kudos to korrina!

 we're so happy and proud of our korrina. she graduated from culinary school today top of her class!

 opening morgana's graduation gift from europe. here morgana is whispering to her that she got the hermione award. it's what i wanted, korrina answered. congrats to you dear heart. all your hard work paid off.

 so exciting to have the "top toque award."

such a happy graduation day.

i have lots more pictures to post, and a short movie, but i'll do so tomorrow. morgana and i just returned from connecticut today in time for the graduation and now sleep and rest are called for.

more photos now . . from graduation day:

 morgana made the card and wrapped her gift.

 i wrote our wishes for her inside.

 and then we walked along the river down to tribeca.

 passing a large flotation device in the shape of a lobster, i think. it marks one of the boundaries for the kayak rentals.

 at the dock by the yachts . .

 it seemed that we kept going around corner after corner in search of the elusive side entrance to the brookfield place building.

 finally . .

 up some very high escalators . .

 fancy stores are in the process of opening . .

 wrong entrance! we had to go around . .

 and down another long hallway . .

 would we ever get to the check in  desk?

 finally . .

 and thankfully we were all on the list for visitor passes . .

 into the strange elevator that chanda didn't like . .

 why?

 you had to punch in the floor you wanted to go to on the outside of the elevator. there are no floors listed on the inside.

 she's happy that we're finally at ICE . .

 the institute of culinary education . .


and here she is. our first glimpse of korrina was in the kitchen . ..


she appeared to put out more of her blackberry crumble . .




this was chanda's favorite!


and mine too, i think.


but this was also very good!


savory bits: corn taco with avocado, green pepper and tuna (some had pulled pork).


stuffed mushrooms and zucchini and a mango puree . . excellent!

 and then it was time for the graduation and awards ceremony. each student's name was called and they received their cookbook and chef's hat.

and then the top three awards were called out: top student award, student most likely to succeed, and student most liked by their fellow students.

 from left to right: top student, student most liked, and student most likely to get a job.

 a very happy korrina.

 reading her graduation card.

 eating one last round of desserts . .

 we were able to take home extras: they left out containers and the dawdlers helped themselves.

 there was a beautiful view of the river out the window.

 korrina went out afterwards with friends.

 one of the classrooms.

 finally on our way home . .

 through the front entrance of brookfield place . .

 down the escalator . .

 through to the world trade center concourse . .

 just a long white hallway . . meandering beneath the street and sidewalks . .

 through nondescript double doors . .

 and an as yet unfinished hallway . .

 to another escalator that took us back up to street level . .

 and now we're directly across from where we started out . .

 just beneath the freedom tower . .

 by the 9/11 memorial.

and then we walked uptown and back across the street to the hudson river park . . and home.