SAGE Student Bistro 4/10

We went to the Fort Omaha Community College Culinary Arts Student Bistro "SAGE" last evening with some friends. The senior students run this bistro totally [serving, cleaning, cooking and creating the menu]. We were allowed to ask any question we wanted to and so "I" did : } After dinner we got to take a tour of the kitchen labs and see where the kids learn and cook. They even learn how to cut up pigs, chickens, cows, etc. in a special room. The room behind the sink that is glassed in is the "Chocolate Room". It has to be at a certain temperature and then supposedly no air bubbles form in the chocolate. Interesting! It's so clean!


This is Sarah Slattery the Student Chef De Cuisine for the week. She created our entire menu and then specializes in what they call the "Student Prix Fixe Menu". So each week a student in the fine dining class presents a 3 course menu rooted in the fundamental techniques of the classical kitchen. I have 2 pics below showing her talent. This is her family that came to taste and tour too.

These are random pics of the students working in the different glassed in kitchens while we walked and observed in the hallway.

The yellow cords hanging from the ceiling are just eletrical outlets for each learning station. I noted that they had at least 2 dozen Kitchenaide mixers on one shelf!!

This is our waiter, Brandon. He did very well serving us and explaining the menu. He also gave us the tour. He graduates this December with his AD in Culinary Art and plans to tour Europe for a while tasting and learning about the different foods, then coming back to Omaha and opening up his own restraunt specializing in foods grown locally.

OK, this is from the Prix Fixe menu by Sarah. She made a Cajon Cobb Salad first; then came the Shellfish Cake made of crayfish, shrimp and crab; below is the Bacon Studded Beef Sirlon in stewed creole vegetables, andouille boulette, and peppercorn sauce; and then for dessert she made Beignets with Butterscotch Pastry Cream and Banana Brulee'. It was awesome, fantastic, wonderful.....and any other word that means "awesome" : }

Dad and I ordered the Seared Red Snapper below with green lentils, fennel, green pea puree' and caper beurre noisette. I can't even pronounce it all that but it was sure good.

These are our very good friends, Dr. Tom Tonniges and his wife, Jane who is also a nurse. We have "alot" in common and really enjoy their company.

Spring in Omaha 4/10

We are so excited to be officially in Spring up here in Omaha. NO MORE SNOW!! This is our purple plum tree covered in tiny pink flowers that will turn into beautiful purple leaves. I had to buy this pot of flowers at HyVee last weekend just to spring up the house. When they are all dried up, I plan to save the bulbs and plant them outside in front of some large rocks near the driveway.

And these are the lovely orange/yellow tulips that Will loved so much. He was helping me plant other flowers last Spring and before I knew it, he pulled one of these and handed it to me with this huge smile on his precious face. All I could do was say, "For me Willam, thank you so much!" : }