But youngest son has been at catering college now fulltime since September and hasn't been taught how to hold a knife or cut julienne/brunois!

I know this because he went for a partime job interview at the local Restaurant this weekend and while he got the part time commis, one of the things the Chef Patron did say to him was that he was obviously going to have to teach him how to cut and chop. Youngest dutifully reported this to me afterwards.

Teach him how to handle a knife??! After 6 weeks of catering school?????!!!

So this morning I asked youngest to show me how he holds a knife.....

It was appalling. My mother in law has better technique than that!

I showed him how to do it and explained to him that 1. there is a reason why chefs hold their knives the way the do and 2. that the first thing any prospective boss will see is that he has NOT been trained properly if he holds knife with a noddy or housewife grip.

Back in the day just about the first thing students were taught was basic knife handling skills. And unless kitchens have changed a lot since my day then the a major part of a commis prep time is still mirepoix?

Is it just my son's college or do all catering schools now not teach such fundamental skills??!

Now, son is going to be working in an Italian kitchen and they probably won't call it brunois and they will no doubt call 'mirepoix ' making da sufrito' or whatever the fuck the italian for it is but the skills and technique are the same!

__________________
HAVE YOU GOT a really old modem, 300 Baud (V.21 I think...), serial/rs232 ? Acoustic coupler would work too. Happy to pay shipping. lunatic_cafe@lavabit.com

So what has he learned?

Also, is it strange that the most profound song I've listened to this week is swinging on a star?

Not surprising. I have friends who took two years of culinary classes at the local trade school and still have appalling knife technique.

A lot of Health And Safety at work law (which didn't seem to include the safe use of a knife) and a lot of baking.

__________________
HAVE YOU GOT a really old modem, 300 Baud (V.21 I think...), serial/rs232 ? Acoustic coupler would work too. Happy to pay shipping. lunatic_cafe@lavabit.com

Eh, as long as someone is holding a knife in a way that gives him good support for cutting, and is safe - I can't argue about details. But those two things are essential.

__________________
Who are these children, who scheme and run wild
Who speak with their wings, and the way that they smile
sambob@gmail.com

Eew, look at those nails. Nasty.

I learnt all my cooking skills in under 1 year. First thing we learnt was basic knife skills. Julienne, brunois, mire poix, etc. But after 6 weeks? WTF?? Refund plx.

My course was(first 6 months)

2 days practical
1 day theory

second 6 months

3 days practical
1 days theory

People cant learn cooking from books and teachers. They have to actually cook.....

First rule is dont use your chopping board as storage....thats why the bench is sanitised

I learned how to julienne my second week of Foods 1 in highschool.

(ahem) but, what is the proper way to hold a knife?

i always thought the best way to hold a knife is one that you think is comfortable?