CULA-confidential

Five stars

Stephan Pyles got a five star review from the local paper, the Dallas Morning News. It's the highest rating a restaurant can get. Now a restaurant that was very hot is now incendiary. I heard that there is a multi month waiting list for a table on a Saturday night.

Rachel Ray of Food Network fame taped a segment of Tasty Travels at the ceviche bar. It was a zoo that night and having a camera crew underfoot didn't help.

New Job

A few months ago, I submitted an application to Stephan Pyles' new restaurant, called Stephan Pyles. He's one of the few nationally (perhaps even internationally) recognized chefs in Dallas. He had a cooking show on PBS long before the Food Network, and is known by foodie and non-foodie alike.

To make a long story short, I took a job with Stephan at the beginning of February and couldn't be happier. I work at the Tapas and Ceviche bar. My cooking surface is a cranky wood burning oven, and I cook in front of people, interact with them even.

Last week, I even got a tip. Not a "wear galoshes in the rain" tip but a guy palmed me a bill. Very nice.

The graduate

In December I graduated from El Centro College in Dallas, TX with an AAS (associate in applied science), Culinary Arts degree. As soon as I send my diploma to the ACF  American Culinary Federation I'll be a Certified Culinarian. What a hoot!

I've spent the past months ajusting to life without school. I'm pleased to announce that It's a piece of cake!