Author: Hans Susser

Germany/USA

It’s a Chef’s Life ….

>
>
I saw this post by Mark Dale on FB and wanted to share it with you all 🙂
>

Chef Hans Susser

Chef Hans Susser

 

It’s a Chef’s Life ….
.
What you can expect from making a living in a professional kitchen:
.
1 You’ll almost always have open wounds on your hands and arms.

2 You’ll never meet new people because your social life deteriorates into non-existence.3 You’ll find it hard to start relationships because alone time will become a precious thing.

4 You’ll lose your social skills.

5 Your sense of humor will degrade into the politically incorrect and socially unacceptable

6 You’ll eventually start swearing like a sailor and you won’t even notice yourself doing it.

7 You’ll turn into an anorak/monomaniac and always turn all conversations back to food.

8 You’ll earn a pittance for years/decades.

9 You’ll either lose a vast amount of weight or gain a vast amount of weight.

10 You’ll never ever have a tan ever again.

11 You won’t become famous.

12 You’ll develop a habit, whether it be coffee, cigarettes, alcohol, gambling, cannabis, cocaine, or even red bull.

13 Your feet will get destroyed.

14 Your back will get destroyed.

15 Your hands will get destroyed.

16 You’ll live in a constant state of sleep deprivation, indefinitely.

17 You’ll have to ask your friends to plan everything around your schedule, which is incomplete opposition with their availability, because you never know your days off in advance and you probably won’t be able to change it.

18 You’ll become of a very highly strung nature

19 You’ll become more prone to temper flare ups

20 Your awareness of other people’s lack of efficiency and common sense will increase and your tolerance of it will decrease.

21 You’ll spend the largest part of your life cooped up in a small, undecorated room with poor ventilation, high temperatures, a lot of noise, humidity, no natural light and no windows, with a small group of people who will become your only social interactions.

22 You will work longer hours than you ever imagined possible or thought legal.

23 You will spend all your waking hours on your feet, never getting a chance to sit down even for 5 minutes.

24 Your shortest work days will be longer than most people’s longest, and your longer workdays, which make up about half of your working week, will be longer than the average person is awake in a day.

25 You will not cook gourmet dinners at home. You’ll be too tired, and too fed up of cooking.

26 You will probably start eating mostly fast food and cheap instant noodles.

27 You will be the subject of abuse, whether physical or emotional. Officially, it will be as a test of character. In reality, it will be as a form of entertainment.

28 You will end up spending so much time at work that your colleagues will know you better than your partner/family/friends do.

29 You will meet and form strong bonds with types of people whom you’d previously never even have imagined sharing conversations with.

30 You will be in a constant state of stress.

31 You will never be irreplaceable and will be expected to constantly give 110%.

32 You will always be exhausted.

33 You will not be allowed to call in sick for a hangover.

34 You will be expected to place your work before any other part of your life in your list of priorities.

35 You will never be congratulated on your work.

36 You will be expected to treat your superiors as absolute masters and never answer back, try to explain yourself, start a conversation, or show any other type of insubordination, even if you know that they are in the wrong or feel as if their behavior towards you is unacceptable.

37 It will become very difficult to watch friends cook.

38 Your mum will stop cooking for you because she feels embarrassed.

39 You will be expected to cook for family gatherings such as Christmas EVERY SINGLE YEAR. Luckily, at least one year out of two, you will be working on Christmas.

40 At least one year out of two, and maybe every year, you will work Christmas, New Year‘s Eve, Easter, Valentine’s day, Mother’s day, Father’s day, bank holidays, Halloween, your birthday, and pretty much every other day of celebration on the calendar.

41 You will have to work many years in menial positions before attaining any level of authority in the workplace.

42 The better the restaurant is, the longer the work hours become, the more pressure you end up under, the more unhealthy your lifestyle will become, the more likely you will be to develop a habit, the more competitive the people around you will become, the less sleep you’ll get, the less you’ll eat etc.

43 You will constantly make mistakes, and every time you do make a mistake, someone will notice it and make you understand that you are clearly a subhuman because only a subhuman could make such a mistake.

44 If you are a woman, you will constantly be the subject of misogynist remarks and jokes, sexual harassment, belittlement and remarks about your menstrual cycle.

45 None of your friends or family will understand what is involved in your work and you will never be able to make them understand.

46 You will spend vast amounts of money on equipment, books, eating in good restaurants etc, which will leave you with not much money for other things.

47 You will develop a creepy obsession with knives.

48 If you are a pastry chef, you will develop a creepy obsession with spoons.

49 You will get a rash in your arse crack from the mixture of heat, sweat and friction that will not heal well, sometimes get infected, will mostly always be slimy and itchy and will be there most of the time.

50 If you are the right type of person, you will thank your lucky star every single day for the rest of your life for making you take the best decision you ever did and become a chef. And you will fall in love with your job and never look back.

>
So, would I choose this profession again ?  YEP !
>
Would You ???

>
>
>
>
>
>

Braised Oxtail & Potato Dumplings “Geschmorter Ochsenschwanz & Kartoffelknödel”

>
>
Geschmorter  Ochsenschwanz & Kartoffelknödel  /  Braised Ox Tail & Potato Dumplings
>
I remember with nostalgia when you could get oxtail from your butcher for a buck and a half a pound. Those were the day’s. Obviously long gone, but not forgotten. Nowadays it’s gonna cost an average of $ 5.00 a pound. Considering a nice portion to be about 2.5 pounds, you might only want to prepare this for a dinner party with the best of friends 🙂
Anyway, since I only cook for Bella and myself nowadays, cost was not a concern. Time however is of the essence. You want to cook your oxtails REAL slow, so they get very tender without falling apart. This batch took about 3.5 hours to cook. Was it worth the trouble ? You bet your foot it was. Especially when you also prepare these great potato dumplings to soak up every last bit of the knock-out sauce you get by simmering the meat and vegetables for all that time.
>
Guten Appetit !   Das Leben ist Schön !
>
>

Geschmorter Ochsenschwanz & Kartoffelknoedel

Geschmorter Ochsenschwanz & Kartoffelknoedel

>

>


<
Ingredients :

Oxtail,   cut into single links
Bell peppers,   medium diced
Onions,   medium diced
Tomatoes,   canned, diced
Garlic,    paste
Peanut oil,
Kosher salt,
Cayenne pepper,
Hungarian paprika,
Veal stock,   or substitute
Red wine,
Dark beer,

Method :

Saute oxtails in hot oil until nicely browned on all sides. Remove from pot, set aside. Saute onions and peppers until caramelized. Now it is time to saute the paprika for a minute. Then add salt and pepper.Make sure you dont over season at this point. Remember, the stock will reduce a great deal when simmering for  long period of time. Add wine and beer to deglaze the pan. Return ox tail to pot, cover with veal juice  (substitute with chicken stock, vegetable stock or even water if nothing else is available. Simmer until oxtail is tender. Remove oxtail with a slotted spoon into a clean pot. Adjust seasoning of sauce if necessary. Strain sauce through a fine mesh sieve over oxtail. Make sure you press all the vegetables through the sieve. This will thicken your sauce and give it more body and flavor.
Serve with your favorite pasta or dumplings.

Potato Dumpling Recipe

>
>
>
>

Pizza With Anchovies, Mascarpone, Tomato & Egg

>

>

I did  not feel like having an elaborate meal tonight, so this quick and easy to prepare pizza was all I wanted for dinner. I actually had some pickled artichoke hearts in the fridge but I forgot to use them. Even without the artichokes, it was a very enjoyable, filling and satisfying dinner.
Looking forward though, to tomorrows braised oxtail with potato dumplings.
(Geschmorter ochsen schwanz mit kartoffel knoedeln) 🙂

>

Pizza With Anchovies, Mascarpone, Tomato & Egg

Pizza With Anchovies, Mascarpone, Tomato & Egg


>
Pizza Dough Recipe

Ingredients :

Pizza dough
,
Anchovy filets,   canned
Eggs,   whole
Tomato,   sliced
Chili flakes,
Mascarpone cheese,
Parmesan cheese,   finely grated
Scallions,   sliced
Olive oil,

Method :

Pull pizza dough into a thin oval. Top with anchovies, tomatoes and mascarpone, drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with parmesan. Bake at 500F until bubbling, add eggs and sprinkle with chili flakes, Return to oven and bake until dough is cooked, golden and crispy.
To serve, top with arugula in honey / mustard dressing.

Bon Appetit !   Life is Good !
>>
>
>
>

 

Rum Laced Iced Berry Soup

<
>

What  a gorgeous sunday afternoon by the lake. Perfect temperature outside, a good book to read (WHISKEY BEACH, by Nora Roberts), great rock in the background (Big 105.9) and this wonderful concoction of berries, yoghurt and rum, topped with a bit of whipped cream.
Ahhhhhhh 🙂

>
Life is Good !   Cheers !

>

Rum Laced Iced Berry Soup

Rum Laced Iced Berry Soup

>


>
>
>
>

Frantzén/Lindeberg – Real Food, Presented With Class, Style & A Sense Of Beauty

>
>

 

Image Source: Wikipedia

Frantzén/Lindeberg, Stockholm, Sweden
Image Source: Wikipedia

>

Usually  I am not a fan of highly styled food because, unfortunately, a large percentage of cooks nowadays loose sight of the food aspect in favor of extreme presentation, the  “WOW”  effect.
On the other hand, when I watch this short video of “Real Food”  presented as beautiful as can be at Frantzen/Lindeberg in Stockholm’s “Gamla Stan“, I am vividly reminded that, despite all the wannabe’s,  there are still geniuses out there who honor our profession with this kind of artistry and respect for what good food is all about.
My respect and admiration for chef’s of this caliber who make me proud to be a member of our profession 🙂 >
>
The featured dishes are :

“Chicken Salad”
“Tartar of Langoustines”
“Small Bark Pancakes”

Watch the video  HERE
>
>
>
>
>
>

Fried Cornish Hen, Pommes Frites & Baked Parmesan Tomato

>

>

After  I cooked this meal and started eating it, I became acutely aware of a monstrous mistake I had made: I had two hens in the fridge and I only cooked one, thinking it would be enough. I should have known better.
This could be the poster child for comfort food. The crispy, juicy , oh so tender cornish hen, freshly fried , crispy, tasty pommes frites and a great heirloom tomato baked with scallions, freshly grated parmesan and seasoned with sea salt and cayenne pepper. The whole schamukkus served with mayonnaise to dip the frites and a mixture of soy sauce, lime juice and chili oil for the meat.
Absolutely delicious – I just wish I had cooked both of the cornish hen’s  🙂
>

Fried Cornish Hen, Pommes Frites & Baked Parmesan Tomato

Fried Cornish Hen, Pommes Frites & Baked Parmesan Tomato

>


>
Ingredient’s :

Cornish hen,   padded dry inside and out
Makeshift fryer,   filled with heavily salted peanut oil
Chili oil,

Potatoes,   peeled, cut into fries
Duck fat,
Sea salt,
Cayenne pepper,

Heirloom tomato,   cut in half
Parmigiano-Reggiano,
Scallions,   cut into 3 inch lengths
Sea salt,
Cayenne pepper,
Butter,   melted,

Method :

Fry the cornish hen at 375 F until very crispy and cooked through. Remove to absorbent paper. Drizzle with chili oil.

Add the potatoes to the cold duck fat and heat it until the fat reaches a temperature of 375 F. Cook until crisp and golden brown. Remove to absorbent paper. Sprinkle generously with sea salt.

Season tomato with salt and pepper, top with grated parmesan. Dip scallions in butter and season with salt and pepper. Place on parmesan topped tomato. Bake until parmesan crust is golden brown.
>
Bon Appetit !   Life is Good !
>
>
>
>

” Ojinguh Bokkeum ” Korean Style Stir Fried Squid

>
>
Traditionally
  in Korea , one uses much larger squid and scores the surface in a criss cross pattern. I personally prefer the smaller squid I used here today, the texture is so much different and, dare I say, better.  It is  a simple stir fry preparation.  Please make sure your pan is very hot and please don’t boil your squid.  A few short seconds  simmering in the sauce will suffice. I also suggest that you mix all the Ingredients for the sauce and check the taste before you add it to the pan so your squid get in and out of the pan as quickly as possible. >
>

" Ojinguh Bokkeum "  Korean Style Stir Fried Squid

” Ojinguh Bokkeum ” Korean Style Stir Fried Squid>

>
>

 

>
>
Ingredient’s :

Squid,   cleaned, cut to size, including tentacles
Chilis,   medium hot, sliced
Scallions,   cut into one inch length
Onion,   cut into paysanne
Garlic,   paste
Ginger,   grated
Oyster sauce,
Soy sauce,
Sesame oil,
Chili flakes,
Peanut oil,
Sesame seeds,
Sriracha,
Ketchup, (for color and a touch of sweetness)
Kosher salt,
Cayenne pepper,


Method :

Season all vegetables and squid with salt and pepper. Saute onion , garlic and ginger until fragrant, add vegetables, saute for a few second, add squid, saute for a few seconds. Add sauce, bring to a simmer, remove from heat at once. Adjust seasoning if necessary. Serve with rice, sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds.

Bon Appetit !   Life is Good ! . . . .
>
>
>
>

Indoor Sunshine

>
?
Yesterday  it was raining and raining and raining ……
So I brought the sunshine inside the house with this delicious concoction  🙂
>
” Indoor Sunshine ”  Vodka & Mango Smoothie
>

Life is Good !   Cheers !
>

Indoor Sunshine: Vodka & Mango Smoothie

Indoor Sunshine:
Vodka & Mango Smoothie

>

Indoor Sunshine: Vodka & Mango Smoothie

Indoor Sunshine:
Vodka & Mango Smoothie

>

Indoor Sunshine: Vodka & Mango Smoothie 3

Indoor Sunshine:
Vodka & Mango Smoothie 3

>
>
>
>

” Bauern Vesper ” # 2

<
<
Today  was a very lazy sunday for me, I did not even feel like cooking. So, instead of a hot meal, I had a simple  “Vesper”  of bread, horseradish, salame , brie and gorgonzola. Good stuff 🙂

Bon Appetit ! Life is Good !
>

Bauern Vesper

Bauern Vesper

>

Bauern Vesper

Bauern Vesper

>

Bauern Vesper

Bauern Vesper

>
>
<
<

Breakfast Of Champions # 22 “Pytt I Panna”

>
>
I have
  
been introduced to this dish early in my career as a cook, when I was working at the “Hotel Kattegat” in Torekov, Sweden. At the time, I did not think of it as something special, maybe because we cooked it by he ton, since it is a staple of swedish cuisine. But, over the years, I have grown to love it in all it’s various incarnations. It is basically a dish made of leftover meat and potatoes. What particular meat you use is up to whatever leftovers you’ve got. However, when I make pytt i panna nowadays, I usually prepare everything from scratch, so I use my favorite pytt i panna meat, which is either salame or chorizo, whichever of the two happens to be in the house.
>

Pytt Y Panna

Pytt Y Panna

>

>

>
Ingredients :

Potatoes,   cooked,
diced Salame,   diced, (substitute any meat/sausage you have available
Onion,   diced
Egg,  sunny side up
Kosher salt,
Black pepper,   freshly ground Butter,
Scallion,   finely sliced  (usually in Sweden we use dill leaves)
Ingredients for your favorite side salad:-)
.

Method : Saute potatoes in butte until golden, add meat and onions and saute until onions are translucent and meat starts to become slightly brown, Season with salt and pepper. To serve, place hash on serving dish, sprinkle with scallions, top with fried egg. Pair with a small salad.
>
>
Smaklig måltid !   Life is Good !
> >
>
>
>
>>
>