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The email arrived on June 29, 2009.
The sender: Tastingtable.com.
The headline: Chef for a Day.
The message: Are you a non-professional cook who wants to formulate, prep and serve your own three-course, prix fixe meal at Atwater Village’s Canelé?
Our response: You know it!
The email flew off to chef Corina Weibel and general manager Jane Choi before we had a minute to really comprehend what we’d done. Well, that’s not entirely true. The opportunity sounded like the chance of a lifetime. Imagine walking into a restaurant and just making food for people with absolutely no formal culinary training at all. It’s a bit nervewracking if you really sit down and think about it. Of course we cook all the time in our own homes, but working in a restaurant grade kitchen with a seasoned chef and plating meals for friends and (gasp) unknown patrons is a completely different story. Regardless, the pangs of excitement overshadow the clouds of scary doubt, and now we’re ready. So ready.
Funny enough, we haven’t dined at Canelé yet, but we’ve heard great things about the menu. We’ll head over there to grub and hopefully catch Chef Corina again the weekend before our first back of the house foray. Believe it or not, Canelé had a table at The Saban Clinic’s Extravaganza for the Senses that we attended last month. Upon seeing the booth, we introduced ourselves of course and sampled their cool cucumber soup. Chef Corina’s a delight. She’s already given our menu a tweak, so we’ve resubmitted and hope to have it finalized by the end of the month. We’ll see how it all comes together under her guidance.
The date is Tuesday, September 8th. If you’re in the Los Angeles area, we hope you’ll stop in!
Whaddya know! We’re finalists in the 2009 Black Weblog Awards! You got us this far, so why not give one more vote. Just click the icon!
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What an awesome compliment I can not wait to see what you come up with for this. If I were in the LA area, I would definitely come to support you. Best of luck, Im sue the customers will love your food!
woohoo! How cool is that. Wish I could be there to try your menu.
I’ll be down there in a view week, hope to be able to visit some of the places that bloggers recommended. Including this one.
Of course I’ll vote for you!
I swear I just saw this place on Recipe TV…I really think I did.
If I was in the LA area I totally would stop in. Heh. Sounds like fun!
ive voted.. will vote again
guys, you are doing great. Good luck and wish i was in LA to drop in to support you guys!! so that ill hav the chance to taste ye delicious food 
How exciting is that?
Can’t wait to see the menu!
What an opportunity! Good luck!!!
Peter and I will be there! Let us know if you want to meet us there for your visit (we live in walking distance). That way–more dishes ordered, more food sampled! Yum yum!!
[...] Read the original post: Two New Cooks in the Kitchen « The Duo Dishes [...]
Fantastic opportunity! Your menu will be awesome, no doubt everyone will love it!
So exciting! That would be my dream (and nightmare!). I am sure your dishes will be fantastic and will sell out — looking forward to reading the post afterwards.
What a great opportunity and adventure. Have a lot of fun, cannot wait to hear the details.
That’s so awesome!!! I’ve heard of the place before. I’m rooting for you guys!!
[...] the original post here: Two New Cooks in the Kitchen « The Duo Dishes Share & [...]
Bravo, bravo le Duo!! So excited about this!
Hey guys! Just discovered your blog and am glad to find some folks in the LA area. This sounds like an amazing opportunity – wish I could go that night….congrats on the blog award too! I will click away for ya….
That sounds amazing, I just can’t wait to hear how it goes. Take someone along to take lots of pics for us. Oh and good luck with the award, I have cast my vote
How exciting is that?! If I could, I would just jump on a plane to LA so that I could go to Canele on the night that you’re cooking. Hope you have a blast and I look forward to at least reading all about it here
That is such awesome news!! I know your going to wow them with your delicious dishes! Can’t wait to hear all about it.
Ooooh, lucky ducks! I’d love to taste what’s on your menu.
That is super exciting! Can’t wait to find out your menu!
[...] Two New Cooks in the Kitchen « The Duo Dishes duodishes.com/2009/08/22/two-new-cooks-in-the-kitchen – view page – cached #The Duo Dishes RSS Feed The Duo Dishes » Two New Cooks in the Kitchen Comments Feed The Duo Dishes What Do You Do With A White Pumpkin? Brian’s Replicated Recipes — From the page [...]
Very fun and you two are very brave! I am sure your menu will be wonderful.
Congratulations! That’s really exciting.
Best of luck on the 8th!
K
Sounds like so much fun! I can’t believe we’ll miss it by a hair. We’ll only be in LA 5th, 6th, and part of 7th.
Oh man!! That sounds so awesome. That’s literally the night before the first day of school for me, so I will probably be at home having a freakout. But I can’t wait to see pics and see your write-up!!
Wow, that sounds like fun! Can’t wait to hear more about your menu.
Wow, you two are brave! I don’t know if I would have the guts to do this, but I can’t wait to hear how it turns out.
[...] already given everyone a short rundown on the occasion through a previous post, so several people knew we’d be working the kitchen [...]
[...] already given everyone a short rundown on the occasion through a previous post, so several people knew we’d be working the kitchen [...]
How exciting! Can’t wait to read about it. Best of luck!
I’m so elated for you! What an opportunity to showcase your culinary skills. I know it will be a BIG success.