Book Review: BEATEN, SEARED, AND SAUCED by Jonathan Dixon

Synopsis from book cover of Beaten, Seared, and Sauced:

Book image from goodreads.com

Millions of people fantasize about leaving their old lives behind, enrolling in cooking school, and training to become a chef. But for those who make the decision, the difference between the dream and reality can be gigantic – especially at the top cooking school in the country. For the first time in the Culinary Institute of America’s history, a book will give readers the firsthand experience of being a full-time student facing all of the challenges of the legendary course in its entirety.

On the eve of his thirty-eighth birthday and after shuffling through a series of unsatisfying jobs, Jonathan Dixon enrolled in the CIA (on a scholarship) to pursue his passion for cooking. In Beaten, Seared, and Sauced he tells hilarious and harrowing stories of life at the CIA as he and his classmates navigate the institution’s many rules and customs under the watchful and critical eyes of their instructors. Each part of the curriculum is covered, from knife skills and stock making to the high-pressure cooking tests and the daunting wine course (the undoing of many a student). Dixon also details his externship in the kitchen of Danny Meyer’s Tabla, giving readers a look into the inner workings of a celebrated New York City restaurant.

With the benefit of his age to give perspective to his experience. Dixon delivers a gripping day-to-day chronicle of his transformation from amateur to professional. From the daily tongue-lashings in class to learning the ropes-fast-at a top NYC kitchen, Beaten, Seared, and Sauced is a fascinating and intimate first-person view of one of America’s most famous culinary institutes and one of the world’s most coveted jobs.

Shockingly (to myself at least), I have already finished the April book for my book club. I had started Beaten, Seared, and Sauced by Jonathan Dixon early because I am not normally a person who can dive right into a memoir or biography and read it quickly. I figured that I would need to get a head start on reading this novel so that I would be finished “on time.”

Happily, I did not need this extra time that I had allotted for myself. I found myself wanting to read more and more of Dixon’s book. I think that I became so involved in his book for a multitude of reasons. The first, and most obvious, reason is that Dixon is a fantastic writer. Dixon had supplemented his income while a student at the CIA with writing assignments and also had jobs before going to chef’s school as a writer. Dixon’s writing style has a great flow to it. Even when he does slight digressions, the information seems to make sense and is relevant to whatever he is talking about at the time.

A second reason that I think I felt a connection to Dixon’s story, is that I had also undergone a career change and went back to school. Granted, I went back to school at a younger age than Dixon, but that sense of knowing that there is a career, a calling out there for you, instead of just a “job.” I know that this is a book that I will be sharing with many people: those who are interested in going into careers in the culinary world, as well as those who are simply contemplating a career change.

I know that this is a story that many people will be able to relate to. There were a few cooking terms that I didn’t understand, or hadn’t encountered before, but to me that did not take away from what Dixon was saying. This book wasn’t simply a chef’s book or a book discussing recipes; it was a book discussing his journey into a new world and his personal transition finding his passion in life. I only wish that Dixon would have added something at the end of the novel just to let us (the readers) know what he has been doing since his graduation from the CIA.

Dixon seems to be extremely talented as both a writer and a chef. As I was doing some reading of articles of interviews that Dixon has done since the book, I came across his blog. It is great to read and explore and having read his book. I hope you will read Beaten, Seared and Sauced: On Becoming a Chef at the Culinary Institute of America as well as his blog, Beaten, Seared, and Sauced: A culinary school graduate’s continuing saga… I’m very glad that I was (gently) pushed outside of my reading comfort zone with this novel; I very much enjoyed it.

Does This Really Matter?

So many times I am asked by my students, “Why are we reading this?” “Why do we still have to read Shakespeare?” “Does this really matter?”

Oftentimes these questions are in relation to the novels and stories that we are reading in class. Since I teach sophomores, juniors AND seniors, every time I start something new in any of these classes the students ask the same questions.

Lately though, I’ve been noticing an increasing trend in pop culture to reference the “classics.” For me as an English teacher, I find the references exciting since I can go back to my students and tell them that the novel we’re reading in class was referenced on “The Daily Show” by Jon Stewart or there is a modern adaptation that just came out.

The most rewarding part for me though is when my students figure out these references for themselves…or they become excited when a new movie is being created based on the book they’re studying.

My most recent examples of this do actually include a reference on “The Daily Show,” just Tuesday night in fact, where Jon Stewart referenced A Brave New World when he mentioned the use of “soma.” Of course I had a nerdy English teacher moment when I actually became excited by this and immediately thought of the group of seniors I had last year and us studying the novel in class together and wondering if 1) any of them were watching the show and 2) if those watching the show picked up on the reference.

I also have had great joy as a teacher explaining to my students how Shakespeare has influenced many modern movies such as “10 Things I Hate About You” which is The Taming of the Shrew and “She’s The Man” which is Twelfth Night Or, What You Will. I always get a kick out of seeing the looks of recognition as the students realize they have been enjoying Shakespeare for years, and not in the Romeo and Juliet form.

Lately though, my juniors have become excited with the soon-to-be released movie of The Great Gatsby. Not only have my students been talking about seeing the trailers in theaters, but they have also told me about merchandise for sale that says “I Party with Jay Gatsby” and how they can relate all of this back to the book we are reading in class. They are excited to tell me about the throw pillows and shirts that are The Great Gatsby. They want to share how they recognized specific scenes in the trailer and knew exactly which part of the book they were from.

Despite all of these things, I think one of the greatest moments I have had so far in relation to the question, “does this really matter?” would be my experience this year with one particular student. This student was part of my group last year that read the novel Night. She was so moved by this story of the Holocaust that she has, on her own, continued to read about the events of that time and has become very passionate about it. This has been my goal as a teacher…to give students information or present them with a topic that inspires something in them to learn more. I want my students to have those experiences where a passion is awakened in them to read more, learn more, do more.

So no matter how many times I hear these questions, I know that there will always be the same answer…Literature DOES matter. These books tell the stories of imagination, our history, and the formation of our cultures and countries.

Book Review: THE HOUSE OF VELVET AND GLASS by Katherine Howe

Summary from book cover:

Book cover image from goodreads.com

Boston, 1915. Still reeling from the deaths of her mother and sister on the Titanic, Sibyl Allston is living a life of quiet desperation with her taciturn father and scandal-plagued brother in a town house in Boston’s Back Bay. Trapped in a world over which she has no control, Sibyl seeks answers in the depths of a medium’s crystal ball.

When her brother is suddenly kicked out of Harvard under mysterious circumstances and falls under the sway of a strange woman, Sibyl seeks out psychology professor Benton Derby, despite an unspoken tension from their shared past. As they work together to solve a harrowing mystery, they realize that there may be something more magical between them than a medium’s scrying glass.

From the opium dens of Boston’s Chinatown to the salons of high society, from the back alleys of colonial Shanghai to the decks of the Titanic, The House of Velvet and Glass weaves together meticulous period detail, intoxicating romance, and a final shocking twist that will leave readers breathless.

Katherine Howe’s novel The House of Velvet and Glass was the March book for the virtual book club that I am involved in this year. After a disappointing February book, I was glad to find myself once again involved with a book that I found difficult to put down. Katherine Howe’s style of writing has such an ease to it, that her novels seem to move on their own accord. This is the second novel of Howe’s that I have read, and her ability to create stories has left me once again very impressed.

Howe has a gift to take historic events in New England and weave fictional characters around such profound events in American history. I found myself drawn into the lives of the Allston family after their devastating experience with the Titanic. While the reader is mostly given Sibyl, there is a great juxtaposition in perspective and point-of-view through different chapters. This juxtaposition allows the reader to ascertain information that at first seems to not make sense, but in a great way starts to come together throughout the novel.

I found the relationships created by Howe to be very believable and relatable. The Allston family could be any family found throughout American history as one that deals with tragedy and their ways of learning how to cope with their lives and each other. The relationship between Sibyl and Professor Derby was also one that was timeless and interesting to watch as it developed. This is a novel that I would highly recommend to anyone, but especially to someone with a penchant for historical fiction.

Book Review: SWEET TOOTH by Ian McEwan

Summary from Goodreads.com

Book cover from goodreads.com

In this stunning new novel, Ian McEwan’s first female protagonist since Atonement is about to learn that espionage is the ultimate seduction.

Cambridge student Serena Frome’s beauty and intelligence make her the ideal recruit for MI5. The year is 1972. The Cold War is far from over. England’s legendary intelligence agency is determined to manipulate the cultural conversation by funding writers whose politics align with those of the government. The operation is code named “Sweet Tooth.”

Serena, a compulsive reader of novels, is the perfect candidate to infiltrate the literary circle of a promising young writer named Tom Haley. At first, she loves his stories. Then she begins to love the man. How long can she conceal her undercover life? To answer that question, Serena must abandon the first rule of espionage: trust no one.

Once again, Ian McEwan’s mastery dazzles us in this superbly deft and witty story of betrayal and intrigue, love and the invented self.

Sweet Tooth was the February pick for the virtual book club that I am a part of. I was truly excited to begin this novel after having such a great experience reading the January novel. Unfortunately for me, Sweet Tooth did not live up to my expectations. This was my first experience reading a novel by Ian McEwan even though I thoroughly enjoyed the film adaptation of Atonement. Based on these things, I was hoping for a moving and exciting novel from McEwan.

This, however, was not meant to be for me and this novel. I struggled a great deal to pick up this book and read it. Sweet Tooth took me about a month to read, and that for me is a long time for reading a book. I normally seem to eat books up and can’t stand to put them down, but in this case, I couldn’t seem to motivate myself to pick the book up. I did persevere and did not give up on reading this novel despite many nights where I was almost persuaded to not continue the novel if I was not enjoying it.

This book soon became a personal goal of mine to simply finish it. I had a very difficult time identifying with the main character, Serena. She was not a character that I could connect with because it seemed as though Serena’s personality and interests would change based on whichever guy she was dating at the time. I had expected with the involvement of Serena in the MI6 that the novel would be fast paced and intriguing, but for me this novel did not hold any of these things.

I am simply proud that I finished this novel, and I feel that is an accomplishment that I can share with my students when they struggle with reading a novel in class. This experience is one that I can use to try to reach my students and help them set goals for finishing things that they struggle. with.

Where Did the Time Go?

I know, I know…I haven’t posted a new blog post in a while. As I look at the last time I wrote, I wonder and ask myself, “where did the time go?” I feel as though I need more hours in a day, more days in a week, maybe even a few more weeks in the year.

It seems as though, lately, time has been moving in fast forward. There is always something to do, somewhere to be, a schedule to make, a lesson to plan.

Today, school was dismissed early because of the snow. And I am so very thankful to Mother Nature for bringing this snow so that I may take a few moments to breathe. We all need to remember to take a few moments when we can to let ourselves just be. Our brains and our bodies appreciate those minutes where where we allow them to relax and unwind.

For me this year, the end of February means the end of the high school Basketball season, which means craziness as we enter Regionals and prepare for the rest of the post-season. I am so very proud of the boys’ basketball team and all of my cheerleaders and they dedicate themselves to achieving as much as they can and always looking to achieve their next goal. But as one season starts to wind down, I’m already looking towards my next season which will just be getting started in a few weeks.

This year, I will also be the assistant track coach for our junior high team. As excited as I am to be involved in a sport that I love and have missed, I am also enjoying these few minutes I have to find time again. I am able to sit and relax as I work on my writing. Having these moments to myself enables me to give my best to my students and my athletes when they need me the most.

For those of you in Illinois, I hope everyone stays safe and warm with the snow that we are getting and for those of you everywhere else, happy teaching and happy writing!

What’s a Day Off?

Today is Sunday. The last day of the weekend, but I would still like to have another day off. I have not had a day in a while where I have not done anything work related. As a teacher and a coach, I am constantly working – even on weekends.

This is especially true this year since I am coaching high school cheerleading during basketball season instead of junior high. The season is longer, the games are more and there are higher demands for the squad at the high school level. We also have our fundraisers that need to go on every year.

Last year, on weekends, I spent most of my time planning lessons. As a new teacher in my district last year I was creating my own curriculum. (The plus of being the only high school English teacher – yes, I said only – was being able to teach the material I wanted to as long as it met the state standards.) This year, I am not only making lesson plans and grading, but also working on whatever I need to for cheerleading.

Don’t get me wrong, I am extremely grateful to be working and I love my students and my cheerleaders. But I would also be extremely happy to be able to have a day with my dog and my husband where we just spend time together as a family. (I know I don’t have any kids of my own, but Pugsley thinks he’s a person sometimes and demands our attention if we are working too much on our laptops, so it’s still family time.) Our family time is also at a minimum not just because I am working every day, but now that my husband is back in school, he also has work that he is doing just about every day.

To paint the picture for you, as I said before, today is Sunday. Yet here I am taking a break from my coaching work to blog. As I sit at one end of the couch on my laptop, typing away, my husband is at the other end of the couch working on his laptop (complaining about group work with an online class) and the dog has given up trying to get our attention and is now sleeping on a fleece blanket (his favorite). No TV, no music, just us clicking away at the keys as we do our work.

Oh to have a weekend where we had time. But I know that because I love what I do and I care about my students, even if there is ever a day where I don’t have to be working I will still be thinking about what novels I want to bring into the classroom and the topics I want to introduce my students to because I want to make a difference. My husband has called me a “workaholic” but I prefer the term “passionate about teaching.” So instead, as I wait for the Super Bowl to start (so I can work and watch), I will drink my coffee and continue to work.