sea to 'lock in the freshness' But unfortunatly they didnt have any canadian so i got some other ones which were just as good in size and a steal at $30 the canadian's retail anywhere from $40 Kg+ but are definatly worth it
Here is a pic i found of them

The Knife - Heartbeats

First Some music.
The Knife- Heartbeats

I heard this band at work and i like there stuff, they're Swedish and Have been around for a while.

Well its been a while since i updated the blog, Mainly being busy at work. Which is going well Neil the current head chef and i have got along well as it turns out we have worked at the same places recently but not while we were both there and we usually chat about who we think was shit and who was good. He is leaving in a week to take over the Healesville Hotel As head chef, and we have been talking about what he has planned for the place, Neil is an English trained chef and has worked in some Awesome European restaurants. So he has big plans for Healesville, and wants to get it back to 2 chefs hats after it lost one last year. And during the past conversations a job offer has come about and im not sure what i wanna do, it would be awesome to work somewere like Healesville but id have to move their. But would be a good chance to get away from melbourne and focus on work. Plus earn some good money before possibly doing some real travel.

Got a Job!

Well had a trial last night at Souk Restaurant, which serves greek/middle eastern inspired food and is one of my favourite foods, i worked in middle eastern restaurants for 2 years and loved it. The owner/head chef George Bilionis was also head chef at Mecca and Mecca Bah before i worked there and runs Souk quite similar to Mecca and Mecca Bah. So i had the trial last night and all went well and he offered me the job and i start on tuesday. It aint rockpool but hes promised me what i was after and thats more cooking. The kitchen is laid back and im looking forward to working with everyone.

Thats all for now.

Rockpool Trial Report

Well woke up early for the first time in a long time, But was raring to go none the less. It was also really hot last night so i didnt get too much sleep, But anyway get to rockpool bit before 9am and report for duty. First off i make their homemade 'tomato ketchup' which was tasty mmmm then i do some work for larder section and then im moved into the 'fish room' which is the most badass thing for a kitchen.

Basically they get all their fish in whole and break it all down in the 'fish room' Plus in this room there is fish tanks for lobster, abalone, scallops and clams which is just awesome. And is really well setup plus everything is obviously brand new so more awesome-ness, so yeh cleaned up a whole bunch of fish which i hadnt done too much of before and then watched some service and saw some food go out, and then went home. It all went really well and everyone seemed cool and id really love to work there, Soo many possible oppurtunities in the kitchen and so much to learn.

Also in rockpool melbourne and sydney they have installed big plasma screens with cameras showing each kitchen to the other, So whilst im chopping onions for the 'tomato ketchup' im watching myself on a plasma screen, How balla is that! Kinda like the runner who watched himself win a sprint race or the guy who watched himself run in a touchdown except im not that balla but on my way.

So yeh i find out in a week and a half if i got the job as they still have people to trial as they had a massive response to the ad.

Wish me some more luck please.

Dan

Recent Happening's

Well after taking my initial deposit of 500USD and playing 50nL i was slowly winning some $$ and after doing this for a few days i then would play a table of 50NL and a table of 100NL well this went bad and i lost/down swung hard, so i dropped back to just 50NL and tried to get back what id lost, well the losing continued And i don't think i played bad for most of it, It just seemed i got coolered in big pots top 2 V set, Nutflush draw (me) V 3rdNFD and hitting a pair. So Ive now lost the money i had online and prob wont be playing any poker for a while.

Ive been hunting for jobs but it doesn't seem like much is around for what I'm after. Got an email back from Vue De Monde and they have no positions right now, which doesn't really bother me because i know jack shit about french food other than a few standard recipe's/traditional stuff. And working there was probably not the best place to start my learning in french food but more of a 'finishing school'.

It is so sick the way the world works, about 2-3months ago i had jobs flying at me so fast it made my head spin, and i wasn't keen on working anywhere. Now I'm raring to go and the jobs just aren't out there.

But hopefully this is soon to change.

Another update on the Job front.

Well had my interview today at rockpool and this is my first time having a look at the place up close, Gaz had eaten there and told me how nice it was inside, But there has been alot of money invested in this place it is top-notch, As usual with interviews i was only there for a few minutes and had the same standard questions asked, So i got through that part quite easily then i went into the 'office' which is just a few laptops on a bench etc. And i met neil perry who is much shorter than i imagined, he is only about as tall as me.

And from walking past from outside i imagined the kitchen to be a standard size but after walking past it seems it continues back away from what you can see from outside and is probably double if not more the size i imagined, I cant wait for the trial should be a good learning experience either way.

Unfortunatly no word from Vue de Monde,

And the Aussie are playing the poms today in the first final of the VB series, And even though there has been plenty of team changes all summer i really like this final team. Hopefully we can take this series down and then move onto the tour of New Zealand and then the World Cup.

Oh and if anyone wants to see rockpools menu etc. there site is www.rockpoolmelbourne.com.au

Dan

Moving Blog

Well i figured the old Blog wasn't quite suited to myspace and really needed to be treated like a blog and this way anyone can reply/badmouth the blog and im sure that will give it a bit more life.

Here is the last blog i posted.

Update on the work front.
Well i got some interest from rockpool, they told me the job had been filled. But like any new'ish restaurant they will always need apprentice's because the ones that cant hack it after a couple of months will quit, I know because i was one of those kids. And so Khan the head chef there rang this morning to arrange an interview . And i also had sent my resume to Vue De Monde.
As last week at my Australia Day BBQ an old work mate from pearl, his roomate works at VDM and said they had a few apprentices quit, same deal as above Shannon Bennet is a hardass chef and only a select few can handle the pressure, I hope to be one of those select few.
Got a few things i need to do in the next couple of days, find/iron my uniform. Dust off the knife kit and sharpen my knives. And ill probably go buy some veggies and just sit at home and julliene them all day and then go throw them in the compost I need to practice lol.
Hopefully the next blog i write is something about starting a job somewhere.

And for anyone who hasnt read the old blog here is the link http://blog.myspace.com/danielg18