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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30 responses so far ↓
Canelé Chefs for The Day « The Duo Dishes // September 11, 2009 at 5:06 pm
[...] already given everyone a short rundown on the occasion through a previous post, so several people knew we’d be working the kitchen [...]
CourtJ // August 28, 2009 at 9:55 am
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.
lisaiscooking // August 25, 2009 at 12:58 pm
Wow, that sounds like fun! Can’t wait to hear more about your menu.
Kirby! // August 25, 2009 at 10:30 am
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!!
Jessica@FoodMayhem // August 24, 2009 at 3:25 pm
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.
Kristilyn (The Domestic Goddess) // August 24, 2009 at 12:33 pm
Congratulations! That’s really exciting.
Best of luck on the 8th!
K
DebinHawaii // August 23, 2009 at 11:32 pm
Very fun and you two are very brave! I am sure your menu will be wonderful.
Twitter Trackbacks for Two New Cooks in the Kitchen « The Duo Dishes [duodishes.com] on Topsy.com // August 23, 2009 at 7:58 pm
[...] 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 [...]
Megan // August 23, 2009 at 7:38 pm
That is super exciting! Can’t wait to find out your menu!
Vik // August 23, 2009 at 2:47 pm
Ooooh, lucky ducks! I’d love to taste what’s on your menu.
Reeni // August 23, 2009 at 6:59 am
That is such awesome news!! I know your going to wow them with your delicious dishes! Can’t wait to hear all about it.
Daily Spud // August 23, 2009 at 4:14 am
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
holler // August 23, 2009 at 2:37 am
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
Lynn @ The Actors Diet // August 22, 2009 at 5:18 pm
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….
Colloquial Cook // August 22, 2009 at 1:45 pm
Bravo, bravo le Duo!! So excited about this!
Two New Cooks in the Kitchen « The Duo Dishes | WetSalad --- Why have the normal? // August 22, 2009 at 12:00 pm
[...] the original post here: Two New Cooks in the Kitchen « The Duo Dishes Share & [...]
Bread + Butter // August 22, 2009 at 10:58 am
That’s so awesome!!! I’ve heard of the place before. I’m rooting for you guys!!
OysterCulture // August 22, 2009 at 10:34 am
What a great opportunity and adventure. Have a lot of fun, cannot wait to hear the details.
Cucinista // August 22, 2009 at 10:27 am
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.
lisa (dandysugar) // August 22, 2009 at 10:19 am
Fantastic opportunity! Your menu will be awesome, no doubt everyone will love it!
Two New Cooks in the Kitchen « The Duo Dishes | kitchensolvers // August 22, 2009 at 9:13 am
[...] Read the original post: Two New Cooks in the Kitchen « The Duo Dishes [...]
Julia Paras // August 22, 2009 at 8:51 am
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!!
Chris and Amy // August 22, 2009 at 8:30 am
What an opportunity! Good luck!!!
Stacey Snacks // August 22, 2009 at 8:08 am
How exciting is that?
Can’t wait to see the menu!
nora@ffr // August 22, 2009 at 7:47 am
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 
Bob // August 22, 2009 at 7:36 am
If I was in the LA area I totally would stop in. Heh. Sounds like fun!
noble pig // August 22, 2009 at 7:24 am
I swear I just saw this place on Recipe TV…I really think I did.
elra // August 22, 2009 at 7:02 am
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!
Veronica // August 22, 2009 at 6:36 am
woohoo! How cool is that. Wish I could be there to try your menu.
Donna // August 22, 2009 at 5:16 am
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!