Why? Cooking in the Restaurant Industry

When I was a kid, biscuits and molasses were always on the table for lunch at Grandpa's house. It's pretty ironic that my restaurant career has involved concepts that prominently feature biscuits on their menu. Don't even get me started on my Grandma Janet's dressing or my sister's chili.

Cooking in the restaurant industry isn't for the faint of heart. There is always a story behind what goes on a plate. When I work with chefs new to the industry, the first question I ask is, "Why are you doing this?".

Thank you to Food Network for showing us the best case scenario of the industry. I mean it. That final moment of the show is what hooks us in after a long dance with the fantasy of what it would be like to wear a chef hat in a busy kitchen. Pixar fans know it too—even Chef Gusteau of Ratatouille gets some credit for putting the seed of classic French cooking in kid's heads.

That said, we all know that short burst of fame is not our identity in this industry. Food is a part of who we are. From the traditions of pig pickings at my grandparent's house—if you're from the South you know what I'm talking about—to my dad mastering his mom's unforgettable Thanksgiving dressing, its undeniable that these experiences have more of an effect on me than first time I watched Alton Brown. I still can taste Grandma Janet's red velvet cake.

Sitting with my homeboy who's fresh in the industry, I asked who his family was. What are his roots and why have they grounded him here? When he revealed they were German, a light went off in his head—the inspiration, the muse, the story that guides so many chefs. That nugget of information gave him ideas on how to honor his family with his food—imbuing a simple meal with rich meaning.

It took me to having dinner with my Mother in law and our family in Epcot. We went to their German restaurant for a meal with three generations of around the same table. She cried with joy from sharing a meal that took her to back to childhood and her family's cooking. Thats priceless.

Never forget why you do what you do. I guarantee there's generations of people who gave you the inital seed of love that grew into this real passion. Believe That.