I’ve been working on this mock menu since late May:  Spanish-Moroccan-Moorish-Remixed-Fusion.  It’s been nine weeks and I’m over it.  I’m tired of saffron, coriander, cloves, cinnamon, cumin and aniseed.  I’m done with smoked paprika and Spanish chorizo.  No more Ras el Hanout!  Last weekend, I tested recipes for skirt steak, sea bass, panna cotta and bulgur pilaf.  The only dish that passed muster was the dessert (and even that still needs tweaking).  It was a disappointing failure of a weekend.  What’s left to do?  I have two entrees, two appetizers and three sides that need to be created – and two more weekends left. I also have a couple of recipes that I’d like to work on a bit more. 

 I think I’m becoming OCD.  I think about food, cooking and menu planning all day long.  I wake up, at least once every night, to a culinary school related nightmare.  I’m obsessing. It’s becoming ridiculous – but, unbelievably, I only have six more weeks to go.  I’m 75 percent done.  I’m astonished that I’ve made it this far.   

The logo for the restaurant is done.  I’ll share soon.