You have it "here" but not "there".
You’ll never be a chef.
I heard those words February 18th, 1999.
I was taking Patisserie II, at the Southern Albertan Institute for Technology. I had just aced yet another written theory exam, then totally bombed the practical part.
Frickin chocolate mousse. Frickin crème brulée. Frickin macadamia cookie crisps.
No matter what I did, I just could not get it down. The mousse refused to set. I splashed water on the crème brulée while putting them in the oven. I burnt the macadamia cookie crisps.
The pastry chef, (whose name I forget) was a woman high up in the hierarchy of the culinary profession in Alberta. She was on the board of advisory for the red seal examination. In all, she was what stood between me and my diploma of cooking.
I remember her telling me that I should have gone into engineering, or accounting. I had the smarts enough to listen in class, and ace the theory exams. Hell, I didn’t even study. I rarely took notes, except when the chef told us something was going to be on the exam, or on the government exam.
As soon as I touched the practical part, it all turned to poo.
She pointed a finger at her head, told me I had it “there”, then pointed to her hands, and told me I didn’t have it “there”.
Well lady, screw you.
I became a chef. I made it when everyone else in my class failed later on. I made it because I wanted to. Nothing stopped me from my goal.
Oh, I messed a lot of things along the way. I also learned from my mistakes, and never repeated them. I learned what it was like to really screw up something, then took the lesson to heart.
I apply this theory in all aspects of life. I learned the French language the same way. I screwed it up a lot, but I learned.
I think that we give up too easy in this society. We are simply told that we are not capable, so we should just give up.
You have diabetes? Poor you. You should just accept the fact that you are probably never going to control your blood sugar, then lose your toes, legs and life in the end. You won’t be able to see, have a heart attack, and boy, your life sucks.
See, it is too hard to maintain control. You need to follow what we say, it’s easier that way. The other way takes too much work. Besides, you aren’t smart enough.
Bullshit.
You are smart enough, and tough enough. You have grit, and you can do it.
Decide what you want, take control over whatever it is, and just FUCKING do it. Don’t listen to the naysayers. That is too easy. Nothing worth anything in life is easily gained. Resistance breeds strength.
Here is to you chef patisserie. You were partially right. I did only have it in my head once, but I learned, and now I am good BOTH with my hands and head. A dangerous combination.
Photo courtesy of maccun934 of Flickr under CC by Attribution 2.0
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yes you are that good. amen chef.