[Previous entry: "A bit discouraged"] [Main Index] [Next entry: "Momentarily Techie"]

08/29/2002 Entry: "Chaotic Day in the Kitchen"

My dad decided to invite some of his golf buddies and their wives over for a special "Fresh Lumpia" dinner. I was in charge of dessert, and my mom was in charge of the lumpias. My dad usually doesn't compliment my mom that much, but he's always ready to give praise when it comes to my mom's lumpias. So my mom's very protective of the lumpias, she usually doesn't let other people do the cooking. Today though, her older sister took charge. I've never seen my mom act so much like a little child. She was seething when she saw the pale-looking mixture her sister made. She stormed into my room, almost in tears, telling me how her sister's version didn't taste good at all. She tried to regain control of the kitchen, but of course, older sisters rule...

As I thought about the situation a little more, I think my mom became upset because she didn't want to disappoint dad. I just realized how much she wanted him to be proud of her. In a lot of ways, that's how I am too.

This day was quite a disaster. I didn't have much luck with my desserts either. I was going to make some cream puffs and eclairs, but my choux pastry didn't puff up. My mango almond tart had too much alcohol in it -- I had to improvise and make another tart -- a simple mango cream tart... I wanted to hide when my dad introduced me as an aspiring chef who's gone to Le Cordon Bleu blah blah...

Well, it's over. It's just one of those bad days... at least we survived, maybe with half of our pride, but we'll be ok. :)