hurry up and do this with me TUMBLR SUMMER DIET xDOTx COM

Cool story bro.  Go on...

Thank you for your help about the international test. Do you know if there is one in Canada? I know they have the 'red seal' but only applies to the country.

As far as I know, Red Seal is the only real certification in Canada for chefs.

Is there such thing as an international test to become a certified cook?

Yes, from the American Culinary Federation.  There are actually 5 levels:

Certified Culinarian

Certified Sous Chef

Certified Chef de Cuisine

Certified Executive Chef

Certified Master Chef

You can read about it or watch videos about it here:  Certified Master Chef from the American Culinary Federation.

I think there are only around 60 or so Certified Master Chefs in the world.  Honestly, it's kind of a waste of time and money to do the exams.  You don't need them to be a chef.

I've gotten a lot of questions about whether I'm back on Tumblr, since people are seeing my comments and likes again, I suppose.

Yes, I am, but I'm only posting from one blog:  http://chefincanada.tumblr.com/

Come follow my new story in my new country.  :)

My last blog post was March 9th.

Oops.

There was just so much going on.  We opened a restaurant, closed a food truck, and I worked on immigration paperwork.

I've thought about you guys fairly often, though.  I peeped onto Tumblr after Boston to make sure everyone was ok.

And then, last night, I decided I would blog my experiences opening a brand new restaurant in a brand new country, starting today.  

Since everything is new, the URL will be, too.  You're invited to follow at http://chefincanada.tumblr.com/

And drop me a line there to let me know how you've all been doing!

Sometimes only a hamburger will do, if you like hamburgers. Pastured ground beef cooked into a patty with all the fixings. Paired with baked sweet potato shoestring fries and homemade smoked paprika aioli. The buns I made are egg white buns from the cookbook, Paleo Indulgences. They are just...

I made sushi. RAW VEGAN PALEO SUSHI. It tasted just like the real thing. I should probably retire now.

RAW dinner #2 = one of my favorite things I've ever eaten EVER.  So much flavor.

Live wrap by Ezekiel, topped with my dad's homemade hummus, guac, and vegan "mayo" (blended nuts, garlic, lemon, and herbs), salsa, mixed greens, sweet peppers, and apples.  Side of strawberries.

First full day of RAW foods.  I mean, I have no plans to change my meat-eating-chef ways, but seriously, this stuff is delicious.

Breakfast:  raw organic (and local!) flax cracker with organic hummus, cucumber, red bell pepper, and red onion.  With Strawberry Kombucha.

Lunch:  peach, strawberry, banana, flax seed, and coconut milk smoothie.

Snack:  more flax crackers (I seriously love flax), hummus, and Kombucha.

Last night's RAW dinner:  zucchini and vegan "cream cheese" (it's made with nuts, garlic, and lemon juice) lasagna-style roll-ups, topped with a raw tomato sauce (mix fresh tomatoes and sundried tomatoes for a deeper flavor without cooking).  Mixed greens salad in the background.

Yesterday evening began BURN:  33 days of RAW with my yoga studio.

We are to eat only raw, vegan foods, and practice astanga daily.

I always feel sorta bad for my vegan followers when I'm posting stuff like pics of whole roasted suckling pigs, so this month I'll make it up to you guys.  ;)

There were grocery trips galore, including Eat More Produce farmer's market, Whole Foods, and then Publix.

Perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races one after another.

Walter Elliott

It's here!! I feel like such an adult now.

French toast with strawberries, sausage, home fries. 33 days of Raw starts tomorrow, so this was kind of like the last supper...for breakfast.

This is my life Its not what it was before All these feelings I've shared And these are my dreams That I'd never lived before Somebody shake me 'Cause I  I must be sleeping Now that we're here, It's so far away All the struggle we thought was in vain All in the mistakes, One life contained They all finally start to go away Now that we're here it's so far away And I feel like I can face the day, and I can forgive And I'm not ashamed to be the person that I am today These are my words That I've never said before I think I'm doing okay And this is the smile  That I've never shown before Somebody shake me 'cause I I must be sleeping I'm so afraid of waking Please don't shake me Afraid of waking Please don't shake me

Don't bother just to be better than your contemporaries or predecessors. Try to be better than yourself.

William Faulkner