The search begins

image courtesy of dilbert.com

With the exciting news (for me) of my upcoming graduation from public relations (pr) looming (in June), now comes the "fun" part: looking for a job. I knew this was coming as I've alluded to it many times on this blog. Now that it's here, in my face, ready to be dealt with, I'll admit to having a small case of nerves. So I sat down last week to check out my resume, and after going over it I thought to myself " Self, this doesn't look so bad." The inner voice, however, was also suggesting perhaps it would be wise to let someone else take a look, you know, just to make sure the resume really will be taken seriously. After all, when you've been out of the game for a while it never hurts to get a second or third, even a fourth opinion. Well the resulting review was this: the resume was shit. Shockingly, I didn't take offense because once I re-read it from his perspective and saw it for what it was, I agreed wholeheartedly - it really was shit. Where the heck was the pr professional in this resume? Good question, because he sure wasn't in this document. I'll tell you something else; ten years ago I would not have handled that criticism gracefully! Ah, look what time and maturity can do to a person eh?

So I've spent the past week re-writing, re-formatting and NOW I think it's good, but again it's time for a second opinion. Thankfully one of my instructors from school has kindly offered to take a look and now, just like in school, I'll wait patiently (sort of) for her remarks!

I'm very aware that the job situation has changed dramatically since I last looked for employment. Every time you watch the news, scan the net or read the papers about the current economic situation and jobless rate, you feel your stomach shrink for fear you'll be yet another unemployed statistic. Call me naive, or nutty (hey I've been called worse), but I believe there is a job for me, and I will find it! Hey, if I can travel the world on my own and come out of that experience somewhat unscathed, then I can find a job.

Patience and luck.

The search begins...

A hungry man reviews...The Black Hoof restaurant

pictures courtesy of cookiesandtomatoes.com

Grab the smelling salts!! This is something I haven't done in a very long time on this blog. Yes, the name of the blog is a hungry man travels and yes, I should be blabbing more about food so it's time to correct this oversight.

Now to be fair to myself and the blog, I have sampled and mentioned restaurants from around this great, big wide world. I have been very lucky to check them out, and have said this or that about the food I've had the pleasure of eating. This time, the culinary experience was different. Not Japan different (note: Japan will ALWAYS be my measurement of outstanding food), but pretty close. Despite the world culinary adventures, I just haven't felt compelled to write a review or reviews about my hometown (Toronto) restaurants.

Now the reason for this can partly be blamed on laziness, and partly due to the fact that there are so many opinions about the city's booming restaurant scene on the 'net, why should I bother to add to it? I've made a mistake thinking that way, and now I'm making up for that extraordinarily stupid mindset. I mean c'mon, aren't you supposed to share good news when you receive it? Particularly if it's local, culinary good news? So here is the review in four words: I love this restaurant.

I am in love with The Black Hoof.

Although you can go wrong with in-house made charcuterie, the Black Hoof hasn't. When the restaurant first opened in 2008, it received rave reviews from critics regarding the charcuterie. If what I had the pleasure of eating last night was indicative of what was made almost five years ago, then boy have I been missing out.

House-made sausage, foie gras mousse, venison brasaola, prosciutto, pancetta, salami and chorizo, all served with mouth watering bread - oh God a meat and carb lovers wet dream, and may I add so damn good? And again, all made in-house, except for the bread which is provided by French bread maker extraordinaire, Chef Marc Thuet's Petite Thuet bakery. My dinner companion and I shared a fabulous horsemeat tartare with a sensational clamshell and mushroom cream sauce. A simple yet tasty vegetable dish of Brussels sprouts with peanut sauce followed, along with a spicy tripe dish with chopped tomato.

I am still kicking myself for not having the foie gras.

And for dessert? Polenta cake with lemon curd and rhubarb cream sauce. Is your mouth watering? Stomach growling? It should be because you HAVE to try it. Please, please make room for dessert, you will not be disappointed. I honestly haven't blabbed about a Toronto restaurant (vocally) in years, until now. Believe me when I say that I've been very blessed to have dines in some pretty incredible Toronto restaurants over the years (why hello there Auberge du Pommier, what a nice summer we had last year).

I am truly sorry I didn't visit the Hoof back when I first heard about it in my culinary school days of 2009. Some of the students were hoping to Stage there (work for free), so the place was endlessly talked about. Like the classic Seinfeld episode where Elaine did not want to see the film 'The English Patient' because everyone kept telling her she had too, I reacted the same way when my friends would babble about it. I wanted to discover it for myself, and I didn't want anyone to tell me I 'had' to go

Suffice to say I was the loser whom, until recently, had totally missed out on serious culinary deliciousness. 'Tis ok, the Hoof brought back the reason why I love when a food experience is so memorable, you can't wait to share it. The food, service and ambience is why I highly recommend the restaurant to friends, and anyone wanting to try a truly adventurous dining experience, without the pretension that can sometimes be attached to that. Yes, it was and is worth all the hype. Run, don't walk, for simple yet amazing food. The Black Hoof.

Oh, and this should also be mentioned to all you potential 'hoofer's' out there. Try to avoid visiting on the weekends, unless of course you're a fan of standing in line. The restaurant has a no reservation policy - fair warning!

Mission accomplished!

When I see those two words 'mission accomplished', it always reminds me of that ridiculous battleship shot of President George W. Bush with the infamous words floating on a banner behind him. Can I just say as a sidebar, that I would have loved to have been part of the pr/communications team that came up with that? Or at least wished I was in the room where the strategic planning sessions and conversations took place. Do you remember the sign? I'd understand if you were trying to forget those years, but here's a reminder. I'd better digress. That situation was more than just a bunch of words on a banner, but I'm a political animal and it would be best to let it go or I'll be writing all night!

For this post I'm taking those two words back. I recently accomplished something that's been on my 'things I'd like to accomplish' or yup, I'm going to say it, my 'mission accomplished' list. I had a list. I still have it. Just a few more things I'm currently working on, but a good chunk of it has been, well, accomplished (sorry for overuse of the word 'accomplished'). Maybe one day I'll write the list in a post. Then again, maybe not. I'm sure everyone is sick to death of seeing posts about "my wish list" or "things to do before turning 20, 30, 40," and so on.

So after the last couple of rather dire posts, I'm actually reporting (finally) some great news, hence the mission accomplished (I can't stop saying it now!) headline. I've finished school!! I will graduate with my public relations certification from Ryerson University in June! Man, you have no idea how exciting it is to have this certificate. It's been something I've been wanting to finish for years. I started it in 2002, but stopped a year later because work, mortgages, life (just fill in an excuse in the blank space) got in the way. Once I had the chance to do it, and FINISH it, I jumped. No excuses. And now it's finished!!! Apologies for the endless exclaimation points. I'm just extremely, well you know..and again, the exclaimations says it all right?

At one point, some of my friends weren't quite sure what the hell I was really doing in school. There was some confusion as to what it meant to get a public relations certificate. In hindsite I can completely understand the confusion. I mean it's not as obvious as graduating from veterinarian school or becoming a lawyer. The best way I can answer is that when I was in school, I took courses where I received professional instructions on what public relations really means, and learned to understand and navigate the many different ways/tools we can use to communicate messages. Simple but true.

So now what? Hopefully a great pr gig in the big, wide culinary world, and if I can't find it, I'll have to create it! For the frst time in years there are no plans or limits. It's freeing, but it's also a bit(ok hugely) nerve-wracking too. We'll see what the next chapter brings..

Oh, and as for my previous musings (whinges) where I've said in posts, "oh, I'm not sure if I'll have the time to travel and blah, blah, freaking blah?" I'll make the time.