As a student, it is important to come to class prepared. Culinary students are budding chefs. They may not know what type of tools they need to hone their craft. Education is important, but without the proper tools it can become difficult to master even the simplest of recipes. As your first day of Culinary School, here are some of the tools you are going to need to succeed in the kitchen. This knife can handle just about anything. As you learn more, you will find yourself reaching for this knife on an almost daily basis. It can be used for chopping vegetables and meat. Most are made of high-quality, self-sharpening carbon blades. Overtime, it will feel like an extension of your hand. When you are window shopping for a clever chef’s knife, make certain it is high quality. By going cheap, you are going to end up having to buy more knives. It is better to splurge on a good chef’s knife, then to have a cheap knife fail you when you need it the most. Victorinox and Global brands are good for shopping for kitchen blades. If the chef’s knife is your right hand, your paring knife will become your left. It is the second most important tool in a chef’s kitchen. Paring knifes are typically 3 to 4 inches in knife. Its sharp blade is perfect for delicate tasks like peeling shrimp and trimming herms. When you use a paring knife, grip it like a pencil. This grip is ideal for detailed work. Keep the knife razor sharp. A dull knife is dangerous, and frustrating. Like before, chose a high-quality blade. Clean it daily to prevent rust and maintain hygiene. In fact, clean all your tools after you are done using them. You will be surprised at how often you will have to sharpen your blades. It is important to get used to the idea that a sharpening stone belongs in the kitchen. Use a honing rod between uses and a sharpening stone as needed. This will keep your blade in tip top condition. In Culinary school at FEI, you will learn techniques on how to sharpen your knives. That way you will not have to find a blacksmith in the middle of Miami, whenever your blade loses its cutting edge. It is tempting to just use any random surface for cutting. This is an amateur’s mistake. For every knife, there must be a cutting board. Both go hand in hand in the kitchen. Cutting boards are a sturdy. They do not slip. This is an important safety and efficiency attribute. You will need not just one cutting board, but several. A plastic cutting board is essential for raw meats. This prevents cross contamination. A wood or bamboo board is better for vegetables and other produces. When shopping for boards, find one that is large enough to work with and easy to clean. Plastic boards clean easier. However, wooden boards are gentler with your knives. Tongs are tools that are used to grip items. They usually have two arms joined into one. They have spring mechanism or a pivot. This allows you to open and close them, with just a squeeze of your hand. The tongs are useful when handling hot items. They have better control than a spatula. They also have a locking mechanism that makes them easy to store. Pick one that is stainless steel. This will give it more durability than if you chose plastic tong. Sauté pans can be used for making a variety of dishes. They can be used to cook searing meats and fancy sauces. The wide work area allows liquids to evaporate quickly. Such thing is necessary for certain cooking methods. When picking a pan, chose one that is heavy. Make certain that it has an even base. This allows for proper heat distribution. The pan needs a heat-resistant handle. You do not want to burn your hands by accident. The lid needs to handle the flames as well. If you ever baked a cake, you know just how indispensable mixing bowls are. They are practically used for prepping all ingredients. This includes doughs and batters. A set of different sizes gives you a lot of versatility in the kitchen. When picking a mixing bowl, chose a stainless steal one. They are easier to clean and they don’t absorb odors. They are a favorite of top culinary professionals. In the kitchen, getting the proper temperature is a must. Precision is key when it comes to cooking meats and baked goods. A digital one is fast and accurate. They can make all the difference when baking a cake or frying a turkey. A zester is a precision tool used for scraping or shaving off thin slices. They grate hard cheeses, citrus zest, garlic and chocolate. This tool makes a fine, even texture. It is useful for precision favorizing and garnishing sweet dishes. This tool can also be used as a grater for spices like nutmeg and cinnamon. Keep this in mind. A zester is not just for scraping. Cooking is an art. And like every art, it needs a brush for finer details. It is most used when working with pastries and bread dough. The brush adds an egg wash on the bread or to comb complex details in the merengue. A brush with natural bristle gives a smoother application, and better control. At FEI Culinary School, we provide all the tools you need in the classroom. It is however important that students get their own sets. This gives you the freedom to practice your craft in the comfort of your home kitchen. It also helps to shop around for tools that you feel more comfortable using. Each chef's knife is unique. During your learning journey, you will discover your personal preferences. Overtime, you will add more cooking tools to your collection. As a beginner, you need these 10 essential tools to start your culinary journey. So, if you live in Miami, FEI is waiting for you to start your cooking journey. So, when you are ready to learn, we are ready to teach you. Q: Do I really need a thermometer just for meats? A: Yes! A meat this tool makes certain that the meat is cooked safely, and without burning it. Each cut of meat has different temperature requirements. It is better to check, just in case the meat looks done. Q: What’s the difference between a grater and a zester? A: Graters have larger holes. They are ideal for cheese and vegetables. Zester has smaller holes, ideal for cutting fine strips of oranges or hard spices like nutmeg. Q: Do I need both a food processor and a blender? A: Not necessarily. It all depends on the recipes. A food processor is ideal for chopping, slicing and mixing dough. A blender is for handling liquids like smoothies and soups. If you are not working with liquids, you won’t need both items. Q: What is mise en place, and how does it relate to tools? A: Miise en place means "everything in its place."  In cooking, it relates to having everything organized, before you start cooking.  Know your kitchen by heart. It’s the practice of prepping and organizing ingredients and tools before cooking to save time and avoid mistakes.

It is a common myth that education is just for children and young adults. The reality is that adult learners are here to stay. They are even outperforming younger students. It doesn’t matter if they are returning to school, getting a certification or taking online classes, adult students bring plenty to the classroom setting. They have what young students lack: Experience, Motivation and Focus. Unlike younger students, adult learners return to school for a purpose. They are not interested in checking all the boxes. They want to learn to fulfill their goals as quickly as possible, without dealing with pesky, unrelated electives. Adult learners also bring more diversity to the classroom. They engage with the material more. They are not afraid to ask the right questions. Adult learners are equipped with practical knowledge. They come from diverse backgrounds including construction and military service. This allows them to reconnect theory to real life. They focus on the practical aspect of the skill they are trying to acquire. This real-world experience allows them to manage their time better. Time management skills come naturally to adult students. They regularly juggle both job and family. These learners are used to showing up on time. They also complete their assignments on their due date. Adult learners know how to make the most of every second of their time. When you are investing your time and money, it becomes easy to stay motivated. Adult learners are not in school because they were pressured into it. They returned to school out of their own free will. This often translates to better attendance, participation and academic success. It is a common stereotype that adult learners are computer illiterate. Most adult students prefer digital learning. This gives them the freedom to take their classes when it is most convenient. This allows them to balance their education with their family. The bottom line is that today’s adult students are wiser, and smarter than ever. It is often said that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. Neuroscience disagrees with that statement. Modern research shows that learning changes the brain physically, at every stage of your life. Whether you are 30 or 100, picking up a new skill strengthens your mind in amazing ways. Neuroplasticity is your brain’s ability to adapt and grow. When the brain learns a new skill, it creates new neural pathways, and it strengthens the old ones. Think of it like giving your brain a much-needed workout. Even if you are naturally lazy, your human brain is not. Brains love to learn. Adult education is the best way to give your brain the fuel it craves. If you are struggling to learn something new, it might feel frustrating. However, this is a sign of growth. When you struggle to learn, you are forcing your brain to adapt, to grow. Adult learners often experience improved memory, focus and mental clarity. Studies show that lifelong learning lowers the risk of Alzheimer's and dementia. It doesn’t matter why you are returning to school. Every new skill that you learn helps your brain stay young and smart. Q: What is neuroplasticity? A: Neuroplasticity is your brain’s ability to rewire and reorganize itself. This is done by forming new neural patterns and connections. IT is triggered when you learn something new, and you put that new skill into practice. Q: Does neuroplasticity only happen in children? A: No! Adult brains can be flexible too. They also have neuroplasticity. It may slow down with age, but the brain never stops learning and adapting. Q: Is it true that “use it or lose it” applies to the brain? A: Yes, indeed. Like muscles, the brain needs regular stimulation or exercise. When you stop learning, the brain grows weaker overtime. Switch hands. Use your mouse or brush your hair with your nondominant hand. Do a logic puzzle or a brain teaser for 5 minutes. Let’s get those neurons working. Name 5 Game. Name 5 of each type of something. Example: Banana, Apple, Orange, Mango and Grapefruit. Learn a new word. Get that dusty dictionary out of the attic and learn 1 random word per day. Today’s new word is Sagacious: Having or showing keen mental discernment, good judgment, and wisdom. The sagacious adult was keen on returning to school to acquire new culinary skills.

These days economy is quite unstable. Thankfully, there are careers out there that are recession proof. Meet HVAC, or Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning. This is one industry that can withstand the test of time.  This year alone 1 out of 3 houses reported an air conditioner problem. As you can see, there is a yearly demand for HVAC services. It doesn’t matter if the economy is good or bad. The consumer cannot live without its air conditioner. In the US, there is a wide range of temperate. From Hot Summers to Freezing winters, all its citizens require air conditioners to survive. In certain cities, the air quality is so bad that the ACs is the only reason why humans can thrive there. More than anything, AC is something that we have gotten used to. And like cars, it is something that we cannot live without. It doesn’t matter if it is a home or a hospital, your role as a HVAC repair person is essential. In hospitals, HVAC systems keep the environment sterile. The cool temperatures slow down the spread of germs and keep the instruments as sterile as possible. Server rooms need air conditioners to keep the computers from overheating and exploding. Grocery markets need ACs to keep the food fresh. This means that during any crisis, recession or even a hurricane, HVAC professionals have a job to do. They are among the first people they call to keep hospitals and supermarkets running. As we all know, we cannot survive without first aid and food. As a HVAC Professional, you are indispensable to the infrastructure of this country. You never have to fear unemployment if you follow this career path. Like food, citizens have gotten used to living with an AC unit. They can cut back on trips, and other luxuries. However, they cannot ignore a broken furnace, or a dead AC unit. Emergency repairs and routine maintenance are always on demand. This makes HVAC services recession proof. Older technicians have started to retire. There is a growing need for the next generation of HVAC professionals. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, HVAC jobs are estimated to grow faster than any other technical profession. Even as we speak, there are thousands of position openings. There is a skill gap ready to be filled by YOU. Once certified and they acquire working experience, HVAC technicians can move onto specialized roles. These new roles include management, or they can open their own HVAC companies. Annually, there are 2500 new HVAC companies opening in the US. This career path is a lucrative business that allows technicians to eventually become their own bosses. Unlike other technical jobs, this career has upward mobility and the potential for financial independence, regardless of the state of the economy. In Florida Education Institute, you can get your degree in year or less. This means faster entry into the workforce. This helps you avoid financial risk. The school also has scholarship programs. So, you can graduate without or with very little debt. HVAC careers are one of the most recession resistant fields in the market. It combines hands-on work, with technical skills. This fulfills a purpose that is required by both communities and businesses. It doesn’t matter how the economy is doing. We all need an AC to survive. So, what are you waiting for? Here at FEI, we have the tools and tutors needed to make you the best HVAC technician in the entire state of Florida. We hope to see you soon in the next semester.