Zut alors - I have a job!

(bittersweet chocolate torte with fresh berries and whipped creme fraiche)

Is it possible that my little baby will be turning 5 in two short months? Is it possible that I haven't had a "real" job that entire time? Choosing to be a stay at home mom has been hugely rewarding and by far the most difficult job I've ever had. Now that Graham's happily in preschool, I am very excited to be embarking on a new venture.

When I met my husband ten years ago, he had just graduated from culinary school and was working his way up the ranks at some of San Francisco's most respected restaurants - Boulevard, Rubicon, Zuni, Redwood Park, Kokkari. He reached the level of executive chef a few years ago, but hadn't found the perfect job until now. A brand new restaurant, his own menu, a talented staff of his choosing, closer to home and an opening for a pastry chef! The restaurant, called Zut!, will focus on regional Mediterranean cuisine using seasonal, local ingredients. It's located on the fabulous 4th Street in Berkeley (with a very tempting Anthropologie around the corner).

After focusing on fondant, cupcakes & kids parties for the past few years, it was a little daunting to go back into a restaurant and come up with desserts for the out of preschool palette. After a few weeks of experimentation and the encouragement of a very nice boss (thanks, honey!), we have settled on five desserts for the opening menu - chocolate torte (pictured above), muscovado pot de creme, plum jam crostata, Greek yogurt with walnuts, honey & dried fruit, and fresh strawberry granita with pistachio macarons. Phew!

With less than a week until our grand opening (August 31st), I'm loving my new job and hoping we will have throngs of customers to try out my creations.