Frustration

You cannot let it get to you.  Often times frustration gets to me.  As we have been working through dishes in a new kitchen more failures than successes have occurred.  We've talked about the need for practice and rehearsal in cooking so that when dishes must be executed, they are the best they can be.  Yet these past few days, recipes we have written, rehearsed, tested, and tasted are failing.  We are not doing anything differently, we are just doing them in a different environment, and still the recipes fall flat.  Intellectually I know the importance of cutting bait and moving on.  At times like these Aki may indulge me even when she feels that I have waited too long to cut my losses. Frankly, even when things aren't working, it's hard for me to abandon the previously tried and true. Four combined attempts later I finally had to admit defeat.

Where does that leave us?  Testing new ideas in a place where we have learned more than we anticipated. Read: failed way more than we anticipated.  Still we were able to dust ourselves off and carry on. It dawned on me yet again that working with others and being surrounded by passionate individuals is essential in the process of learning and improving. The inspiration of your peers can push you past failure to eventual success.

This weekend we are very lucky to be working in a kitchen filled with passionate individuals who really care about food and cooking. (And it boasts a well stocked pantry to boot.)  Now with tools in hand we must move beyond trivial frustrations and work towards creating and executing tasty food. That's what tomorrow's dinner is all about. With a little help from some friends and fellow cooks, we know that we can make it happen.

Comments

[allen]

I love you guys web site and it gives me inspiration and ideas. I am wondering if you miss working with others to think off their ideas. I know the guys at McCradys and they are incredible. Sean is lucky and well deserving to have such a great staff. I always think how great it would be to do what you guys are doing, but then I wonder if you are missing out on working with others and where that could lead you(on a day to day basis). Just a thought brought on by your post. Thanks for bringing inspiration to everyone.

[John Paul Khoury]

Thanks for the encouragement. The moving on after failure is a little tougher than basquing in success but the lessons learned are sometimes greater.

[Mitch L.]

I have no doubt tomorrow will be a great success, Im honored to be able to take part in working with you guys, cant wait.

[chadzilla]

I'm always into your postings, but this one really hits home. Every word I read from the first paragraph sounds like it could be my autobiography. Just keep on pushing through.
You posted something a long time ago that I printed out with a little P-touch label maker and stuck to the wall in our chef office... "every failure is an unrealized success."
Who said that?
You did.
Those words keep me going when the word frustration isn't enough to describe the sensations of doubt running through my veins. Overcoming this obstacle will definitely put you on a higher level.

[Michael Natkin]

I'm not sure who said it, but so true: "experience is what you get when you did not get what you wanted"