I remember when I first encountered the jazz influenced improvisational music of Eric Clapton as a member of Cream. Many of my age were in awe of the speed and almost frenzy nature of this adrenaline infused music that started with structure and then blasted away in a hundred different directions. No one really knew…
Tag: restaurants
A COOK’S BALANCE – HARD WORK, PASSION, LIVE
I was listening to some older music the other day and reconnected with a then super group – Blind Faith. When you put Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker, and Steve Winwood together – great music is bound to happen. One song became the inspiration for this article. The lyrics were simple, but poignant as they introduced…
INNOVATE AND CHANGE OR GET OUT OF THE WAY
Take a deep breath, sit down, grab a couple Ibuprofen, tighten your belt and pay attention. EVERYTHING IS CHANGING AND THERE IS NO TURNING BACK. If you think that you can simply continue to do business the way you have, cook the same type of food as in the past, live with the level of…
THE INFLUENCE OF WOMEN CHEFS
On this International Women’s Day I am enthusiastic about supporting this years theme of “Balance for Better”. Specifically, I want to point to the numerous accomplishments of women chefs who are making a difference in the restaurant business. It seems senseless to categorize chefs as male or female, in fact that distinction helps to…
ANGER AND THE SELF-DESTRUCTIVE CHEF
Most chefs have been there – that point of exasperation when something isn’t going as planned, when a staff member didn’t follow through, when that order came back for a re-fire, or when a vendor sent disappointing products to your back door. You tense up, blood flows to your head, you grit your teeth, and…
COOKING MAY BE THE MOST IMPORTANT LIFE SKILL
As members of an advanced society we stress over many things – to most the skills necessary to survive, thrive, and contribute to society rank above all else – some might even say that learning how to make a difference is at the top of the list. We invest heavily in formal education and acknowledge…
BECOMING A MASTER OF YOUR CRAFT
I just finished watching a YouTube video clip of Jeff Beck and Stanley Clarke performing their incredible music at a jazz festival. I watched the clip four times in a row until I knew that I had to get back to work. These musicians are masters of their craft. There was something truly magical about…
THE CHEF – DECISIONS EVERY 30 SECONDS
Ah…the good old days when it was just about cooking. Remember those days when your stress, considerable as it may have been, was focused on your mise en place, keeping orders straight on your station, making sure that your knives were sharp and your station clean and organized, being sharp and alert, and taking those…
SERIOUS COOKING / COOKING SERIOUSLY
There are cooks and there are cooks – such a profound statement. My experience has shown me that there is a place for numerous levels of skill and commitment in our profession. People do need to eat, and in this regard all restaurant cooks provide a valuable and important service. On the other hand, there…
KITCHENS – WHEN THINGS START TO UNRAVEL
I imagine that every night that the cast of a Broadway play watches the curtains open, there is a feeling that the performance will either be great or terrible. When the most organized and well-seasoned band hits the stage for a sold out concert – there is an uneasiness that has each musician in its…
