18/09/2026
Not everything hits everytime, or for everybody for that matter. Some dishes you can tell were conceptually interesting but maybe didn't hit their mark. I think there's something to be said for the idea of "play" in the creative process. One of my favorite chefs Davin Waite is one of those people that I admire greatly, because he has the courage to try things that don't necessarily always become my new favorite dish. I think you need to have things not always pan out if you want to really push limits and boundaries, and I attribute that optimism in the face of breaking new ground as a necessary kernel in his success.
I hope I'm never afraid of breaking new ground in my endeavors. Keeping things playful, having fun with the process is when we find new ways of doing things or new tools that become our favorites. I'll always remember the time that Davin was breaking down a 300+ lb tuna and I goaded him on to remove the head with the thinner santoku he had of mine. He would never had done that had I not encouraged him, and when the edge broke I laughed as I saw his disappointment. But I reshaped that knife for him, and our experimentation led to a unique shape and that knife is still one of his favorites. I'm so glad we failed together so we could find success in the aftermath.
