Thursday, March 25, 2010

Le Cordon Bleu... culinary delight for the Atlanta bloggers...

Lunch at Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Atlanta was beyond expectations. It was FABULOUS! From the time I called for a reservation for lunch, was offered a tour from the professional Ms. Flynn ( lead chef instructor) at the student run restaurant LUMIERE , until the last morsel of the incredible dessert was tasted this school lived up to it's outstanding reputation.

Ms. Flynn greeted us with a welcoming smile. Our guided tour was hosted by a professional and personable student. We learned about the different courses, requirements for graduation and some cooking techniques. Norman was very patient and knowledgeable answering our many questions. He informed us that he would also be our waiter at Lumiere. It is nice to know that Le Cordon Bleu gives their students a well rounded education which encompasses every aspect of the restaurant experience. We wish Norman the best as he heads up to Alaska to begin his career.


Classrooms were neat and clean. It looks like someone was preparing to teach a pastry class.. I would love to participate in this class and play with all the FLOUR and butter using one of those professional mixers. I did notice that quiet a few ingredients were being weighed in the pastry class. I sure would need a big scale just for myself after tasting all those amazing desserts.
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Students in this class were getting ready to learn some basic knife skills. Today's assignment was to learn to chop and cut onions, carrots and potatoes uniformly to insure even cooking.


It was test day in many classrooms. Students had to cut carrots into different sizes and were being graded on precision and uniformity. Practice leads to perfection in this classroom. Another class was preparing a complete meal. Students were in the library reading recipes in books, on line and in the latest gourmet magazines. Some were involved in a pastry class and some were leaning how to sous vide. My favorite thing were the hats!

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Time to head into lunch. Now this is one of the best kept secrets for lunch and dinner in Atlanta. Shh! Let's only tell our discerning gourmet friends about Lumiere. We can't wait to return again as the menu changes seasonally.


Stepping into Lumiere we are greeted with a visually pleasing environment in which to being our dining experience.



I love the fact that while you are relaxing with friends you can see into the pristine kitchen and watch the chefs work their magic incorporating fresh ingredients while using state of the art grills/ovens. The delicious smells coming from the kitchen were intoxicating. There are classes in wine pairing so your waiter is knowledgeable in helping to choose a wine to compliment your food choice.
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Baby lamb chops over butternut squash with french green beans served with a delicious fig demi glaze, a brown sugar/Bourbon marinated steak and a chocolate dessert were just a few of our luncheon choices.
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Sandie of the Chatty Crone HERE and Denise are enjoying soup and salad. We all agreed the biscuits were the best ever. There was one biscuit left and it was amazing that we did not dual over the lone biscuit. We certainly did not want to start a riot and have the food police called in like at last months luncheon HERE.

Please visit Sue at Rue Mouffetard HERE for more photos and information about this luncheon

Rose from a Santamakersjourney HERE and Sue drive off into the sunset, or in this case the Atlanta traffic, contemplating where we should all lunch next month because nothing can ever top today's PERFECT lunch at Le Cordon Bleu.

Thanks to Ms. Flynn and Norman and all the chefs and future chefs who made our day a pleasant experience!

I am linking this post to Foodie Friday hosted by DesignbyGollum HERE.

33 comments:

  1. It was all that and more. I had a great time. Thanks for planning it and asking me.

    It was a great experience and the food was out of this world.

    Great pictures too.

    Love,
    sandie

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  2. What a great afternoon! You are fortunate to be able to share it with friends.

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  3. Woe, that really looked like a truly fantastic experience. I would love to do that one day. Thanks for telling me about it!

    Best wishes,
    Natasha.

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  4. Well that sounds like fun! Did you all take your good behavior pills that day? I don't see one pic with funny hats ! :)
    It looks like a great place..why was it so empty? Or perhaps people heard the wild blogging ladies were going to be there??
    Can't wait for next month's adventure!
    I have never been to the Chatty Crone..I will go visit!

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  5. Oh my gosh I would love a trip like that! What fun with food and friends!
    Feel free to take that beautiful radish photo off my blog... if its not large enough to print let me know and I will email the photo to you.
    ~Rainey~

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  6. What a great day...what a great meal and what great friends to share it with...We certainly need to go back there....lookig forward to going to the tea room next month....Maybe there we can wear hats!

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  7. Hey Joyce! I heard from Dan's girlfriend that he received over 20 boxes of goodies from our team! Thanks again for joining me. :)

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  8. So sorry to miss this one! I will be back in time for the April lunch. Miss seeing all of you but I'm enjoying my visit with Mom.

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  9. Sounds like a wonderful experience! Now you made me hungry!

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  10. Great post... Had a wonderful day with you crazy women once again! Can't wait for the Tea Room! Hey... why didn't the photos with you and Sue wearing the king and queen hats show up?!

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  11. Sounds like you had a great time. I would like to do that. I love the picture on your header. Is that your beautiful back yard? Joni

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  12. Thanks for the wonderful tour-wish I could have been there.

    Thanks for visiting my blog. I will share the recipes soon.

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  13. What a great experience fo all...wish I could have joined in the fun. Our local culinary school has just received its accreditation. We are thrilled. I took a little mini-vacation this week with Hubby, but Crock Pot Wednesday will be back up this coming week. I hope you will join me.

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  14. A great trip for foodies--loved the photos! Have a great weekend. (It just stopped raining here, but I'm still waiting for the sun...)

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  15. What an incredible opportunity to have lunch at the culinary school and a very special gathering of friends as well! The food sounds fantastic!

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  16. What a blast to share with friends, tuning green with envy here. I'm sure it was a wonderful experience with the food and friends!
    I'm so happy you got to do this.

    God bless and have a glorious day!!!

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  17. Well, that was a delightful tour of an extraordinary place! Thanks so much for this great post!

    Kindly, ldh

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  18. Well that looks like a fantastic day! What fun!

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  19. What a wonderful experience! I'm going to add Lumiere to the list of restaurants to try in Atlanta. I've been here my entire life and there's always something new and fabulous to do. Thanks for sharing and for stopping by my blog.

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  20. WOW! Looks like a wonderful time had by all!

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  21. How wonderful, that you live where you can have such a great experience!

    And of course, it's good for the students too. Nothing like "the real thing." Learning is one part. But actually "doing" for the customer, is another. And getting their pleased fee-back too. :-)

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  22. OT but... Dear Joyce, in the discussion going on in my comments here... ~~~ Oh yes, it is polite to go comment in the blogs of those who come and comment in our blogs. Oh yes!

    What this little discussion is about, is that someone read that daily comments, by a blogger, in another blog, can be considered as stalking. It shocked me because I tend to do a lot of daily commenting in blogs, I follow.

    I'm one of those people who always has something to say. Eeeeek!!!!!!! -giggles-

    But happily, in [our] "Pretty Blog Land," it doesn't seem that many people think that leaving daily comments is stalking. So I don't feel so bad. ,-)

    But I still think I can cut back on all the stuff I tend to rattle on about, in comments of others. Like now! Look at me! Rattling on. :-))))

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  23. My mother was a baker. The scent of fresh bread baking in the oven is just heaven to me. I love your site.

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  24. What a fun time you had! Looks great! I'm going to look for the other blogs and check out their pictures! Enjoy your weekend!

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  25. I hate to have missed it! What a perfect lunch outing!!!

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  26. Joyce, this looks like a wonderful blog friend outing! I also saw it on Sue's blog. It's so nice that this school is training gourmet quality chefs.

    Praying for your cousin!

    ♥ Pat

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  27. Wonderful - the experience, the pictures, and I'm sure the food! You're so lucky to have gotten to do this - thank you for sharing it with us!

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  28. thanks for info. please visit my blog

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  29. Oh,...how wonderful. I'd love to have some of the equipment in that facility.

    And that food!!!

    I'll check out the other links and thanks for the trip to Atlanta.

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  30. Oh my what a wonderful experience. I love to cook. I love blogging because I have an excuse to bake. Your blog is wonderful.

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  31. What a fun filled day you had. I enjoyed your post very much. I am wishing we had a place like that near me. Terry

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