Gruyeres and School

   

Heyy!!  hope you have had a great week and are excited to know how I spend my week.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2011.

A group of friends and i went to Gruyeres, a city in Switzerland.

We travelled by train to this remote destination.   

Upon arriving at the train station we didnt have to travel too far. 

We had to cross the road and we had arrived at one of the world famous swiss cheese factories "Le Gruyeres Switzerland" this where 'Gruyere Cheese' is made. 

 

 They provided us with different samples. the cheese was aged for different time periods (6/ 8/ 12 months) for us to try and then we went on a very interesting and interactive tour.

We got to see the factory (where the cheese is made and the cellar (where the cheese is stored.)

Then we finished our time at the factory with a delicious fondue lunch :)

We left the cheese factory and went for a 15min walk up hill to the Chateau de Gruyeres (Castle of Gruyeres.)

   

The Castle was located at the end of the cutest little town. After touring the castle we went to a cafe and had hot chocolate and just relaxed.

        

After our hot chocolate we went into a store where this man was making fondue cheese from scratch. It was quite an amazing process. 

After our castle tour we took another train to a little town called Broc, this is where the Cailler Factory is found. Callier was one of the founding father's of swiss milk chocolate, but in the 1930's when the economy was having problems Callier was bought out by Nestle. 

We went on and entertaining and interactive tour, it had us captivated and mesmerized. We then got to sample the delicious and creamy chocolate. 

 

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2011

I was the hostess for this weeks practical service class. I had to plan conversation and the reason for the meal.

I also did the flowers on the table. Instead of a normal arrangement this week we did same individual bouquets.

I even got to do a small autumn arrangment for the foyer.




WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2011

My back has been giving me a hard time but today was exceptionally painful and I had to miss cooking class to rest, but don't worry I got the menu and pictures for you.

Appetizer: Avocado and macadamia nut salad.

Entree: Sesame seed coated chicken, herb vinaigrette, punkin puree and roasted zucchini.

I also go great news re my CXC results. I placed 1st at andrews for Principles of Business (POB), so now I am in the category competing on the island level for number 1 in Jamaica. 

The Touzeou competition is also going very well.

Check back in next week to locate "The Jamaican Gal lost in Europe."

SCHOOL

I hope you all enjoyed last weeks post :) and are interested in this week's activities.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2011

Cooking Class in Vevey

Appetizer: Potato and cream Carrot soup
Entree: Salmon with potato and blanched broccoli
Dessert: Baked Apple stacks


THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2011.

I got more information in the Touzeau competition and its quite overwelming. The store carries brands like Fendi tables for $10,000 and crazy designers of that caliber. The competition has 10 contestants from 5 schools and the competition is broken into two areas: Table Decoration and Ambiance. One representative from each school has table setting and the other ambiance. I have table setting and my friend Lindsay has the ambiance which entails something like a sitting area and coffee table. We have free range of the store and the theme is the same for everyone, "10th anniversary." I will have to keep my ideas a secret but I will make my selections this week. The presentation to the winner will be done at a grand gala dinner at the Casino here in Montreux.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2011

Table setting, three people in a group but guess my luck? My partner is sick so I had to do the table myself, normally1 person does flowers and 2 set the table. The theme is Autumn!

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2011.

Cooking Class :) We only made dessert this week but its soo good.

Dessert: Fruit Tart and Creme au Glaze

Then I Had a meeting at Touzeau and began choosing my items to create my display. To my surprise the competition is not based on function of the setting its is how the merchandise photographs.

Have some pictures but i dont wanna spoil the surprise so keep checking in :)


Then we had a school trip to the circus, 'Cirque Knie.' It is the national circus of Switzerland.



It was so much fun: acrobats, elephants, lamas, horses and 3 stooges. The Show was 3 hours long but I was so upset we were not allowed to take pictures because it distracts the performers and animals.

Check in next Wednesday to locate the Jamaican Gal lost in Europe!

SCHOOL IN SESSION AND TOURING

Ok as you probably realized I didn't get to do my 2 posts last week and i'm sorry. So i'm gonna make this one long and bring you up to speed.

SCHOOL IS IN SESSION

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2011.

I had my first cooking class. There is a restaurant here in Vevey (a town about 30min from Monteux) owned by Jerome and Jerome. They teach cooking classes for all the hotel schools and private classes by day and run the restaurant by night.

Our first meal was good :)   

Entree: Quich, with a salad and balsamic vinaigrette.

Dessert: Stew fruit tart in filo dough with vanilla ice-cream and passion fruit puree. 

 SATURDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2011.

The school had a mandatory trip to two of the main cities Lausanne and Geneva.

We saw one of the oldest cathedrals in Lausanne. It is also home to the worlds Olympic museum.

In Geneva we got the freedom to walk around and site see and shop. It is also home to the UN head office and the red cross museum.

This is a fully functional clock made of flowers!

 We saw the Jet d'Eau which is the fountain of Geneva.

 

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2011.

Every Tuesday we have a practical hostessing and service exams. students will be assigned tasks (guest, host, hostess, service staff, matre d'hotel). The first week I got the job of service staff, the group I was in had to arrange the table for the meal and serve it.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2011.

Instead of cooking class we got to go to a chocolate factory (Poyet SA a Vevey).

We got to taste chocolate and make our own chocolate bars. yuum!

FRIDAY OCTOBER 7, 2011.

The school had arranged another mandatory trip to a castle, Chateau de Chillon. The castle is now a tourist attraction but it use to be a prison.

Following the visit to the castle was a fondue party. Meat and Cheese fondue.

Meat fondue involves thin slices of raw meat and a broth. the broth is kept over a fire and the meat is placed inside for a few minutes to cook.

Cheese fondue involves bread being placed in melted cheese.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2011.


A group of friends and i decided to go Bern, the capital of switzerland. It was raining and cold but it added to the fun of the expedition.

We saw many interesting things:

They have many fountains symbolizing different thing, 1 of the main ones is the bagpiper fountain.










 We saw the Swiss Confederating building 'Curia Confeoderacionis Helveticae.'



and one of Albert Einstein's homes.

Then we went to the bear pits which is said to be why the city is called Bern. A bear is the first animal the founder of the city had to fight.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2011.

I did my first ever arrangement alone :)

The other Girls in the group did the table and co-ordinated so well with my flowers.



So now that I am officially up to date :) keep checking in on where this Jamaican Gal is!

Ohh by the way based on my flower arrangement I got accepted to a competition with 1 other person from my school. It's at a high end tableware store call Touzeau. I will tell you how that goes and what it entails as I get to know more.

Check in next week to locate the Jamaican Gal Lost in Europe!