Day 2 of the Baking Class: students arrived on time, all looking fresh and eager to start another adventure of fun, learning and togetherness.
Chef Karen started the day with a revisit of yesterday's lesson and what would be in store for the day.
Chef Karen works with military precision. Her lesson plan read 11:55 - 12:15 Buttermilk biscuits demo, and sure enough this happened, and the students got to try their hand at making the biscuits at 12:15 - 12:45................
Finally, the big day.....Day 1 of Chef Karen's Baking Class..... arrived, and tis a day I had been dreading because how am I to cram 9 ladies into my tiny kitchen? I was gripped by anxiety so huge I phoned Celina in a panic one late Sunday night, a week before Chef Karen was due to arrive in HK and insisted the 'Baking Class' has to be scrapped. 'Please, just refund the students, I simply cannot handle 9 women in my kitchen.....I simply can't do it.' Celina, in her usual calm and firm way, said 'Look Annie, we gave our word and we have to live by that. Annie & Friends always gives its best............and you are not to back down at the last minute! We will get through this.' In short, Celina forced a shotgun commitment on me :-((
I appealed to Chef Karen for sympathy and support, surely of all the people, SHE will know the impossibilites. Then in her calm and assured way, she emailed back and said together we will do it, even if it means getting up at 4 am to get the class ready. :-(( I was not allowed off the hook - sobs!
Day 1 at 9:30 am: Students started coming. Cheryl was the first one, followed by Amy and Polly and very soon everyone was here. They gathered round the dining table, and Chef Karen started the lesson with 14 Steps of Baking.....
To produce recipes that taste good, first and foremost is to have a recipe that can be reproduced. This is easier said than done, because the one writing the recipe needs to have a complete understanding of the subject matter, then clarity of thought and an analytical mind. All these Chef Karen possesses, and her years of baking experience and teaching back up her knowledge.
Then a team of photographers is called, and their job is to help to tell the story through the lens. Timon and John from Red Dog Studio have been working with me since day one when I started writing for Sing Tao, and it is like a family gathering, always fun and always enjoyable working together.
I am very demanding as a co-worker and push my team relentlessly; with Timon and John, they flourished under my glare.
This is Chef Karen during the second day of the photoshoot, and I am impressed to see a true professional, wholly dedicated to her craft, executing a very difficult shooting session methodically, and with precision. I feel so privileged to bear witness to this and to know there are people out there who give their best and their all, and to honour their committment wholeheartedly with no reservations. Here I take the liberty to quote from Celina's email to the baking students for next week's classes of her impression of Chef Karen.
"Dear All,
I spent about an hour at yesterday's photoshoot and watched Chef Karen in action. Watching her work, I thought to myself: "Wow! I wish I could be like that in my own work." She was so assured, methodical, knew her subject so well that her inner calm and control shone through.
You are all going to have a great time! Karen is a lovely person.
Best,
Celina"
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