Grand opening
After one month of lots of preparation, the week of the expected opening came. On the 4th May the first guests in the hotel arrived, so this was the first working day of the restaurant. We didn't have a service for lunch. The dinner took place at 8 o'clock in the evening in the perfectly arranged restaurant halls and terrace.
Everyone expected this moment and the adrenaline before the first service was at high levels. In the beginning of the week we made the remaining components of the dishes included in this season's menu. I practiced the bread making - kneading the dough, forming and baking. It is mainly my responsibility to make freshly baked bread every day for the customers. I also prepared some of the non long lasting elements of the desserts such as Cream al latte di pecora, Cremoso al cioccolato and Mascarpone mousse. The day before the opening my task was to check if all things needed for the desserts were ready and to arrange them. On the 4th May before the guests' arrival we made the so called amenities. Tradition of the hotel is to welcome its guests with a plate with delicious pastries and fruits.
So we prepared two small pastries for each guest - one with chocolate ganache, nuts and icing sugar, the other with raspberries and arranged them in a very beautiful plate with some fresh fruits - plums or strawberries. In the evening with the start of the dinner , the atmosphere became more dynamic. I had to cut the bread for the customers and to arrange it in stone plates. I also helped the pastry chef with the plating by giving him the necessary components for the particular dessert. The next day another girl started working in the pastry kitchen, so we took more responsibilities. We started making the predessert and arranging the small pastries. Except the gourmet dinner, we usually bake things for the gourmet breakfast - croissants, muffins, tarts and so on. We also help with the pastries for the Treehouse, which serves traditional Tuscany dishes during the whole day. For there we make homemade ice cream and delicious cakes and tarts. In the following posts I will tell you more about the menu and one typical day in the kitchen of Meo Modo.
