re: What is something you would cook to test your skills?

I agree with Beef Wellington. It is an interesting process because you need to cook and chill at various stages, and also the puff pastry can be tricky to work with if not handled correctly. Other things can go wrong too, like under or over cooking the beef (see Hell's Kitchen).

Yes, it's a bit of work, but when done properly, this dish is infinitely rewarding compared to the time invested in it.