The teacher becomes the student

I spent two hours in my food costing class last night listening to the pre-pubescent chef instructor teach me about creating a menu. He laid out all the specifics required for the assignment and then had the class call out entrees for the menu. All was going well until I asked about the bakery assignment.

The assignment is to create a dinner menu using 8 different items that include 30 unique ingredients. Or, create a bakery menu consisting of 16 different items with 30 ingredients. I, of course, chose the latter.

When I asked whether we were required to create bakery menus based on region (his example was a French restaurant), method, grain, or what, I saw his eyes completely glaze over. He said, "Doing a dinner menu is much easier because I don't even know what you'd do to make a bakery menu." Wow.

So I asked if we were required to stick to things like breads only or cakes only, or should we base it on the theme of our bakery instead. I cited cupcakeries, artisan bread bakeries and pie shops. He stammered a bit, mindlessly pointed at his mock menu on the board then said I should try to have a variety of breads, cakes "or those little one-bite things. What are they called? Oh, petit fours."

I replied, "Actually chef, a petit four is two bites. A one-bite item is an amuse bouche and then I'd be making a dinner menu." I know that was totally elitist and bitchy but I couldn't resist. I knew he didn't know what he was talking about and I thought, this dude is giving me a grade? Puhleeze!

He was bright red at this point and I just felt sorry for the poor kid. So I said, "Why don't we bakery folk create a mock menu and have you approve the direction we are headed. If we're wrong, we can adjust from there." He jumped on that right away just to change direction.

I know that was so rude of me but I really can't stand when I pay money for a class only to find that the person doesn't know the material. As a substitute teacher I guess I am more particular than most and I'm going to have to hold my tongue on more than one occasion.

To make matters worse, one of my high school seniors from last year sits next to me in class. He was so shocked that I was a) in his class and b) had a first name! LOL ! I have to make sure I know what I am talking about at all times or my credibility is shot. The last thing I need is him talking to his younger friends and having those kids losing respect for me. It will make my day job much harder.

You might be reading this and thinking I'm focused a little too much on what children think of me (chef included) but every schoolgirl wants to be popular, right? Even if she is 33.  :)