Thursday, March 31, 2011

Why cook?

I started off my restaurant career as a server. Which from my perspective now, is the easy route. When I switched from serving and making on average 14-20 dollars an hour, to 10, people would (and still) ask me why I switched. I joke around saying, "Oh, I've decided I was making too much money." But really I decided I want to do now, what I plan on doing the rest of my life, and I love it. Sure, I'm living less than paycheck to paycheck, but I for sure don't dread coming in to work every day for long hours and hard work with minimal pay. I would say its an even trade.

It's not only a passion thing, its also the fact that I look up to so many Chefs, I follow their ever
y blog p
ost, every tweet, every news story. Below are a list of just a few Chefs that I see as role models and strive to be.

Grant Achatz
Pronounced to rhyme with "rackets" this Chef has some story about him. He's the single fastest rising chef, working at the culinary Mecca called The French Laundry at age 22, and owning his own restaurant at the age of 30. Shortly after his restaurant opened, he was diagnosed with Stage 4 tongue cancer, there is no stage 5. He was given only months to live, but underwent an experimental procedure involving Chemotherapy radiation, as opposed to losing his tongue and part of his jaw.
This Chef creates the most outrageous gastronomic creations in the country, with influences such as Thomas Keller(French Laundry), and Ferran Adria (El Bulli, Spain) breaking down and reassembling simple meals into complex works of art. From what he's been through, to the food he creates, every ounce of his lifetime effort saturates each plate that walks out of his kitchen.




Anthony Bourdain
The culinary badass and creator of Kitchen Confidential, the book that tells the real story of what goes on in a kitchen, from the 'left over bread' conspiracy, to the brunch fiasco. To explain what I'm talking about, you will have to actually purchase the book, and it is well worth the read. Chef Bourdain has the life I want, traveling to all four corners of the world at least twice all while eating local cuisine, no matter how crazy or taboo, and drinking local adult beverages (copious amounts to be exact)
Aside from writing the single most accurate book about a kitchen, I wouldn't say he's done anything "majorly groundbreaking" in the culinary world, but I would without a doubt say he is formerly known as the best line cook, EVER. Working at a restaurant, open to close, while tackling over 1500 covers on the day; Oh and by the way a cover is a single person, no matter how many courses/plates they order.

These two are the ones I've looked up to most, I'm not looking to follow in their footsteps, I plan to create my own path so I can one day write a book about my journey and inspire someone in my position.





27 comments:

  1. very intresting, Followed 4sure!

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  2. hmm interesting im going to follow for more info

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  3. Why not cook? i went to chef school and its awesome and fun to play with taste

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  4. i quite like the idea of being a chef, but wouldn't enjoy the late hours!

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  5. Bourdain's cool, never got into the whole chef thing though, maybe i could learn something here. haha, Followed

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  6. It's awesome that you do something that you love everyday, best of luck with it

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  7. Cool man i studied industrial engineering and to my luck the worlds ressession has destroyed all possible jobs in my country, so im a good cook and was thinking in taking up some culinary class so i earn my degree in gastronomy

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  9. It's awesome that you do what you want and that you're good at it!

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  10. Man it's so convenient when you suddenly stumble upon a blog and it happens to be about the exact thing you were just thinking at the moment. Some time ago I couldn't cook eggs, but every passing day I feel more confident about using the internet to help in my quest of becoming a decent cook. Thank you very much.

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  11. Excellent post.

    Followed.
    bigunicorn.blogspot.com

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  12. why cook when u can have ur mum do it? just kidding lol its a great talent

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  13. I wish i could cook...marry me and cook for me? thanks.

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  14. I wish I could cook, The highest my cooking ability goes is cooking Ramen noodles.

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  15. I would love to start cooking professionally, but i am a little bit too old now to start... sad thing.

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  16. that's the best.. to do what you like to do and get a lots of money on the way :)

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  17. Interesting stuff mate, looking forward to seeing more.

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  18. Mad respect dude. Gotta follow your passions.

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  19. Oh man, live in a great country and area for great foods but I can't even boil an egg properly lol.

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  20. i love cooking but i hardly do it, i should check your blog more to get inspired :D

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  21. I've honestly always wanted to be a chef, but could never really get the concept of cooking. Haha.

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  22. its great that u have a lot of passion, keep it up

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  23. Well I knew about Bourdain, but that first guy's story is just as crazy. Interesting view into the culinary world.
    +followed

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  24. pff, Gordon Ramsay is the best chef ever!

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