[CardSharpCook]

Actually, I'll write this part breifly.

The Practical


Far be it for the CIA to allow its good name to be smeared by ill-prepared students, each student must pass a year end practical before being cleared for externship. We knew that we would have to cook one of 5 dishes - a meal for two - in something like 2 hours. We knew the meat component, and the starch. The veg would be up to use, however we were not allowed to "boil and butter" - that is boil a green veg and then serve it with salt and butter. So you had to prepare for five different meals. When you arrived, you were assigned a dish, and given a start time. The more prepared students (meaning just about all of us) were sure to go by the kitchen the day before to check out the lay of the land, where the pots and pans were located, and possibly even what veggies might still be in the fridge when it was our turn to go. When our start time came up, the chef would sit us down and ask us 10 oral questions, each worth 2 points or so. We then cook our meal provided that we got the minimum # of questions correct. We were then graded on the meal. The meal would be worth 80 points. So, on a 100 point scale we got our grade. I belive 70 was passing, and I believe I got a 72. Probably 75% of the students passed the first time, the rest needing to retake the rather difficult exam later in the week. Its pretty cool system. While it is unlikely that a student could make it that far and be unable to pass, there is the potential for a student to be carried by his classmates as much of the cooking in other classes is done in teams.