I received an email from a friend today asking if I might give some advice to a young man who is considering becoming a Chef. Naturally I said that I would be thrilled to do so. I have a lot going on in my head right now so I just wanted to use a two quotes to frame how I feel about this tremendous and touching opportunity.
Albert Einstein once said; “It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge.”
Benjamin Disraeli said; “How very seldom do you encounter in the world a man of great abilities, acquirements, experience, who will unmask his mind, unbutton his brains, and pour forth in careless and picturesque phrase all the results of his studies and observation; his knowledge of men, books, and nature. On the contrary, if a man has by any chance an original idea, he hoards it as if it were old gold; and rather avoids the subject with which he is most conversant, from fear that you may appropriate his best thoughts.”
I will unmask and hoard no idea as I know what I am here to do and it involves anyone interested, truly interested, in being the best they can be.
Are you dreaming big and inspired?
A la prochaine
SDM
Friday, May 8, 2009
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Lots of Work (file under but lots of play too…)
One of things I find remarkable about where I am is the amount of complaining I am subjected to. To put it in perspective I work in a kitchen with air conditioning. Access to just about anything I want. Every ingredient I could possibly dream of. Good hours. Great pay and so much more. OH AND BENEFITS. There are only a couple of complainers and I tend to just let it go in one ear and out the other.
Today was busy for me. I had a lot of prep to do and had a moderately busy service. But unlike some people I enjoy being busy. I enjoy working and I LOVE WHAT I DO. I am sure that I have mentioned that at least once or twice.
I was so busy today I did not have a chance to work on any specials. But that does not mean I don’t have anything to write about. As I pointed out above I am essentially in the cooks equivalent of paradise. One of the things that I haven’t touched on yet is the fact that I have an endless supply of side towels. Sound silly, well then, let me explain.
I have worked in a ten million dollar a year operation and about a two million dollar a year operation. In both there were efforts by every cook to hide towels to ensure that there was always an availability of towels. You see, Faster Linen, which is the one which we used at both Reservation and Without Reservation, charges an arm and a leg for towels. Quite literally. As such, a seemingly appropriate number of towels would be ordered, but because of hording, come certain days it would be like searching for the Holy Grail to find towels. I know that this may seem trivial to you as people that do not operate inside a professional kitchen, but it is far from trivial, cooks use towels for all sorts of things. To illustrate;
We need towels to handle hot pans, remove things from the oven, wipe down plates and dishes that we are serving, to wipe our hands, to hold our cutting boards in place, to dry certain ingredients, to place between ingredients. I mean the list of things that we use towels for is truly, quite endless.
One of my great joys at The Club is that Towels are NEVER an issue. The club always has a ready supply of side towels because it takes used towels from all over the club, rips them up appropriately and makes them our side towels. It truly is like Manna from heaven Towel Paradise. And I could not be happier.
At Without Reservation, Faster Linen would come twice a week and would deliver far less than we required. I make no judgments but I can tell you that between Tuesday and Friday, either late Wednesday or early Thursday finding a towel was like finding an answer to peace in the Middle East. I shit you not. It literally was. And now at The Club it might as well rain towels because I never have to walk more than six or seven feet to find a fresh one. Such a great feeling. And is quite a distinction in the world of cooks. You don’t need to accept what I’m saying at face value, look at Bourdain, Ramsay, White and Blumenthal, somewhere in their stories of their journey is one of a lack of side towels.
I have a lot on my brain recently. Well, no, actually, ALL THE TIME! I find myself now considering, as I have pointed out here, the possibility of traveling to learn new cuisines in order to enhance offerings at The Club. I am still a ways away from asking but it is on my mind.
I have a few other things that I am considering currently, but, it is too early to let you in on it.
Are you dreaming big and inspired. I know that I end my posts this way and lately I have been saying how can I help you. I am not saying this just to say it. If you have an idea and need to work it out, I am here for you. The greatest gift I gave myself is pursuing my dreams honestly, with my eyes and ears open, to be the me that I know I am. If I can help you, I am not hard to find. Please do.
Harriet Tubman once said; “Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.” I know, just as I do, you all have it within you. DREAM ON! DREAM BIG! DREAM INSPIRED!
A la prochaine
SDM
Today was busy for me. I had a lot of prep to do and had a moderately busy service. But unlike some people I enjoy being busy. I enjoy working and I LOVE WHAT I DO. I am sure that I have mentioned that at least once or twice.
I was so busy today I did not have a chance to work on any specials. But that does not mean I don’t have anything to write about. As I pointed out above I am essentially in the cooks equivalent of paradise. One of the things that I haven’t touched on yet is the fact that I have an endless supply of side towels. Sound silly, well then, let me explain.
I have worked in a ten million dollar a year operation and about a two million dollar a year operation. In both there were efforts by every cook to hide towels to ensure that there was always an availability of towels. You see, Faster Linen, which is the one which we used at both Reservation and Without Reservation, charges an arm and a leg for towels. Quite literally. As such, a seemingly appropriate number of towels would be ordered, but because of hording, come certain days it would be like searching for the Holy Grail to find towels. I know that this may seem trivial to you as people that do not operate inside a professional kitchen, but it is far from trivial, cooks use towels for all sorts of things. To illustrate;
We need towels to handle hot pans, remove things from the oven, wipe down plates and dishes that we are serving, to wipe our hands, to hold our cutting boards in place, to dry certain ingredients, to place between ingredients. I mean the list of things that we use towels for is truly, quite endless.
One of my great joys at The Club is that Towels are NEVER an issue. The club always has a ready supply of side towels because it takes used towels from all over the club, rips them up appropriately and makes them our side towels. It truly is like Manna from heaven Towel Paradise. And I could not be happier.
At Without Reservation, Faster Linen would come twice a week and would deliver far less than we required. I make no judgments but I can tell you that between Tuesday and Friday, either late Wednesday or early Thursday finding a towel was like finding an answer to peace in the Middle East. I shit you not. It literally was. And now at The Club it might as well rain towels because I never have to walk more than six or seven feet to find a fresh one. Such a great feeling. And is quite a distinction in the world of cooks. You don’t need to accept what I’m saying at face value, look at Bourdain, Ramsay, White and Blumenthal, somewhere in their stories of their journey is one of a lack of side towels.
I have a lot on my brain recently. Well, no, actually, ALL THE TIME! I find myself now considering, as I have pointed out here, the possibility of traveling to learn new cuisines in order to enhance offerings at The Club. I am still a ways away from asking but it is on my mind.
I have a few other things that I am considering currently, but, it is too early to let you in on it.
Are you dreaming big and inspired. I know that I end my posts this way and lately I have been saying how can I help you. I am not saying this just to say it. If you have an idea and need to work it out, I am here for you. The greatest gift I gave myself is pursuing my dreams honestly, with my eyes and ears open, to be the me that I know I am. If I can help you, I am not hard to find. Please do.
Harriet Tubman once said; “Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.” I know, just as I do, you all have it within you. DREAM ON! DREAM BIG! DREAM INSPIRED!
A la prochaine
SDM
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Life has a funny way (file under Kismet, Karma and True to You)
My friends I hope this finds you truly inspired. Ready for what you have in store for yourself. Have you been thinking about your dreams? Where you want to go? How you might get there? I sure have, I spend every minute, pondering what the next step is while always making sure I pay attention to the current one (you know, left foot, right foot thing) so that I don’t fall flat on my face.
Making the move to The Club is the best move I have ever made in my life. It was an informed decision brought on by a conversation I had with a friend. A friend who was caring enough to ask exactly what I hoped to achieve. After listening to what I wanted he said that I should go this route. And, as is often the case, I listen to those I know to be able to give me informed advice.
Today my head was spinning. I have so much going on. Seemingly all at once. But when I stop to consider it for a moment I realize that what is going on today is the result of hard work, sacrifice, perseverance, character and drive. It is the result of people having patience, caring, support and understanding for me. I mean truly for me, who I am and what I hope to achieve in my life. I thank each and every one of you for having the bravery to be my friends and confidants. I assure you, the best is yet to come.
Life has a funny way of having things creep up on you that you didn’t quite expect. Or maybe you did but you couldn’t have conceived of it in a meaningful way in order to express it to the world. I have been noticing that the more I do each day in the pursuit of my dreams the more the world opens up to me. It is as if a Karmic force is bringing all kinds of goodness to me which I in turn repay to the universe or Karmic force to the best of my abilities.
I have a lot going through my mind right now. I’m in the present, considering both the past and the future. Knowing that I have come so far yet have so much further to go. Yet I accept that universal truth as a beautiful understanding between me and whatever maker is out there.
At work today I had to prepare more of the Fish Bistro (Coconut Tilapia with Spicy Apricot Marmalade). That means that since Thursday we have gone through forty or fifty pounds that amounts to about one hundred or so portions. I could not be more thrilled.
Tomorrows Pizza is a Pesto Shrimp while the pasta is a Whole Wheat Penne with Spinach, Shallot and Mushroom in a lemon scented cream sauce.
The best is yet to come my friends. My culinary journey began a while back but I feel that I am really beginning to find my stride. Or at least the beginning of one. And that excites me. It makes me feel whole. It makes me proud that I am a part of many peoples days in a meaningful way and I am richer for it.
What about you? What’s your dream? How can I help you get there? Are you ready? I am.
Napoleon Bonaparte once said; “Those who have changed the universe have never done it by changing officials, but always by inspiring the people.”
Are you dreaming big and inspired?
A la prochaine
SDM
Making the move to The Club is the best move I have ever made in my life. It was an informed decision brought on by a conversation I had with a friend. A friend who was caring enough to ask exactly what I hoped to achieve. After listening to what I wanted he said that I should go this route. And, as is often the case, I listen to those I know to be able to give me informed advice.
Today my head was spinning. I have so much going on. Seemingly all at once. But when I stop to consider it for a moment I realize that what is going on today is the result of hard work, sacrifice, perseverance, character and drive. It is the result of people having patience, caring, support and understanding for me. I mean truly for me, who I am and what I hope to achieve in my life. I thank each and every one of you for having the bravery to be my friends and confidants. I assure you, the best is yet to come.
Life has a funny way of having things creep up on you that you didn’t quite expect. Or maybe you did but you couldn’t have conceived of it in a meaningful way in order to express it to the world. I have been noticing that the more I do each day in the pursuit of my dreams the more the world opens up to me. It is as if a Karmic force is bringing all kinds of goodness to me which I in turn repay to the universe or Karmic force to the best of my abilities.
I have a lot going through my mind right now. I’m in the present, considering both the past and the future. Knowing that I have come so far yet have so much further to go. Yet I accept that universal truth as a beautiful understanding between me and whatever maker is out there.
At work today I had to prepare more of the Fish Bistro (Coconut Tilapia with Spicy Apricot Marmalade). That means that since Thursday we have gone through forty or fifty pounds that amounts to about one hundred or so portions. I could not be more thrilled.
Tomorrows Pizza is a Pesto Shrimp while the pasta is a Whole Wheat Penne with Spinach, Shallot and Mushroom in a lemon scented cream sauce.
The best is yet to come my friends. My culinary journey began a while back but I feel that I am really beginning to find my stride. Or at least the beginning of one. And that excites me. It makes me feel whole. It makes me proud that I am a part of many peoples days in a meaningful way and I am richer for it.
What about you? What’s your dream? How can I help you get there? Are you ready? I am.
Napoleon Bonaparte once said; “Those who have changed the universe have never done it by changing officials, but always by inspiring the people.”
Are you dreaming big and inspired?
A la prochaine
SDM
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Today (file under AMAZING YET AGAIN)
I believe it was Deepak Chopra that said; “There are no extra pieces in the universe. Everyone is here because he or she has a place to fill, and every piece must fit itself into the big jigsaw puzzle.” Today another piece presented itself to me and I am excited and pleased to have been thought of.
Work was awesome. I had a great day there. The specials for tomorrow are a Cheeseburger Pizza with Onions, Ground Beef and Four Cheese Mix. The pasta is Cavatappi with Broccoli, Leek and Prosciutto.
I have always believed that I was put on this earth for a reason. I have further believed that as long as I survived the tough times, eventually, it would become clear. Another piece dropped today. A piece that allows me to continue doing what I am doing beautifully and wonderfully. And I could not be more thrilled.
One day at a time. Each better than the last. Dreams are built on the foundation of hard work, purpose and understanding. My dreams are my every thing. I dreamed of my love and she is now here. I dreamed of a life that was on my terms and it seems to be availing itself to me. I dreamed of doing something more than just filling a neat little box. My dreams are my salvation. And I feel, every day, that I stand on the precipice, inching ever closer, to my nirvana.
Today was yet another amazing day and I am TRULY HUMBLED AND GRATEFUL FOR IT!
Dostoyevsky once wrote; “We sometimes encounter people, even perfect strangers, who begin to interest us at first sight, somehow suddenly, all at once, before a word has been spoken.” Have you encountered such a person?
After work today I rollerbladed downtown (about twenty five km today) to have a meeting with an old friend. It was a great meeting and revealed to me that the world is truly moved by those who have the balls to take the first step.
Are you dreaming big and inspired?
A la prochaine
SDM
Work was awesome. I had a great day there. The specials for tomorrow are a Cheeseburger Pizza with Onions, Ground Beef and Four Cheese Mix. The pasta is Cavatappi with Broccoli, Leek and Prosciutto.
I have always believed that I was put on this earth for a reason. I have further believed that as long as I survived the tough times, eventually, it would become clear. Another piece dropped today. A piece that allows me to continue doing what I am doing beautifully and wonderfully. And I could not be more thrilled.
One day at a time. Each better than the last. Dreams are built on the foundation of hard work, purpose and understanding. My dreams are my every thing. I dreamed of my love and she is now here. I dreamed of a life that was on my terms and it seems to be availing itself to me. I dreamed of doing something more than just filling a neat little box. My dreams are my salvation. And I feel, every day, that I stand on the precipice, inching ever closer, to my nirvana.
Today was yet another amazing day and I am TRULY HUMBLED AND GRATEFUL FOR IT!
Dostoyevsky once wrote; “We sometimes encounter people, even perfect strangers, who begin to interest us at first sight, somehow suddenly, all at once, before a word has been spoken.” Have you encountered such a person?
After work today I rollerbladed downtown (about twenty five km today) to have a meeting with an old friend. It was a great meeting and revealed to me that the world is truly moved by those who have the balls to take the first step.
Are you dreaming big and inspired?
A la prochaine
SDM
Monday, May 4, 2009
Purpose (file under Working toward a defined goal)
I have been giving a lot of thought to life recently. I have found myself reconnecting with people from a very tumultuous time in my life. Kind of like the narrator in Fight Club says; “You met me at a very strange time in my life.” I have spent a lot of time trying to define myself in terms that are comfortable to me rather than the world at large. I longed for as long as I can remember to fit neatly into that box (whatever that box was) so that I could be normal. However, I’ve come to realize, I am not normal, and that is far from a bad thing. I think the biggest problem I had was trying to grapple with how I can make peoples day better each and every day. And believe me I have tried everything under the sun to try and achieve this goal. And then I finally stopped fighting with myself and allowed myself to do exactly what I felt I should; join a professional kitchen.
Yesterday I wrote about serendipity and how at just the right moment in my life it has blessed me with its beautiful contributions. Today I am expanding on that by talking about my life purpose.
Paulo Coelho once said; “But there is suffering in life, and there are defeats. No one can avoid them. But it's better to lose some of the battles in the struggles for your dreams than to be defeated without ever knowing what you're fighting for.” I have lost many battles in my life. But now as I define and refine my purpose and how I am going to achieve it I am finding that the world is my oyster. And so too can it be yours!
Today, important word here, TODAY, I am finally putting to paper in a meaningful way what my plan is for the next few years. In it I am detailing what I hope to achieve, how I hope to achieve it, plans for my restaurant and all the things that that entails. I am taking the conceptual steps necessary to make sure that every day I am actively pursuing my dreams AND limiting by that writing the mistakes that I will make which usually are the result (at least in this case) of poorly defined goals and metrics.
I am thrilled that I have found myself in the enviable position that I am in. I am loving my job. Loving the work. Loving the creative aspects of what I do. Loving service and serving people. I make peoples day better each and every day and it leaves me filled with wonder, awe and inspiration. It allows me to be the me that I know I am and the me that so many of you have had the courage to be in relationship with over all these years of struggle. But I assure you, it has not been in vain, for it is time to say WATCH OUT WORLD… Ready or not… here I come.
Dr. Seuss (one of my all time favourites) once wrote; “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. You are the guy who'll decide where to go.”
For the longest time I looked at the brain in my head as a double edged sword. Both a blessing and a curse. As long as I can remember, perhaps as early as fourteen, I recognized this as a personal truth. NOW, in this moment, I realize and have taken action to affirm, that I am in control of my brain and not the other way around.
Cautionary note; PLEASE DO NOT SEE THIS AS ARROGANCE or AN OVERSTATED PERSONAL RECOGNITION. As it is not. I have been told that I have too much brains for my own good my entire life. By people I love and admire and by people that would call themselves much less than my friends. I recall, a few years back a friend (through politics) of mine had said to me while we were out drinking on a Thursday night; “We are going to get you there in spite of yourself.” Expanding upon this thought, which at the time was troubling to me, I now realize that I am getting there. It comes from the personal realization that I need only satisfy my own insatiable desires (as well as my C’s). As Virginia Satir said; “I am me and I am okay.” Being comfortable with this has freed me from the bonds of conformity. It has liberated my spirit and my drive. It has made me see that I am what I am and I am in control of that.
Thus today is a beautiful day for me. Through my liberation I have found a boundless source of energy, passion, spirit and drive. It feeds my soul and lifts me up to ever new and lofty heights. So without further ado you must excuse me as I finally put fingers to keyboard to record the map of my next few years in as much detail as I humanly can.
But before I go, I entreat you, find that voice inside of you, the good one not the bad one, allow it to lift you up to where you want to be. WORK TOWARDS it EVERYDAY and I can assure you, with one hundred percent certainty, if you are willing to work your ass off YOU WILL GET THERE. What are you waiting for? What’s your dream? What’s your purpose? WHAT WILL MAKE YOU HAPPY EACH AND EVERYDAY and what can I DO TO HELP YOU? Asking questions and for help are two of the most important things that will help you on your way. I’m here anytime. LIVE LIFE TO THE FULLEST and only YOU can define what that means.
Walt Disney once said; “All the adversity I've had in my life, all my troubles and obstacles, have strengthened me... You may not realize it when it happens, but a kick in the teeth may be the best thing in the world for you.”
Are you dreaming big and inspired?
A la prochaine
SDM
Yesterday I wrote about serendipity and how at just the right moment in my life it has blessed me with its beautiful contributions. Today I am expanding on that by talking about my life purpose.
Paulo Coelho once said; “But there is suffering in life, and there are defeats. No one can avoid them. But it's better to lose some of the battles in the struggles for your dreams than to be defeated without ever knowing what you're fighting for.” I have lost many battles in my life. But now as I define and refine my purpose and how I am going to achieve it I am finding that the world is my oyster. And so too can it be yours!
Today, important word here, TODAY, I am finally putting to paper in a meaningful way what my plan is for the next few years. In it I am detailing what I hope to achieve, how I hope to achieve it, plans for my restaurant and all the things that that entails. I am taking the conceptual steps necessary to make sure that every day I am actively pursuing my dreams AND limiting by that writing the mistakes that I will make which usually are the result (at least in this case) of poorly defined goals and metrics.
I am thrilled that I have found myself in the enviable position that I am in. I am loving my job. Loving the work. Loving the creative aspects of what I do. Loving service and serving people. I make peoples day better each and every day and it leaves me filled with wonder, awe and inspiration. It allows me to be the me that I know I am and the me that so many of you have had the courage to be in relationship with over all these years of struggle. But I assure you, it has not been in vain, for it is time to say WATCH OUT WORLD… Ready or not… here I come.
Dr. Seuss (one of my all time favourites) once wrote; “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. You are the guy who'll decide where to go.”
For the longest time I looked at the brain in my head as a double edged sword. Both a blessing and a curse. As long as I can remember, perhaps as early as fourteen, I recognized this as a personal truth. NOW, in this moment, I realize and have taken action to affirm, that I am in control of my brain and not the other way around.
Cautionary note; PLEASE DO NOT SEE THIS AS ARROGANCE or AN OVERSTATED PERSONAL RECOGNITION. As it is not. I have been told that I have too much brains for my own good my entire life. By people I love and admire and by people that would call themselves much less than my friends. I recall, a few years back a friend (through politics) of mine had said to me while we were out drinking on a Thursday night; “We are going to get you there in spite of yourself.” Expanding upon this thought, which at the time was troubling to me, I now realize that I am getting there. It comes from the personal realization that I need only satisfy my own insatiable desires (as well as my C’s). As Virginia Satir said; “I am me and I am okay.” Being comfortable with this has freed me from the bonds of conformity. It has liberated my spirit and my drive. It has made me see that I am what I am and I am in control of that.
Thus today is a beautiful day for me. Through my liberation I have found a boundless source of energy, passion, spirit and drive. It feeds my soul and lifts me up to ever new and lofty heights. So without further ado you must excuse me as I finally put fingers to keyboard to record the map of my next few years in as much detail as I humanly can.
But before I go, I entreat you, find that voice inside of you, the good one not the bad one, allow it to lift you up to where you want to be. WORK TOWARDS it EVERYDAY and I can assure you, with one hundred percent certainty, if you are willing to work your ass off YOU WILL GET THERE. What are you waiting for? What’s your dream? What’s your purpose? WHAT WILL MAKE YOU HAPPY EACH AND EVERYDAY and what can I DO TO HELP YOU? Asking questions and for help are two of the most important things that will help you on your way. I’m here anytime. LIVE LIFE TO THE FULLEST and only YOU can define what that means.
Walt Disney once said; “All the adversity I've had in my life, all my troubles and obstacles, have strengthened me... You may not realize it when it happens, but a kick in the teeth may be the best thing in the world for you.”
Are you dreaming big and inspired?
A la prochaine
SDM
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Serendipity (file under My Life is Chalk Full of IT)
Henry David Thoreau once wrote; “I learned this, at least, by my experiment: that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavours to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours. He will put some things behind, will pass an invisible boundary; new, universal, and more liberal laws will begin to establish themselves around and within him; or the old laws be expanded, and interpreted in his favour in a more liberal sense, and he will live with the license of a higher order of beings. In proportion as he simplifies his life, the laws of the universe will appear less complex, and solitude will not be solitude, nor poverty poverty, nor weakness weakness. If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them.”
I embarked on this journey approximately 435 days ago. That amount to 10,440 hours, 626,400 Minutes or 37,584,000 seconds. This journey is not an easy one. In fact, it is one that I’m sure (though not myself) many have considered, have dipped their toe in, and have decided to forego because the path was uneven, rough and even painful at points. Every day, every minute, every second that has passed has revealed more of myself to me. Every one of those incredible numbers has brought me closer to a deeply personal revelation, a deeper and personal understanding of the reason for my life. It has made me feel like I am a man, searching, finding and then searching again, for the answers that have long haunted me. I believe, as the Thoreau quote above states quite plainly, that my decision, has brought me to a paradigm shift in my own life, one that I could not imagine a short few years ago, AND THE BEST PART IS, that it is the result of a fervent desire to be happy on a daily basis.
I have now worked for three restaurants in my professional cooking career. I have toiled, sweated, bled, cried, slept on floors, been up at ungodly hours, worked myself to the bone and all of it, every second, is what lead me to here.
When I met the love of my life, C, I knew instantly that there was no other woman for me. That she HAD to be my wife. That my life, had led me to her and that in a moment of unusual clarity, I knew, I had to do everything in my power to ensure that she became the woman I would spend the rest of my life with. In my humble and learned opinion, so too, was my decision to join a kitchen.
This post results from conversations that I have been having lately with members at The Club, people that know me well, friends and family, new and old and people who don’t know me from Adam. The same feeling that came over me when I first saw C, and literally I mean saw, I didn’t even now her name, is the same feeling that I had the first time I picked up my very own Mac Knife. It felt right. No, it was more, it felt like I was meant to hold one my entire life and that I had spent most of my life, fighting with myself. Fortunately however, I did make that decision, to enter a kitchen and I have not looked back since.
Many times I have expressed that it is my fervent desire and dedicated goal to have my own restaurant by the time I am 40. This gives me 2078 days, 49879 hours, 2,992,754 or 1,795,565,266 seconds as of the writing of this post. I know at least in broad strokes what it will look like. I know for certain the name. I have an inkling as to the food. But, I feel, for the first time in my life, that my decisions are being based in a grounded way, in making that a reality.
For the past few weeks I have been having great conversations with Members early in the morning. Apparently they have been asking Executive Chef about me as well and my political experience came up today. I spoke candidly, but guardedly, about my experiences. One of the questions I got was what was the best line I ever wrote politically. It took me a moment and I had to go out and smoke before I could answer the question. I came back and said to Mr. S that while this was not for a politician it was my favourite line; “I have used illiteracy and crack with the same force of destruction as I have an M-16.” Without hesitation he held out his hand and said something to the effect of; “Fucking incredible.” He asked about my other experiences and I was open, still guarded, but open and told him. I told him I had climbed into Trash Compactors and cleaned them in order to live. I told him that I have done many things that most people would not as I felt that my survival was more important that what I did. I’d always felt that way and always would.
I told him a bit about my family. About where I’d come from. About my Mother and her mission in Malawi with www.lifelinemalawi.com. About my brothers and sisters. My impending wedding etc. He and another at the table asked if they could come. To which I said it was going to be in Cuba. He said great. And then asked if he could pay for the flowers.
I should point out that all of this took place over two conversations this morning and took a total of less than ten minutes. He then asked about my restaurant and I told him I wasn’t there yet. I had told him the other morning that I was using my experience at The Club as a test kitchen for my eventual restaurant which he loved. Today he took it one step further and said that he and another gentlemen sitting at the table would be very upset if I did not give them an audience and the right of first refusal to be investors, “the investors,” in my restaurant. I’m sure I was blushing at this point. I assured him I would definitely give him an audience. He asked if I had given any thought to the name and when I told him the name he again lifted his hand and laughing hysterically repeated his request. I assured him when the time was right, but that for now, I had to continue doing what I was doing at The Club.
So how does all of this lead to the title of the post?
As is stated much better than I ever could in Thoreau’s quote; “that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavours to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.” I never dreamed that The Club would lead to someone taking an active interest in me. I never expected to meet someone humble and interested in the world around them. I did however expect to grow as a cook. To expand my offerings! To work towards the realization of my dreams. And now I feel that all I need to do is to continue doing what I am. AND IT IS SO EASY! My passion shows, my love of food shows, my character is an asset for the first time in my life and not a detriment.
I have found a calmness I have never known in my life. A joy that is seldom experienced, by anyone, let alone myself. And I am a richer, more wealthy, happier and more directed person for it.
All I can say is watch out world. I’m here and there is even more to come. Are you ready?
Antoine de Saint- Exupery once wrote; “If you want to build a ship, don't herd people together to collect wood and don't assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea.” And I think I am…
Are you dreaming big and inspired?
A la prochaine
SDM
I embarked on this journey approximately 435 days ago. That amount to 10,440 hours, 626,400 Minutes or 37,584,000 seconds. This journey is not an easy one. In fact, it is one that I’m sure (though not myself) many have considered, have dipped their toe in, and have decided to forego because the path was uneven, rough and even painful at points. Every day, every minute, every second that has passed has revealed more of myself to me. Every one of those incredible numbers has brought me closer to a deeply personal revelation, a deeper and personal understanding of the reason for my life. It has made me feel like I am a man, searching, finding and then searching again, for the answers that have long haunted me. I believe, as the Thoreau quote above states quite plainly, that my decision, has brought me to a paradigm shift in my own life, one that I could not imagine a short few years ago, AND THE BEST PART IS, that it is the result of a fervent desire to be happy on a daily basis.
I have now worked for three restaurants in my professional cooking career. I have toiled, sweated, bled, cried, slept on floors, been up at ungodly hours, worked myself to the bone and all of it, every second, is what lead me to here.
When I met the love of my life, C, I knew instantly that there was no other woman for me. That she HAD to be my wife. That my life, had led me to her and that in a moment of unusual clarity, I knew, I had to do everything in my power to ensure that she became the woman I would spend the rest of my life with. In my humble and learned opinion, so too, was my decision to join a kitchen.
This post results from conversations that I have been having lately with members at The Club, people that know me well, friends and family, new and old and people who don’t know me from Adam. The same feeling that came over me when I first saw C, and literally I mean saw, I didn’t even now her name, is the same feeling that I had the first time I picked up my very own Mac Knife. It felt right. No, it was more, it felt like I was meant to hold one my entire life and that I had spent most of my life, fighting with myself. Fortunately however, I did make that decision, to enter a kitchen and I have not looked back since.
Many times I have expressed that it is my fervent desire and dedicated goal to have my own restaurant by the time I am 40. This gives me 2078 days, 49879 hours, 2,992,754 or 1,795,565,266 seconds as of the writing of this post. I know at least in broad strokes what it will look like. I know for certain the name. I have an inkling as to the food. But, I feel, for the first time in my life, that my decisions are being based in a grounded way, in making that a reality.
For the past few weeks I have been having great conversations with Members early in the morning. Apparently they have been asking Executive Chef about me as well and my political experience came up today. I spoke candidly, but guardedly, about my experiences. One of the questions I got was what was the best line I ever wrote politically. It took me a moment and I had to go out and smoke before I could answer the question. I came back and said to Mr. S that while this was not for a politician it was my favourite line; “I have used illiteracy and crack with the same force of destruction as I have an M-16.” Without hesitation he held out his hand and said something to the effect of; “Fucking incredible.” He asked about my other experiences and I was open, still guarded, but open and told him. I told him I had climbed into Trash Compactors and cleaned them in order to live. I told him that I have done many things that most people would not as I felt that my survival was more important that what I did. I’d always felt that way and always would.
I told him a bit about my family. About where I’d come from. About my Mother and her mission in Malawi with www.lifelinemalawi.com. About my brothers and sisters. My impending wedding etc. He and another at the table asked if they could come. To which I said it was going to be in Cuba. He said great. And then asked if he could pay for the flowers.
I should point out that all of this took place over two conversations this morning and took a total of less than ten minutes. He then asked about my restaurant and I told him I wasn’t there yet. I had told him the other morning that I was using my experience at The Club as a test kitchen for my eventual restaurant which he loved. Today he took it one step further and said that he and another gentlemen sitting at the table would be very upset if I did not give them an audience and the right of first refusal to be investors, “the investors,” in my restaurant. I’m sure I was blushing at this point. I assured him I would definitely give him an audience. He asked if I had given any thought to the name and when I told him the name he again lifted his hand and laughing hysterically repeated his request. I assured him when the time was right, but that for now, I had to continue doing what I was doing at The Club.
So how does all of this lead to the title of the post?
As is stated much better than I ever could in Thoreau’s quote; “that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavours to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.” I never dreamed that The Club would lead to someone taking an active interest in me. I never expected to meet someone humble and interested in the world around them. I did however expect to grow as a cook. To expand my offerings! To work towards the realization of my dreams. And now I feel that all I need to do is to continue doing what I am. AND IT IS SO EASY! My passion shows, my love of food shows, my character is an asset for the first time in my life and not a detriment.
I have found a calmness I have never known in my life. A joy that is seldom experienced, by anyone, let alone myself. And I am a richer, more wealthy, happier and more directed person for it.
All I can say is watch out world. I’m here and there is even more to come. Are you ready?
Antoine de Saint- Exupery once wrote; “If you want to build a ship, don't herd people together to collect wood and don't assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea.” And I think I am…
Are you dreaming big and inspired?
A la prochaine
SDM
Another Great Day (file under feel like Dancin)
This is a brief post to say that today was another wonderful day. It feels nice to have found my stride at work and to feel that I actually belong. I think that my decision to avoid the politics of the club, both for employees and members, was a great decision and that it will serve me well. It eliminates the bullshit. It provides clarity of purpose and a steady direction to go in.
The specials for tomorrow are a Philly Cheese steak Pizza with Steak, Swiss cheese, Caramelized Onions and Peppers. The pasta special is a Farfalle Bolognaise.
The Pad Thai Special that I created for today was flying like hotcakes when I left. I had sold seven before I left today. I did have to take that with a grain of salt as one of the members sent it back claiming that it was; “tasteless.” To my mind there is no greater insult that one can say to a cook then their food is tasteless. But I did take it with a grain of salt as the Day Manager grabbed the dish and started eating it right away. He is a celiac and so this is the first dish I’ve made that he could eat. NEEDLESS to say, he did not find it tasteless. And, I, who had it for lunch, did not find it tasteless either.
But, just to put it in perspective, so that you understand, I got a complaint the other day because the toast that I sent out (Rye) was to “hole-y”. And NO I AM NOT KIDDING!
At first I was upset and then I realized that I can please some of the people most of the time but not all of the people all of the time. Part of the growing experience.
I have another post following this one which explains why I had such a great day.
Thich Naht Hahn once said; “Hope is important because it can make the present moment less difficult to bear. If we believe that tomorrow will be better, we can bear a hardship today.”
Are you dreaming big and inspired? START… right… NOW.
A la prochaine
SDM
The specials for tomorrow are a Philly Cheese steak Pizza with Steak, Swiss cheese, Caramelized Onions and Peppers. The pasta special is a Farfalle Bolognaise.
The Pad Thai Special that I created for today was flying like hotcakes when I left. I had sold seven before I left today. I did have to take that with a grain of salt as one of the members sent it back claiming that it was; “tasteless.” To my mind there is no greater insult that one can say to a cook then their food is tasteless. But I did take it with a grain of salt as the Day Manager grabbed the dish and started eating it right away. He is a celiac and so this is the first dish I’ve made that he could eat. NEEDLESS to say, he did not find it tasteless. And, I, who had it for lunch, did not find it tasteless either.
But, just to put it in perspective, so that you understand, I got a complaint the other day because the toast that I sent out (Rye) was to “hole-y”. And NO I AM NOT KIDDING!
At first I was upset and then I realized that I can please some of the people most of the time but not all of the people all of the time. Part of the growing experience.
I have another post following this one which explains why I had such a great day.
Thich Naht Hahn once said; “Hope is important because it can make the present moment less difficult to bear. If we believe that tomorrow will be better, we can bear a hardship today.”
Are you dreaming big and inspired? START… right… NOW.
A la prochaine
SDM
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