A cooks reality...

The truth is, I get bored pretty easily of a mundane and stagnant lifestyle. If my brain isn't juggling 20 different things at once and I'm not pushing my body on a daily basis, I look for the next step. As I return from Bali, that is exactly what happens. 

I have landed a job at restaurant called Pure South dining. The menu is mainly focused on fresh Tasmanian ingredients and produce that can be found around the suburbs of Melbourne. I fell in love with this concept in my first day of my trial. The food is simple, clean and to the point. If it isn't fresh, it isn't served. I am hooked. 

One of the great parts about this restaurant is we as the cooks are provided opportunity to be creative. Every day, we create dishes for a lunch menu special. Whether it is a vegetarian dish, a soup or a derivative of a previous dish, we have the reins while chef is has the final say. 

This is exactly the place I need to be in. It is a transitional step between two kitchen jobs. From cook to chef. I am still a cook and always will be. However, a door will open eventually and I will be walking through it whole heartedly and aware. These opportunities are important stepping stones along that path. 

If you would like to see some of the lunch specials I have created, feel free to look my Instagram @ezaghaza. I look forward to sharing more dishes with you. 

Sidetrack to Bali...

It's a rare thing to be able to work for one week, then take a week hiyatis to a paradise island. It was not a part o my work plan,  but who needs a plan when traveling? Just let the experiences happen. So, with that said, let's go to Bali!

My hostel, which was right next to the biggest club in Kuta, was a paradise in itself. We had 2 pools, a bar with activities, a restaurant patio and private rooms. There could not have been a better place for me to stay. Plus, it was a 10 minute walk to the beach. Talk about paradise. 

Every single day, there was a new adventure around the corner. Whether it was looking for the best nasi goreng, finding a secret beach, hangin out with monkeys or drinking the fabled Kopi Lewac. Even getting "lost" on a motor bike in Ubud was an incredible adventure. 

But for me, the most incredible thing todo was to go watch the sunset every night with some locals and fellow hostel mates. We would go to this setup on the beach where this guy Leo would take care of us. He would sit down and drink a bin tang and talk story about his ambitions. Next to us, at monkeys, there were some theta who would do the same. It was really a surreal experience to be in someone's else's lives and have such an impact on them. Everyone who knows what I am talking about knows very well that hey sure have an impact on our lives. 

Melbourne Begins...

Melbourne, named the most livable city in the world, is more inviting than ever. The streets are clean, beards are a "thing", there is a beautiful mix between metropolitan and rural and you have to wear actual shoes to go out in the evenings. Here, it reminds me of a new age, clean and quiet NYC. The culture mainly consists of native Australians, many Chinese and a large handful of working holiday travelers from all over the world. It is a very eclectic mix that adds to the allure of this fine city.

As I begin to get settled here, exploring around the outskirts of Melbourne comes naturally. a majority of the time is spent walking through the streets and parks. I see people siting in the shade of the trees eating lunch and a group of people running around the pitch for a warm up. It is exciting to see people doing something with their days. However, the weather here is very inconsistent. The days vary from hot to cold and windy still. Even now in their summer, the atmosphere changes daily. And of course, when walking around the city centers, going indoor bouldering and going to night time noodle markets gets boring, there is only one thing to do, and that is work.