Learning New Skill at the IFBC Conference

     I really enjoy the International Food Bloggers Conference - I enjoy learning about - and trying - new products; I enjoy listening to speakers who provide me new ways of thinking about things; and I really enjoy meetings other participants. And sometimes, I get to practice a new skills.
     This year, one of the sessions was on food styling difficult foods. We were each given a small cutting board, a paring knife, and an ordinary Haas avocado and prepared to peel and slice the avocado into a beautiful rose decoration for serving. Or at least that was the whole point of the session.
     I think I can count on one hand the number of avocados I've prepared in my whole life. Being born and raised with Scandinavian, German, Polish (with a smattering of British) cooking and eating environment, I would occasionally eat guacamole, but preparing it is not in my wheelhouse.

     So, I picked up my avocado and paring knife and attempted to follow instructions on cutting it in half and removing the large seed in the center. My neighbor did a beautiful job of it - pictured on the left. Mine, on the other hand, was a total disaster, pictured on the right.
     I finally managed to remove the pit and find a piece big enough to peel. Then our instructions were to carefully slice the peeled avocado into 1/8th inch slices.

     The final step was to take those slices and arrange them into a circle, forming a rose. Mine was more like a pile of pieces, but it was edible. I think it would make a fine guacamole!

My version of a "rose"