food, visits, and Insanity

time to catch up on my blog .. let's see, where did i leave off?

ah yes .. WSET Advanced Level III .. the results are in ..
theory - pass with merit
tasting - pass with distinction
overall - pass with merit

argh!  i missed an overall pass with distinction by a hair.  i was actually quite disappointed with myself.  usually i'm better at the theory portion but i've gained a lot of confidence in my blind tasting skills.  less than 50% of the class passed so it wasn't an easy exam.  my mentor was proud of my accomplishment - i went into the WSET program without having to take Level 1 or 2.  i also had to learn the WSET tasting note system which is entirely different from how we took tasting notes at Algonquin.  it really helped that i studied with some of the best sommelier students from my Algonquin days.  the four of us would volunteer to provide tasting notes verbally at every class.  the only way to get better is to participate and not be afraid to get it wrong.  i think that was a contributing factor to our success.  i should be picking up my certificate and pin soon - yes, there is a pin for Level III!

after the exam, i stepped away from wine.  i took a clean break from it and started to focus on my health.  i started hitting the gym again and did some research on food source.  it led me to the world of grass-fed beef and free range pork.  i'm not a vegetarian by any means and i appreciate a good steak .. but i've always wanted to know what the big deal was with grass-fed beef and free range pork.  i contacted dan o'brien of O'Brien Farms in Winchester, Ontario to talk about his cattle.  i drove out to Winchester one afternoon to meet with dan in person.  he had quite the operation and it was so cool to see these beautiful animals up close.  it was so much better than going to a regular farm even though this farm only had cows.  we walked through the pen .. i saw how well the cattle were treated.  the type of cow used for producing their beef is the simmental breed.  they are never injected with hormones, no antibiotics, and no GMO (genetically modified) feed.  they go through intense grazing in the pasture and are rotated on a daily basis.  they are not packed into tight quarters so they get a lot of free space to move around in.  it was kind of funny when they hear our footsteps approaching, they all come stampeding out of the pen.  dan says they think it's a wolf approaching so they are running away.  how cute. :)  at the end of my visit, i was able to purchase some steaks at a very decent discount.  at the time i didn't know it but dan's beef is sold at a premium in high end butcheries and restaurants.  when i made one of the striploins, i was blown away.  i've never had a striploin that was so flavourful and so tender.  there was absolutely no smell when i opened the package and it cooked up nicely on my grill.  i learned a lot from dan and he has become a great resource for excellent beef.  most commercial grade beef is produced from cows that are corn-fed with who knows what to allow cows to get bigger faster.  cattle is usually kept in tight quarters so there is little room for them to move around.  the resulting product is generally bland and if there are any antibiotic or gmo injections, it's in the meat that you are consuming.

after my beef experience, i moved on to the world of free range pork.  most of the pork found in regular supermarkets tends to cook up dry.  i've never been able to cook a decent pork chop because it always ends up dry.  ida vallincourt of Pork of Yore suggested that i go to Brian's Butchery to try their pork.  the pigs at Pork of Yore are free range heritage breeds - they have two different breeds: tamworth and berkshire.  free range means they roam freely in their natural environment and are given a lot of space to lounge around in.  they are fed a natural feed of grass and grains but also no antibiotics or gmo products.  the meat is slightly darker than what you see in supermarkets.  the pork chops i bought, had this rim of fat around the meat.  usually we don't eat the fat because it's not good for you, right?  apparently the fat from the free range pork is good for you because it contains none of that saturated fat (ie bad fat) and boy, was that rim of fat tasty.  the meat had a slight smoky (think bacon) flavour.  the pork chops i had were from a berkshire pig.  i met ida at the farmer's market recently and we had a long discussion about their pigs.  one of these days, i'm going to head to their farm to see the piggies up close.

next up, i will be trying free range chickens and farm fresh eggs.  my source?  beking farms.  they are known for their farm fresh eggs and i'm excited to see how they compare to regular store bought eggs.  apparently there is a difference - not only in taste but in price!  i don't mind paying a premium if it is top quality protein.   hopefully by my next post, i'll have an update.

as i mentioned earlier, i've started hitting the gym and my friend mentioned that he was exercising as well.  he started the Insanity program.  hmm, really?  i borrowed the dvds from him and decided to give it a go myself.  omg, the first few days was brutal but i got used to it fast.  am i seeing results?  well, slowly .. with all exercise programs, diet plays a huge part in the success or failure of the program.  they say that diet is 90% of the program.  it is important to eat right so that the muscles have fuel.  most people think that all they have to do is cardio or weights but when you start to exercise like that, you need to increase your caloric intake with the right foods.  my weight gain was caused by the fact that i cut down my caloric intake when i wasn't hitting the gym as often.  i thought .. since i'm not exercising to burn off these calories, i should just consume less so there is less to burn.  make sense right?  no.  what happened was that by eating less, i put my body into starvation mode.  i drastically reduced my metabolism (bad) and every bit of food was being stored because of this starvation mode.  a trainer scolded me and said no, you have to eat and eat good fats.  you need fat in order to lose weight.  so i started to eat good fats like avocado, raw almonds, and greek yogurt for added protein.  i cut down on rice consumption - very difficult for an Asian person.  when i do have rice, it's 25% jasmine rice and 75% red rice which is better for you.  i also cut down on bread and pasta.  cutting down doesn't mean cutting out.  i still have them, but just not as often as i used to.  pasta is something i have once a week and usually on tuesday/wednesdays because i need carbs for badminton.  one thing i cannot do - brown rice pasta.  ugh!  my sister gave me some and i tried it the other day .. it's the most disgusting thing i've made.  it tasted funny.  i know my sister meant well but it was not good.  i feel sorry for anybody who is on a gluten-free diet.  :)  (side note:  going gluten-free when you don't have celiac disease is not a good thing.  a lot of celebrities swear by it but it's not a good diet for those who don't have an aversion to gluten).

i must say, the workouts have had a positive impact on me.  it used to be tough to drag me out of bed in the morning but after the intense Insanity workouts, i get myself out of bed a lot earlier and without that feeling of dread.  i have more energy and i feel quite good.  that's the important part.

lastly, i made two trips back to Toronto in a span of two weeks.  the first trip back, my brother was in town with his family.  i don't see them that often so any chance i get, i would make the 4 hr drive to spend time with everyone.  with everyone together, it was the right time to go to the cemetery to pay our annual respects to our grandparents.  visiting the cemetery might sound creepy but i make it fun and educational for the kids .. i quizzed my niece Amanda on her math skills by having her determine the age of the deceased.  you could see the wheels turning in her head as she would do the calculations.  i also printed off some sheet music for my oldest niece Amelia - the song was "All of Me" by John Legend.  Amelia hasn't been enthusiastic about piano but i wanted to give her something fun to work towards.  she was excited to have the sheet music for this song that she liked.  she told me that her classmates all knew how to play the song.

two weeks later, i drove back to celebrate Mother's day with my mom.  we had a barbeque at my sister's place and while i was there, Amelia pulled out the sheet music for "All of Me" and played for me.  she wasn't perfect but i was happy to see that in two weeks of secretly practicing, she played very well.  i gave her a second song to learn - "Listen to your heart" by DHT & Kelly Clarkson.  she and Amanda listened to the song and smiled.  it's not from their generation but they both liked the song.  can't wait to hear them play during my next visit.

mother's day was great.  i took mom for breakfast at a local diner.  she loves her bacon and eggs!  :)  i think being able to take her out and chauffeur her around makes her happy.  she doesn't drive and relies on others a lot.  she is never afraid to ask me to drive her anywhere .. i even drove her out to a temple on the west end of the city.  she had been wanting to go to the temple to see the plaque for my grandparents.  when we got to the temple, she said she forgot the plaque number.  sigh .. :)  luckily, she showed me the night before so it was still fresh in my head.  (mom, what would you do without me?? :)  we spent some time checking out the temple, i said my prayers, and we each made a donation.  i wrote my mom's name and my name in the donations book.  i thought it was good mother/daughter time.

anyway, that's a long update .. it's time for some insanity plyometric cardio and P90X ab ripper.  have a great weekend!

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Roadblocks

In a recent visit to the hospital for a check up, I was advised by my doctor to give wine education a break.  Although my doctor did not explicitly say 'no, you cannot continue' .. he wasn't as supportive as he was in the past and suggested that maybe I should think about other avenues of the hospitality industry.

My test results were showing a negative trend so before it gets worse, it was best that I give the wine thing a rest before making any new plans for more wine education.

To be honest, taking a break from wine education was something I wanted to do anyway so I wasn't too disappointed when the doctor didn't give me his thumbs up. Don't get me wrong, I really do enjoy wine education.  As I've said before, there is something about the complexity and challenge about it that makes me feel alive.  It requires me to think on so many levels that it keeps me sharp.

WSET was intense and challenging but I somehow felt that I took it at the wrong time.  The period between December and February was tough for me.  There were many business/work related tasks that required my attention that I often had to put studying and hobbies aside - which meant that wine had to take a back seat.  I wasn't happy that I had give up study time for business matters but business matters is what pays the bills so I had to give that my full attention.

I was stressed out to the max but there was no time to curl up in the fetal position and cry about it.  I'm a tough cookie and us Ng girls don't deal with stress that way.  I kept my head down and worked through that to-do list.  I told myself that I'll take a break when it's over.  I stopped going to badminton, I cancelled all social meetings, and skipped all wine tastings.  I had no life.  But boy, the month went by slowly and every day, there was an urgent issue to deal with.  I barely had time to make an appointment to get my car in for service.

I managed to fit in 1 weekend of studying for my WSET exam.  My instructor said if you want to pass with "distinction", you should read the book at least 4 times.  Sigh .. I only read the book once.  I spent my time focused on the theoretical material and less on the tasting.  My tasting skills are pretty sharp, despite not practicing at all.

On exam night, the blind tasting portion of the exam was first.  We had to produce tasting notes for 1 white and 1 red.  I wrote the tasting note for the white.  We were given a choice of three wines that it could be.  My notes concluded that it was a Pouilly-Fuisse.  I moved on to the red.  I wrote the tasting note for the red.  When I looked at my choices, there was a Cotes du Rhone Villages, Barbaresco, or New Zealand Pinot Noir.  Right away, I knew it wasn't the Barbaresco.  Italian reds are one of the easiest reds to pick out and this was definitely not Italian.  Pinot or Cotes du Rhone Villages?  Based on my tasting note, there wasn't enough Pinot characteristic to strongly conclude that it was a Pinot Noir.  It did have a lot of characteristics of the varietals that you see in Cotes du Rhone so that was my decision.  After talking to my tasting group members, most had chosen Pouilly-Fuisse for the white but New Zealand Pinot Noir for the red.  I admit, I started to doubt myself .. after all, I don't practice tasting at all.  But based on my theoretical knowledge, I couldn't make that conclusion.  When the wines were revealed, the white was a Pouilly-Fuisse .. and the red was a Cotes du Rhone Villages.  Not bad for a theory-based wine taster, eh?  :)

The written exam was tough but not because the questions were difficult.  When we wrote exams at Algonquin, there would be a lot of time left to double .. even triple check your answers.  For the WSET theory exam, there was absolutely no time to go back and check your work.  You had to be sure of your answer.  The written portion was like a chemistry exam and the Chem Eng student in me was so into it.  I wrote like mad .. at some point, I just thought .. you need to give me more space to explain this because I could go on and on about this!  I know .. NERD alert.  My hand hurt but I was glad it was over.  I hope I passed ..

But you knew that this is how it would end up .. just when I'm getting really good at this, I have to stop pursuing it.  I would have been a great candidate for WSET Diploma but I can't do it for the sake of my health.  But I'll probably be okay with a sommelier pin and a WSET Advanced Level 3 certificate.  (BTW, when you finish WSET Diploma, a pin is awarded .. I would have loved to get another pin!)

As always, I try to look at the lessons that I'm being taught.  If I were to guess, I think the lessons this is trying to teach me are ..
1. Trust my instincts.  There have been countless times during my sommelier course tasting exams where I doubted my own skills and went against my instincts.  And it was during those time that I would score poorly on tasting exams.  My gut answer was correct but because I doubted myself, I chose the wrong answer.  For this tasting exam, I was going to choose the New Zealand Pinot Noir because I started to doubt myself .. I could hear the voice "Pudgy, who do you think you are?".  But I stuck with my instincts and kept my answer as is.

2. Learn to let go of the things you love.  As much as I love wine education, I have to let it go.  It doesn't mean I stop loving it.  It just means, I won't dedicate so much time to it .. and maybe focus on other areas that need attention.  Wine will always be there and my connections to the wine industry will still be there.  There are plenty of other things that I need to go back to .. like taking care of my health, exercising, golf, baking, photography, yoga .. interior decorating?

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mixed feelings about graduation

sommelier graduation has come and gone.

i didn't realize that the end of the program would bring me a sense of sadness.  i've had a bit of time to process my journey over the last two years.  i remember when i started the program, many felt that it wasn't a good thing for me to do.  the reasons ranged from my physical health to my emotional health.  even knowing this, i went ahead with it anyway ..

i sought the approval of my doctors before enrolling.  my family doctor didn't approve.  my specialist gave me his blessing but on the condition that i be sensible about it.  at the time, if both doctors said no, then i'd strongly reconsider but i had already made up my mind to do it.  throughout the program, i did not take this "blessing" for granted.  there was always a voice in my head that said if i did anything to screw up my health, i wouldn't be able to finish the program.  this voice kept me in check and not once did i overindulge or drink to cover up pain or fill a void (and there was a lot of pain during the time).

it took a long time for my family to accept this new hobby of mine and because of that, i never really got to talk about my experiences early on.  with every course i completed, i got better and better at it and i wasn't able to share the joy i had in my accomplishments.  although my original intention was to impress someone, it started to change as i progressed.  i discovered that being in school and learning something new .. was a part of me that i really missed.  i rediscovered who i was .. and i started to become truly happy again.  i set my sights on the excellence award.  i believed that i could be a contender for the award, despite the lack of wine tasting experience.

i worked hard at the theoretical aspects and it helped me become a better taster.  yes, there are some benefits to sampling a lot of different wines to help you become a better blind taster but for someone like me, i relied on my knowledge of winemaking and viticultural practices to help me become a better blind taster.  if you know how it's grown, how it's made, and where it is from .. you can pretty much figure out what's in your glass.

the service exam was probably the most difficult test in the entire program.  there was no way to practice for this.  i remember putting together my wine list for the exam.  i remember losing sleep and worrying that i wouldn't be able to pronouce any of the wines on my list.  i also remember feeling defeated throughout the mock service, despite judge and wine critic Vic Harradine telling me that i was doing an excellent job.  when it was all said and done, i scored an A+. 

i wish i had better news to report in this post but my grades weren't enough to win the award on grad night.  i felt like i let myself down but i know that it wasn't meant to be.  the original intention to win the award was to prove myself to someone who really didn't matter.  and because of this, i knew that it wasn't going to happen.  the lesson that He would have me learn is that it is more important to believe in myself than to look for the approval of others.  and that i cannot change others - the only person i can change is myself.  i understand that now.  maybe if i believed in myself from the beginning, the story would have ended differently.

there is still more studying to be done.  wset level 3 exam is coming up and i've got to do my best .. for once, this was something i chose to enrol in because i believed in myself.  after this, my tasting group is looking to register for wset diploma (level 4) - a pre-requisite to Master of Wine.  let's just take this one step at a time, shall we?

 

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goodbye 2013 .. hello 2014!

seemed like jan 2013 was just yesterday.  already a year has gone by.  time to look back at some of the memorable things that took place and a look at what's in store for the next 365 days.

finishing the sommelier program was probably one of my biggest achievements in 2013.  when i started the program back in 2011, i did it for all of the wrong reasons but by the time i finished, those reasons no longer mattered.  i enjoyed every minute of it - ok, maybe advanced sommelier wasn't my favorite course and the service exam was one of the most nerve wracking experiences of my life .. it was necessary.  you discover a lot about yourself when you learn to deal with uncomfortable situations.

in the summer, i got to take a break from school and go on some interesting trips.  i finally got to visit the niagara wine region.  and for my milestone birthday, i got to spend the day at Langdon Hall.  i swear, it will be my birthday present every year from now on because that place is the definition of heaven on earth.

in late august, i got to visit Whistler/Vancouver for a friend's wedding.  Ziplining in Whistler was fun but when i saw the mountains again, i just stood there and stared .. they were beautiful.  for my friend's wedding, i got to play amateur photographer as well.  yes, i shot in a dress and 3.5" heels for a full day.  :)  i was a royal mess afterwards .. i sure hope there aren't any photos of me from that day.  oh wait .. there was a photo of me.

lastly, the wine education didn't end when i finished the sommelier program.  i continued my wine studies by enrolling in the WSET Level 3 program.  my mentor, Eugene, was already telling others in the wine industry that i was going to study WSET.  i think he sees potential in my wine skills.  my classmates are expecting me to join them for Level 4 in April but i'm not sure if i can afford to continue.  the two year commitment isn't what's holding me back.  it's the cost of studying that is becoming a strain on me.  although i love the subject and i love the group involved, i may not be able to handle it financially.  at some point, i need this training to pay off .. a return on investment of sort.  how does one with no sommelier or restaurant experience land a sommelier job?  i'm not about to give up my day job but it would be nice to have an evening or weekend job to help subsidize this expensive hobby of mine.

2014 looks to be a busy year.  so much to look forward to .. you know me, always up for an adventure.

happy new year everyone!

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december already?

yikes.  december already?  why does it seem like time is going a lot faster than i want it to?  anyway, christmas is fast approaching and i have yet to do any christmas shopping.  things have been so hectic that it seems as if there is little time for anything.

work has been crazy busy - i've been picking up the slack on system analyst work on our project as well doing regular duties.  in the month of december, i'll be taking one day off aside from the regular christmas and boxing day holidays.  which means i won't be in toronto for a long stay this year again.  it really sucks because i haven't seen my friends in a few years now.  i have missed the birth of their kids and seeing the news on facebook or on their blogs is just not the same.  i know they understand that it's not easy for me to always take time off to visit though.  since i am on my own, i have to look after myself first .. the bills don't get paid when i don't work.  i'll have to carve out some time around February or March to see them.

oh and remember the chairs that i ordered in the summer?  they've finally arrived!  haha .. i know .. i almost forgot about them too.  they are being delivered this weekend and i'm so excited to see new furniture in the house.  because of the new furniture, i chose not to put up my christmas tree this year.  i haven't had a lot of luck with plant life in general so i decided to keep the tree in storage.

i'll post a pic of my fancy chairs in their spot later on.

this year, we are spending christmas in niagara falls, new york.  i decided to organize a family trip there .. partially to get everyone some down time and away from chores .. but also to engage in some retail therapy.  my sisters and i usually bond over shopping because we end up styling one another.  my sisters are great with that and i feel good in the end as well because i know i will wear the pieces that i buy.

anyway, i should get back to work and studying.  yes, i'm still studying wine .. i've got a great group of study partners and we bring out the best in each other .. which is why i've chosen to continue studying.  it's social and challenging at the same time.

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advanced somm - completed.

sommelier program?  check.

to say that it's been a crazy two months is an understatement.  the final weeks of the advanced sommelier course brought out the hermit in me.  i had to shut out everyone in order to complete the course.  out of all the courses in the program, this was the one course i had the most difficulty handling.  i have no idea why because last winter, i took two courses and it wasn't this bad.  i think i just put a lot of pressure on myself because my average was on the line.  i worked hard over the last two years to maintain my high standing and there was no way i was going to screw that up.  i love the subject but i'm still asian .. grades matter.  :)

anyway, it's finally over.

my tasting exam was last wednesday and it was not easy.  we had to blind taste six wines - 1 sparkling, 2 whites, and 3 reds.  we also had to provide tasting notes and sommelier descriptions for each wine.  although i'm sure i passed, i don't think it was my best work.  plus, there was a cabernet sauvignon that tasted like it was cooked.  it was not a great example of a cab sauv. 

the service exam was even worse.  i'm not a 'service' kind of person.  it's just not natural for me.  the night before the exam, i couldn't sleep.  i tried hard to remember the names of the wines on my wine list and during the mock service, i couldn't remember any of the wines.  i just blanked out.  when it came to opening the bottle, i used Green Lane Winery's riesling.  my bottle opening technique was spot on -  the foil was cut clean, my cork screw didn't pierce the cork all the way through, i removed the cork without making a sound (which is very difficult to do), i followed the procedure all the way through .. even the small stuff.  i answered the theoretical questions properly, i gave good reasoning for my wine suggestions .. except if you asked me what specific wine on the list would be great for a dish?  i couldn't remember anything .. :(  luckily, i wasn't asked too many questions on specific labels.
when it was over, i was still pretty tense but also exhausted. the week leading up to the exams was draining.  graduation is in February next year.  i'm pretty excited to graduate - hopefully with honours.  :)

is this the end of my wine education?  well .. we'll see. :)

although i've completed my sommelier certification, i do not refer to myself as a 'sommelier'.  a sommelier is a job title that one holds in the service industry.  that is not what i do.  i am still the person in the software industry and working a regular tech job.  but i'm a student of wine .. will always be.

oh .. just to touch on the Ottawa Food and Wine show this year.  the tasting alley event was not impressive this year.  in previous years, i got to taste some very nice wines like Cakebread Cellars cabernet sauvignon ($100 a btl).  this year, it was just average.  the best wine i sampled was the 2010 Chateau Pipeau which is a Vintages Essential at $37 a bottle.  the crowd was very 'meat market' like which is a huge turn off.  two guys tried to pick me up and i just rolled my eyes and walked away.  i attend wine shows because i want to try interesting wines but this event is quickly becoming a singles' pick up joint.  gross.

p.s.  big thank you to Vicky for her advice on getting through the wine list project.  it really helped.  :)

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Month end .. Finally

Been working like crazy these days .. Juggling school work, wine events, home stuff, business stuff, and work.

Glad that it's month end but next month will be just as crazy.  

I'm not complaining .. I know that it was my choice to live here and handle things by myself.  If I didn't do it, I'd never learn how to be truly independent.  But the important thing is, I am learning and if it was easy, it wouldn't be fun. :)

So if I don't call or don't answer email or text on time, there are more pressing issues that need to be dealt with first. 

Oh and there will be a post on the Food & Wine show soon .. As well as a blurb on my final weeks of Advanced Sommelier.  Yes, I can see the finish line.

Still striving for excellence and not perfection. 

Take care,

Pudgy

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