Boxes, boxes, boxes! That’s all I’ve seen for the past few weeks.
We completed our cross-country move from Brooklyn to Seattle this past weekend. The trip was mostly uneventful, if you don’t count the 40 dead deer we saw along side the roads (mostly in Pennsylvania), the 8 accidents we either witnessed or saw soon after they happened, the tornado we missed by 20 minutes, and the two fantastic BBQ cook-outs we had with our respective families (one in Ohio and one in Kansas City).
While in Kansas City, I spent a morning trailing with the chocolatiers at Christopher Elbow. It was fun to see their operation and to help out a bit with the morning production. I helped cut ganache squares on the guitar and also helped mold some chocolate bars. They are a great crew and are very friendly. Elbow’s chocolates are some of the prettiest I’ve seen and his flavors are very bold, but fairly well-balanced. Next to Kee’s Chocolates in NYC, he is one of my favorite chocolatiers. My other favorite chocolatier doesn’t have her own shop (yet) and can only be found at Gilt restaurant. Jen Yee, the pastry sous chef, makes some fantastic chocolates. I wouldn’t be surprised if she went off to open her own shop some day.
As for me, I am looking for a job as a pastry cook in Seattle. So if you hear of anything, let me know! I am going in for a trail on Thursday to one of my favorite restaurants in Seattle. There is a good chance this will turn into a job offer, so wish me luck!
Thanks for alerting me to Christopher Elbow’s chocolates. I look forward to trying them. Kee’s is on my “to visit” list for the next time I am in NYC. Congratulations on your job! How cool to be working for the newly named Best Chef in the Northwest!