🛒 Shopping List — Block 51–52: Capstone
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There is no prescribed shopping list for the capstone. You decide what to cook. The list below covers likely needs for the key sessions, but your Anniversary Dinner and Final Exam Dish menus are entirely yours.
🌾 General Pantry Restock
By Block 51, your pantry should be well-stocked from the year's cooking. Check and restock as needed:
- [ ] Kosher salt — Diamond Crystal
- [ ] Black pepper — whole peppercorns
- [ ] Olive oil — good for finishing
- [ ] Neutral oil — for high-heat cooking
- [ ] Butter — unsalted, European-style
- [ ] Eggs — 1 dozen
- [ ] Onions, garlic, shallots — the holy trinity of your mise en place
- [ ] Lemons — always useful
- [ ] Stock — homemade from the freezer, or make a fresh batch
🍽️ For the Anniversary Dinner (Service 56)
Plan your own menu. Consider:
- [ ] A protein you're confident with
- [ ] A starch or bread you can make in your sleep
- [ ] A vegetable preparation that shows technique
- [ ] A dessert from Blocks 47–50
- [ ] Wine, sparkling water, or cocktails for guests
- [ ] Table settings, candles, music — set the scene
🎓 For the Final Exam Dish (Session 230)
- [ ] Whatever your chosen dish requires
- [ ] Buy the best version of each ingredient — this is your showcase
- [ ] Have backup ingredients in case something goes wrong
🍷 For the Retrospective Meal (Session 231)
You'll need ingredients for 4 small courses spanning the program:
- [ ] One element from Blocks 1–10 (foundations): check your notes
- [ ] One element from Blocks 11–24 (proteins): your best protein prep
- [ ] One element from Blocks 25–40 (world cuisines): the cuisine that resonated most
- [ ] One element from Blocks 41–50 (fermentation, bread, pastry): your proudest bake or ferment