Dan and the art of kitchen appreciation
It was only when someone asked me recently, “What do you do exactly?” that I realised I don’t blog in as much detail as I used to, about my work life. I work in a commercial kitchen in the city and like most typical kitchens, it is a predominantly male environment. Despite the multitude of personalities or the testosterone overload, it’s one of the few times I’ve felt as though I’m in a place where everyone is truly bonding as a team; from the pointy end of the kitchen heirarchy, right down to the little fishes. Even the kitchenhands are happy people : one sings throughout the day and loves decorating his apron with vegetable art, and the other works two physically-demanding full time jobs but still has time to smile and have a laugh.
These days I’m finding it strange that my blog life is intersecting with real life. For the longest time, this blog was a little secret. A place I came to, to air woes. But since it appears that quite a few people I work with are aware of this blog, I thought I might as well introduce you to some of these characters from my kitchen life.
In no particular order :
Mike. You should see Mike dance to one of his favourite songs by Rick Astley. I swear, it’s a YouTube moment waiting to happen. Mike is also allergic to cashews and hates coconut. Apparently last week, almost all the staff desserts I made had coconut in them. How did that happen??
Miles is capable of appearing to be ‘miles away’; completely wasted without even needing drugs or alcohol. I attribute it to a combination of love-sickness, long work hours and vivid gangsta dreams related to his new-found addiction to The Wire. On a good day, Miles is capable of correctly counting the number of bread rolls he is required to warm in the oven.
Mitch is my Food Disposal Unit #1. He eats everything, and I do quite like that in a person.
Spud. We once both pulled the coolroom door open simultaneously while standing on opposing sides of the door. We stood there like stunned mullets for a second then burst into 5 minutes of uncontrollable laughter. I guess that pretty much sums up my relationship with Spud.
Terry. While I’m sure most guys would hate to be landed with the ‘nice’ tag, Terry is truly the nicest guy ever. He also looks like an attractive Abraham Lincoln and bakes from his grandmother’s recipes.
Mark Anthony. Is always referred to as Mark Anthony. I can’t remember why, but it seems to make sense.
Zach. Could almost be considered an honorary member of the pastry department because he’s always there to help out whenever help is needed most.
Dan. Of course, I saved the best for last. Dan is a creative spirit. He encompasses all the qualities you would expect a great chef to possess. He leads with respect, and (knowledge being more powerful than fear), he is followed with respect. He can be tough, but also fair, and is one of the most interesting people I have ever met. Lesser known fact : he can also swing dance.
As a ‘family’, we eat well, and we work hard. There is no shouting and minimal swearing in this kitchen. In fact, I made a joke the other day about loving ‘the new rack’ in my section and was greeted by stunned silence.
Oh, I love this work place, yes I do.
Adzuki bean and black sesame brownie :
(I adapted these rich gluten-free brownies from Heidi’s Black Bean Brownie recipe as seen on 101 Cookbooks.)
115g bittersweet chocolate (70% cocoa solids)
225g unsalted butter
310g cooked adzuki beans
60g black sesame meal/powder
100g walnuts, chopped
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
25g cocoa powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
4 large eggs
360g plain honey
Preheat the oven to 160′C. Grease and line a 7″ x 10″ baking tin and set it aside.
Place the chocolate and butter in a bowl over a pan of simmering water, stirring just until the chocolate has melted. In a food processor, combine the adzuki beans with the black sesame powder, vanilla and a couple of spoonfuls of the melted chocolate mixture. Blend until smooth, about 2 minutes.
In a large bowl, stir the walnuts with the remaining melted chocolate, along with the cocoa powder and salt.
In an electric mixer, whisk the eggs until light and creamy, then add the honey and whisk well.
Fold the bean mixture into the walnut/chocolate mixture, then fold in the egg mixture. Pour the batter into the prepared baking tin and bake for 30 to 40 minutes until set. Once baked, allow to cool on a wire rack before transferring to the fridge to chill well before cutting. These brownies are best served from the fridge as they are slightly crumbly, but assuredly very moist and delicious!
Tags: adzuki bean, black sesame, brownie, chocolate, gluten free
Irina @ PastryPal said,
July 30, 2009 @ 3:38 am
Heh, heh. You’re so right. There are waaaaay more men than women in commercial kitchens. One restaurant I worked in, I was the only female among a brigade of 50! I didn’t let it intimidate me, though, and had a great time. Kitchen people are a jovial bunch.
veron said,
July 30, 2009 @ 4:00 am
Thanks for letting us catch a glimpse of your life outside your blog. It sounds like you have such fun people around you at work. I’ve never used adzuki beans in any of my baking but I’ve seen it a lot in Japanese inspired desserts. And I’m all for new brownie recipes!
Embla said,
July 30, 2009 @ 4:18 am
Oh, wow. These sound wonderful. Does the black sesame flavor really come out?
I’ve been on a black sesame kick recently, making everything from black sesame dutch baby pancakes to roasted meats with something-and-black-sesame demi glace. Can’t wait to try these brownies!
Kasey said,
July 30, 2009 @ 4:21 am
I am fascinated by this recipe. I recently purchased some adzuki beans on a whim and have been pondering what to do with them. Are there savory recipes that can be made with them too?
Lucy Vaserfirer said,
July 30, 2009 @ 4:32 am
Heartwarming. What a wonderful place to work.
Aran said,
July 30, 2009 @ 5:37 am
oh makes me miss my days of camaraderie in the kitchen! i miss working with a team!
snooky doodle said,
July 30, 2009 @ 6:06 am
It s nice getting to know your work mates
these brownies are really interesting! I ve got some adzuki beans which I d like to use. Do you think I can use normal white sesame seeds ?
Y said,
July 30, 2009 @ 7:03 am
Irina @ PastryPal : Yes, they can be, but I’ve also been in environments where they’re not
veron : I grew up with it in lots of different sweets, but my love for it waxes and wanes. I’m very into it at the moment
Embla : It’s definitely noticeable, but I didn’t want it too strong, that’s why I didn’t go overboard with it. I’m experiencing a bit of a black sesame kick myself too
Kasey : This recipe came about on a whim too – I had some dried beans in my cupboard that had been sitting there for a long time. I ended up cooking the whole lot and making lots of different sweets with them. If you wanted to use it in savoury cooking, I’m sure you could substitute it for any other bean in your normal recipes – eg. a bean stew or in porridge.
Lucy Vaserfirer : It is! One of the best ever
Aran : Ah, but you’ve gone on to even bigger and better things since, as I’ve noticed from your latest blog posts.
snooky doodle : I’m sure you could, but there’s something about the flavour of black sesame seeds that I really love.
Anh said,
July 30, 2009 @ 7:46 am
Y, finally a glimpse of your life outside this blog. I am too working in a male dominated environment, but I do appreciate different people around me. They do not know about my blog (yet)
. I still have a little secret for myself.
This recipe sounds lovely! Black sesame is a favourite ingredient of mine and I cannot use it enough.
Julia @ Mélanger said,
July 30, 2009 @ 7:48 am
Your descriptions are great. I think I can see a few similar personalities in my work place!! Oh, and using another brownie recipe? You are crazy!
lisaiscooking said,
July 30, 2009 @ 9:01 am
I’ve encountered a couple of bean brownies lately, and I’m going to have to try them! Yours have a great texture and look delicious!
Hilda said,
July 30, 2009 @ 9:11 am
One thing I do love on my new ‘puter is Safari 4.0 which lets me see your page when I want to open a new page because it’s one of my 12 most often clicked sites so I can immediately see that you have a new post up.
I’m so so glad that you love working in this kitchen! I do miss that sort of work camaraderie but one of my little papoose’s smiles is more than enough to make up for it. Brownies yum, trying to make time to do a plated dessert a la Dessert with a remaining slice of the banana cake. You are my inspiration. =)
Ellie@AlmostBourdain said,
July 30, 2009 @ 9:57 am
Glad to get know more about the real Y and your workmates.
Steph said,
July 30, 2009 @ 10:00 am
Haha funny how on my brownie post today I’m complaining about how they don’t photograph well and then I see how gorgoes yours looks! *bows to the master* Love the descriptions, workplaces are such a unique mixing pot of characters.
shaz said,
July 30, 2009 @ 10:05 am
Being relatively new to your blog, it’s great to finally read about what you do in “real-life”. (It sounds sad, but I have been wondering and wondering – I pegged you for a techie /web designer type – how wrong!).
Sounds like an awesome place to work, and those sound like awesome brownies
kewpie said,
July 30, 2009 @ 10:34 am
loved the intro to the boys at work…reminds me of when i used to work in the raffles…there was always an air of calm and serenity in the pastry chef’s side of the kitchen…and there was a heck alot of swearing on the other side…
can’t wait to give this recipe a go. am wondering why i bother with subscribing to gourmet traveller when i can almost draw all my inspiration here.
shez said,
July 30, 2009 @ 11:00 am
It’s so good to hear you enjoying work, and the people you work with, and the things you’re doing! Sounds like you’ve found a perfect little family to fit into.
(oh and ps. your brownies sound fantastic – I can only imagine the flavour shock they’d give to someone who was expecting plain ol’ triple choc)
lisa (dandysugar) said,
July 30, 2009 @ 11:54 am
Mmm. I love adzuki beans. When growing up in Hawaii, I used to get Lilikoi flavored shave ice (basically a snow cone) with adzuki beans on the bottom. This brownie recipe sounds amazing! Very unique flavor combination!
Juliana said,
July 30, 2009 @ 1:16 pm
This is an interesting cake…azuki beans and black sesame, would love to try it!
?????? said,
July 30, 2009 @ 1:25 pm
This is a great combination-azuki and chocolate. Actually seen this done in Japan. Think I might give this a try. Well done.
Belle@OohLook said,
July 30, 2009 @ 3:26 pm
How lovely that you’ve found a work environment that is also a happy one. And interesting that the brownies are served chilled.
Arwen from Hoglet K said,
July 30, 2009 @ 4:45 pm
The beans would make for a lovely moist brownie, and it’s really cool that the recipe is gluten free without any substitution. I’m glad that it’s chocolatey too!
Thip said,
July 30, 2009 @ 4:47 pm
My boss and I are the only female in the kitchen too.
Manggy said,
July 30, 2009 @ 4:58 pm
Oh! There’s laughter and singing in the kitchen? You mean you guys aren’t constantly trying to cut each other’s throats? Ha ha ha. Thanks for sharing your (bizarre) world with us, Y! Love the brownies– let’s see if I’ve warmed up to sesame in desserts…
Caitlin said,
July 30, 2009 @ 4:58 pm
Hehe – Sorry I stumped you with my question
You know, my answer to that question is always “I make trash. Well, packaging for food, but it all ends up in the garbage.” Sad, huh? I’d much rather do something like you’re doing, as you well know. But male dominated workplaces? Yeah, I get you there – manufacturing plants aren’t exactly female friendly…
sooishi said,
July 30, 2009 @ 6:41 pm
This is a lovely idea! I’m an azuki fan….
FFichiban said,
July 30, 2009 @ 10:21 pm
Hee hee it is interesting to read about your colleagues and it sounds u have a blast at work! How fun ^^!
Cakelaw said,
July 30, 2009 @ 11:46 pm
It’s great to hear that this job has a great team. Those brownies look and sound very decadent – delightful!
Zita said,
July 31, 2009 @ 7:34 am
Glad to know that you love your new work place…or at least the chef (very important that you like working with him, no?)… and I love your brownies…oh…and Spud…interesting guy
Trisha said,
July 31, 2009 @ 10:24 am
Everyone’s on a brownie faze! These, Y, look sooooo decadent! Oh and I love having a great second family in the form of absolutely fantastic workmates!
Kevin said,
July 31, 2009 @ 11:24 am
I really like the sound of the Asian flavours in these brownies!
Esz said,
July 31, 2009 @ 7:21 pm
What a great post
) Its really nice to hear about the people you work with – and that it’s such a positive environment. It’s not easy to get a team working smoothly. I too work in a male dominated environment and unfortunately I feel our small team is actually let down by the two other *females* in my office.
That brownie looks fabulous too – I recently tried black sesame for the first time and am quite enamoured by the taste – it IS different to white sesame (which I love too) though I can’t quite put my finder on exactly how.
Anita said,
July 31, 2009 @ 9:40 pm
So glad you’ve loving where you work, that’s very important. Great to hear a bit about your ‘family’ too
cakebrain said,
August 1, 2009 @ 2:05 pm
It’s so important to enjoy being with your coworkers. You’re so lucky! I think your brownies look deceptively simple but must have a complex flavour and texture. What a creative thing injecting sesame and adzuki in chocolate!
Hélène said,
August 1, 2009 @ 5:16 pm
Sounds like you have lot’s of cool people around you. I love beans brownies. I made some in the past and nobody knew there was beans in them. Yours look delicious.
Jackie at PhamFatale said,
August 2, 2009 @ 3:47 am
I’m in awe. I thought it was a regular brownie when I first looked at the photo. The blend of flavors sounds amazing. It sounds like a close version of all those wonderful bean Asian sweet treats. Love it, it’s so creative!
Danielle said,
August 3, 2009 @ 7:36 am
A very Japanese brownie! Adzuki and black sesame are among my favs for ice-cream flavors and am curious about how they melded with chocolate. Good on you for having a work environment you love, a privilege that most of us can only dream about
the caked crusader said,
August 3, 2009 @ 5:37 pm
Gorgeous looking brownie. I can imagine how the sesame would taste but can’t fathom out the aduki beans in a brownie! Fascinating!
Christy said,
August 3, 2009 @ 8:35 pm
Your post brings back lots of good memories. I was actually the only girl in the pastry section—and I thought females are more likely to turn to the sweeter side of things (‘cuz we’re better at it, of course!). But your kitchen is surprisingly well-behaved. No one in where I used to work would’ve let the rack comment to that easily (if I guessed correctly what you were driving at).
I’ve been looking for delicious gluten-free sweets recipes that doesn’t taste gluten-free, you must’ve read my mind!! I’m filing this at the back of my head!! One question though, did you buy the adzuki beans already cooked?
Lisa said,
August 5, 2009 @ 6:48 am
I have a ton of adzuki beans to use up and I’m a huge black sesame or sesame anything fan. Those brownies look incredible and they put my dull peanut butter cheesecake brownies to shame in comparison! It’s like..Wilbur, meet Biff III LOL Love your co-worker intros too..very fun to read!
Lisa said,
August 5, 2009 @ 6:52 am
I LOVE black sesame or anything ’sesame’ and happen to have a huge bag of adzuki beans I need to use up. Such a beautiful and creative idea for a brownie. They put my peanut butter cheesecake brownies to shame, as in..Wilbur, meet Biff the third! lol Very well done, and I also loved your co-worker intros..very fun read!
Howard said,
August 5, 2009 @ 9:21 am
Black sesame sounds interesting, never seen it in a brownie before but I can imagine the intense flavour to be a good fit.
Ahhhh I dream of the day when I can love my work as much as my work mates.
clekitty said,
August 5, 2009 @ 12:27 pm
Thanks for sharing the recipe. It certainly looks very interesting. I’m a sucker for anything that has black sesame!
Marc @ NoRecipes said,
August 7, 2009 @ 1:54 am
I make a black sesame truffle and love the combo. Great idea using adzuki to make this gluten-free.
Ana Powell said,
August 7, 2009 @ 5:59 am
Hi
I loved reading about your working life, thanks for sharing it with us.
Lucky you are for working with such fun people.
Great recipe with a very interesting name x
cathy x. said,
August 8, 2009 @ 12:20 am
i’m glad you stuck it out and are enjoying things much more now
have you had a chance to go in for dinner yet? i saw it listed in time out magazine as one of the best new restaurants! yay!
as for “liking the new rack”… we’ve been friends for a while now so.. if you ever feel the need to discuss your sexuality.. you know.. err.. *awkward silence*
Marysol said,
August 8, 2009 @ 5:37 am
Well, I can only imagine the deafening silence in a kitchen full of men, the instant you confessed your love for your rack.[g]
In any event, they all sound like fun characters to be around, particularly the vegetable artist.
And Y, the brownie looks rich and moist, as it should be.
Hannah said,
August 9, 2009 @ 4:46 am
I guess the restaurant where I am is some what of an anomaly… It’s an all-female kitchen, and has been for as long as I’ve worked there (almost as long as it’s existed!)
Loving the concept of this brownie… I’ve made black bean brownies before to great success, and adzuki beans are so well suited to desserts, so I’m sure it’s a killer combination.
Dana said,
August 9, 2009 @ 6:26 am
How great that you have such a great group to work with! I love my team as well. It maikes it so much easier to get up and go to work when you like the people you work with, doesn’t it?
Nice looking brownies, too!
erin @ dessert girl said,
August 9, 2009 @ 7:49 am
An attractive Abraham Lincoln? Sounds like my dream guy.
The brownies look sooo good!
Jill said,
August 9, 2009 @ 1:10 pm
I love Adzuki beans! These brownies look so yummy! I also enjoyed reading this post and about the kitchen you work in. You are lucky to have a great work enviornment like that, especially since not all kitchens have a good atmosphere. I loved how everyone is so respectful of each other.
Tony said,
August 9, 2009 @ 2:53 pm
that sounds like such a cool place to work
I’m convinced that the people you work with are just important as the actual work you do. When it comes to enjoying your job, either one can make or break the other.
I love brownies of all kind, especially the dense ones – yum!
Tartelette said,
August 9, 2009 @ 3:03 pm
I am always happy to get back in the kitchen with the guys. Mine swear and cuss ten times more then drunken sailors but I kinda love them for it because there is always one to come behind to cover my ears. And they are always super protective which is hilarious coming from big mouths like they are!
You know, it does not matter where things take you now, nothing much matters or happens without honing your skills first. Happy you could be in such a good environment. Finally!
The brownies look delicious! I really need to get going with the whole bean browniet thingie…when Bill gets back to school and can’t suspect anything.
Maria Jose said,
August 9, 2009 @ 5:53 pm
Hola!! me cuesta un poco el idioma, estoy utilizando un traductor…pero es que tu blog me tiene completamente maravillada…me gusta todo, las recetas, lo que cuentas, las fotos…enhorabuena…pienso venir a menudo…un beso
Tim said,
August 9, 2009 @ 9:17 pm
I’ll have to let you know next time I’m in Sydney so I can book at table at the restaurant. Sounds like a great place to work and I have no doubt that translates to the food.
steph (whisk/spoon) said,
August 10, 2009 @ 9:25 am
i know for sure that you are not working at the same restaurant i worked at while i lived in sydney! maybe if i brought in desserts like these, everyone would have been happier!
Megan@Feasting on Art said,
August 10, 2009 @ 6:32 pm
Oh my these look interesting! They look really dense and rich…just the way I like my brownie!
Yasmin (Almond & The Hazelnut) said,
August 10, 2009 @ 7:42 pm
Ah so now I understand why you bake so beautifully! I find work interesting, particularly when you do something you love – it brings together like minded, similarly passionate people, but also such a range of characters – ones you’d never have chosen, but can’t help but love!
Ash said,
August 11, 2009 @ 5:21 am
What a great brownie. I’m curious now! I need to get on it with trying out those beans.
Thanks for a peak into your life. Sounds like you have a lot of fun!
cheers
Juliana said,
August 11, 2009 @ 10:52 am
Nice brownie…azuki and sesame…would love to try it!
gine said,
August 12, 2009 @ 10:23 am
oh … love those brownies ^^ … XOXO
arfi said,
August 12, 2009 @ 12:04 pm
apparently, it is hard to kind of having a group of get-along workmate. i think you are lucky to have one link of friend, especially those who love your cooking hehehe… i’d love to have friends that i can trust, but it is so hard to look for them around me. and that brownie is simply interesting with adzuki beans and black sesame. must be filling at some stage?
Forager said,
August 13, 2009 @ 12:09 pm
Great workplaces where you get along with everyone are hard to come by and yours sound like one of them. I’ve only worked in 1 of those places where the workmates become friends you don’t mind sharing your precious personal time with.
And I love the brownie recipe – my favourite Passionflower ice cream flavours in a brownie!
Jill said,
August 15, 2009 @ 4:18 am
Hi Y!
I have a little something for you over at my blog: http://jilliciousdiscoveries.blogspot.com/2009/08/nice-surprise.html
Have a great day!
Jill
L said,
August 16, 2009 @ 12:36 am
Hey Y,
Interesting post! I just finished reading Matthew Evans’ book “never order chicken on a monday’ and thought that all commercial kitchens were like those he described. You have disabused me of that. It is comforting to know that you aren’t going off to work every day with thugs like those described in his book.
deeba said,
September 7, 2009 @ 10:33 pm
That’s a brilliant bake…yum! Very moreish indeed. Love what you ‘do’ and love how much you love it!
Judy said,
December 9, 2009 @ 12:28 am
Damn it.
This makes me want to be a guy.
I swear.
We may have the nicest shoes
and bags
and damn it, we may not roll out of bed with Robert Pattinson-esq curl of hair and goofy smile
But it’s always nice to hear about a kitchen full of cooks just being boys whipping out great things like adzuki & black sesame brownies =) (all 3 of my favourite things together!)