grad school – Catie Cooks

What Do You Do with a Degree in Food?

Although I didn’t officially celebrate graduation until May, it has now been one year since I finished the coursework for my gastronomy master’s degree. I am reflecting on what this degree has done for me and whether it was worth it. I won’t sugarcoat things. Grad school is ridiculously expensive. When self-financing a degree, it…

Boston University Graduation

By: catiecooks12 May 24, 2022

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I once described Boston as “a city in which I could see myself thriving.” I wrote that in 2019 as I was preparing to move for grad school. Three years, countless hours of work, sleepless nights, and a global pandemic later, I walked across the stage at Boston University this weekend having earned my master’s…

PinkGlow Pineapple

I am taking a class this semester called Food and the Senses. Part of this class is crafting lab experiments, and I will be sharing some of my projects with you. I was at Wegmans during Valentine’s Day weekend and saw pink pineapples on sale. As an avid pineapple lover, I have wanted to try…

Blue Apron Review

I am here to give my thoughts on Blue Apron. This is the third meal kit service I have reviewed for the blog. Interested in the whole journey? See my Hello Fresh review and my Plated review. During my time with a busy schedule at the law firm, I came to rely on regular deliveries…

Apple Cider Doughnut Cake

This is a piece I did for my food writing class, inspired by Pastry Chef Janine Sciarappa. Apple Cider Doughnut CakeWith a Few Tweaks, Apple Cider Doughnuts Become Cake Move over pumpkin spice. Apple cider is here to claim its crown as the ultimate fall flavor. Apple Cider Doughnut Cake, inspired by the popular fall breakfast treat, brings the harvest…

Quarantine Cooking – Teriyaki Chicken Stir-Fry

Raise your hand if you panic-bought anything in the month of March. I think we all were guilty of making at least one panic purchase when the pending reality of Coronavirus hit. I shop for just myself, so I didn’t buy much out of the ordinary on that shopping trip in the midst of chaos.…

Quarantine Cooking – Babka Bread Pudding

I haven’t written in nearly a week. I got held up in some school work. I am still trying my best to preoccupy myself during the COVID-19 lockdown. I have lost track of how much TV I have watched and how many naps I have taken. On a more productive note, I have been reading…

Quarantine Cooking – Arctic Char and Noodle Salad

Hello everyone. I wanted to briefly check in before I get to work on my reading for Anthropology of Food. I just finished up with a simple but flavorful lunch using ingredients I had lying around. So, I wanted to talk about how to throw together a pantry meal. Oftentimes when I am cooking, I…

Cooking Up Culture

Part of my new job as a graduate assistant for Culinary Arts is assisting with our hands-on classes. Our department holds cooking classes for kids aged 8-17, called “Cooking Up Culture.” We are hosting two classes this term, and the first one was last weekend with Irene Li of Mei Mei. Last semester, I had…

James Beard Food Waste Event

I am about a month into my second semester of grad school. I’m taking Food & Gender and Anthropology of Food as my classes. I also was hired as a graduate assistant for Culinary Arts. This is so exciting for me because it means I get to spend more time in the BU Kitchen. So,…