Chocolate Souffle
On the very first day of culinary school, the very first thing I made was a Mocha Souffle. And it was a nerve-wracking but very fulfilling task. I enjoyed it because I love mocha. And so did my groupmates.
Mocha Souffle
One of my aunts, Tita Teri, an experienced baker, requested that we bake souffle. She already knows how to bake a lot of pastries but has never tried baking souffle. And it was the very first thing she asked from me after I finished culinary school… baking souffle. Tita asked that we baked chocolate souffle, which I didn’t bake in school but had baked for Kuya Andrew during one of our kitchen testing sessions. So I wasn’t very intimidated when Tita Teri asked for it.
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For our first ever blog writing contest, KusinaMaria.com is tying up with DavaoFoodie.com. And we are asking you what your favorite specialty cake or pastry is?
Just blog about that specialty cake or pastry that you have tasted or been wanting to taste and why you deserve to have it for Christmas. The blogger with the best entry will get that cake or pastry from me.
I, Ria Jose, will bake that pastry for you. So as a limitation, no requests for wedding cakes or fondant cakes, ok? But it can be anything like Super Moist Chocolate Cake with Strawberry Icing, Black Forest Cake, Eclairs with Orange Filling, or Extra Chewy Snickers Cookies.
This contest is limited to Davao City and Metro Manila bloggers only. But if you’re willing to travel to Davao City and/or Metro Manila to claim your prize, then you can join.
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Group 2's Pastries
I was late for Day 4 since I had a hard time getting up from bed due to a minor illness. But I couldn’t just lie there and not learn anything so I tried to get to class around noon. Sadly, I missed all the lecture part and most of the baking. 
But I did meet Chef Rhea Castro who had shared really good tips and tricks about baking and handling doughs, as well as presenting and decorating them.
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Today, I received an SMS regarding my first day of culinary classes at the Center for Asian Culinary Studies (CACS) Davao. I have enrolled for their Certificate Program for Basic Cooking and Baking Skills, and we begin the weekly classes this Saturday. I have been reminded to be on time and wear the appropriate attire: black pants, white top, and no slip closed black shoes.
We have to be there 15 minutes before classes start because our uniforms, kits, and manuals will be distributed. I have seen the partial list of our class, and I am afraid I do not know anybody.
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Maria "Ria" Jose