There's embarrassment, and then there's embarrassment. I was teaching a class at the local Williams-Sonoma on a brunch menu. As usual I had my mise en place, in place and because I was doing an entire meal I had one small bowl containing sugar and another containing salt. You already see where this is going, eh?
As a rule I use kosher salt for cooking, so there's a clear visual and tactile difference between the white granules. But this time I'd forgotten to bring salt and had to use table salt. Also, as a rule, I'm careful to put the two ingredients in different colored bowls, but this time I couldn't find different colored bowls in back – someone had taken the ramekins I ordinarily used home to prepare for another class. I think you can see that circumstances are ganging up on me.
The class was lively with lots of questions and lots of banter and so, between a question answered and a wise-crack made I missed my final chance to avoid disaster and added a good pinch of salt to the whipping cream.
I didn't even have sense enough to taste the whipped cream before spooning it over the crepes.
"Good job, Brownie." – deep sigh.
Everyone had a huge laugh at my expense, scraped the cream off, and it was fine – if a tad salty. Of course, the tale still pops up at my classes.
What was your worst kitchen disaster? ChefsLine is holding a contest to find the Katrina of kitchen foulups. Post your story at http://chefsline.gather.com to win a one year, unlimited Main Course ChefsLine's subscription (a $230 value). I'm a judge, so my public humiliation isn't in the running. Go to the ChefsLine group to check out the rules and prize, then tell us about the last time the levees broke in your kitchen.
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Comments: 18
This did NOT work, and I would strongly urge anyone considering this not to do it. The lamb was tender, all right, but it was so salty, it was almost inedible. We had guests over too, fellow foodies like ourselves. I thought my friend's husband was going to either kill me, or cry.
I don't remember what else I made, I'd have to find the menu.
Candida,
I often screw something up, but seldom so unpleasantly.
Joanne,
Didn't the recipe call for mixing the salt with egg whites?
Wendy,
Yes, you've mentioned that little episode.{g}
Kelly,
At one of my classes the oven quit working halfway through -- which made it really difficult to roast the Cornish hens.
You have no idea what your asking for...hehehehe. I used to be such a dunce in the kitchen. My mom would cry when she saw me try to cook, lol. She used to make me get up at the crack of dawn so she could teach me. :))))
I was heating french fries in a toaster oven and blew up the toaster oven. I even caught my stove on fire (after I was married) making garlic bread (the frozen stuff) of all things. My husband still keeps a fire estinguisher in the garage!! ;)
Needless to say...I've found joy in cooking. And, am much much better at it. Recently I've started creating my own recipes. I just love the 'art' that goes into food!! It really is a craft and very satisfying!!
Thanks mom for all those Saturdays!
So write one up and post it at ChefsLine for the contest.
Ouch!
Visit Robin's Kitchen Disaster Article!
I can't, I'm a judge.