In this blog post, I am combining two separate drafts that I had previously written. The first was based on a video I watched recently by René Redzepi, Executive Chef at NOMA, considered by many to be the best restaurant in the world. The second draft was a quote by Gustave Flaubert: “the art of writing is the art of discovering what you believe.”
Redzepi’s talk centered on three transformative moments that defined his culinary career. One story that particularly stood out to me was how he turned an ugly, misshapen carrot into a beautiful and delicious dish by treating it with the same care and attention as he would a prized cut of meat. Redzepi’s philosophy celebrates “time and place in Nordic cuisine,” emphasizing foraging and local ingredients. During the talk, he passed around plates of pickled rose petals and ramp buds for the audience to sample. Despite his reputation as a world-class chef, Redzepi came across as humble and approachable during the Q&A session that followed.
When someone asked Redzepi for advice on becoming a successful chef, he gave a simple but powerful response: “Know why you cook.” This statement struck a chord with me and reminded me of Flaubert’s quote about the art of writing being the art of discovering what you believe.
At first glance, these two ideas may seem contradictory – one suggesting that you should have a clear purpose before starting, while the other proposes that you can discover your purpose as you go. However, upon reflection, I realized that the two ideas are complementary. You cannot truly know why you cook, write, or pursue any passion unless you actively engage in it. At the same time, it is essential to reflect on your purpose and beliefs to fully realize your potential.
When I was going through my blog posts today, this phrase for some reason spoke to me in juxtaposition to the quote by Flaubert. They seem to be saying sort of opposite things: one that you should have an idea of why you’re doing something in order to do it (well); the other, that you’re essentially discovering why you’re doing something as you do it.
Ultimately, the message of this post is to encourage readers to find their passion, understand it, and pursue it with dedication and purpose. Whether it’s cooking, writing, or anything else, discovering your “why” can take you further than you ever imagined.
But what clicked for me just now, is that these two ideas are very much in tune with one another–you can’t know why you cook unless you’re cooking up a storm, and you can’t just hang out waiting for the beliefs that drive your writing to magically reveal themselves before your pen hits the page. One speaks to the process of knowing; the other the importance of it. There’s a reason why you feel compelled to cook, write, or [insert passion of choice]–find it, know it, run with it. God knows how far it will get you.