I am so totally stoked I can barely contain myself! I am signed up for a canning class taught by Chef Paul Virant at Vie Restaurant in Western Springs, Illinois TOMORROW! I am going to learn from the master. I'm not sure how much I'll be able to share. I guess I should make him sign a waiver or something if I'm going to blog about it? I don't know. I am so excited that I just had to tell someone, and now I have. Oh, I do hope I can sleep tonight.

For the uninitiated, Paul is a very well known and award-winning chef who chose the Western Suburbs (NOT downtown Chicago), for his wonderful restaurant. He also worked at the Everest Room, but not at the same time I did. So I do not know him personally.  I really 'get' his food, however. I feel like what he does is how I cook, but elevated more than a few notches. To be fair, I'm working alone here with two screaming toddlers and he has a ton more experience, but whatever. I adore his restaurant. It is one of the only places within 20-30 minutes of my house where the food is better than what I would do myself. So I love it, and I therefore love him. I hope he does not disappoint.

BTW- Paul Virant is going to be on Iron Chef November 1st, so watch for him. I'll be rooting for him to kick some Iron Chef Morimoto butt.

Just in case you are interested, the picture is of my canned Peach Butter with Rum. Even more interesting than that are the gorgeous new Ball jars I found to put it in. Gotta love Target. No more of that kitschy quilted jar stuff for me. Although it is tough to knock the bubbles out of those corners. That's my only complaint.