Some understanding can only be developed by crossing boundaries or shifting context. For example, imagine studying a foreign language. You come across a word that doesn’t have a direct translation. What process do you go through to figure out what it means?
Read MoreArchive
Advice
Conferences can be expensive to attend. First you have to register. Then, for many, you have to pay for travel and hotel. Being at such an event can be a fantastic way to meet like-minded professionals or hobbyists. However, if you are pinching pennies, there are ways to glean tips and information from such meetings without spending money. One is to find out if the conference has an official Twitter hashtag.
Read MoreFlavors intrigue me. That’s what got me into restaurant work in the first place. I’ve spent much of the past decade learning about and tasting wine in order to pair it with food. It took a little longer for that interest to spur me to experiment with cooking in my own kitchen.
The idea of making something as simple as a salad used to paralyze me with uncertainty. Some of my early forays into making up my own recipes were disasters: mushy pasta, broken sauces and dressings, or entrees with serious seasoning problems. Being around chefs taught me some valuable lessons.
Read More
