Approach to Cooking
These are the principles which guide our interaction with ingredients and define the final dish. While our initial philosophy is simple and straightforward, there are several more intricacies and guiding points which define and structure our approach to cooking. It is important to note that we borrow definitions from the dictionary to introduce our approach to cooking. These definitions act as guides and stepping stones in our world of cooking.
Simple—easy to understand or deal with
It is important for us to make ingredients and the final dishes simple. That does not mean that the process or the application of efforts used to reach the end are easy to do. Rather, complexities, intricacies, and characteristics are hidden within the final simple preparation and presentation. Here is the case of the little things making the big things happen.
Natural—existing in or formed by nature
Ingredients have a form or presence. While they can be dressed up or down, given highlights and accompaniments, an ingredient must still represent what it is. If not, then why did we choose to use that ingredient?
Extraordinary—exceptional to a high degree; noteworthy; remarkable
We strive to work in this manner as well as find ingredients of this caliber and present them in this method of artistic execution. Everything we are involved with must be extraordinary, otherwise we are wasting our time.
Relationship—a connection, association, or involvement
We are connected to food, ingredients, each other, the experience, and the life of cooking. Our relationship is personal. What we present or choose to deal with is based on our relationship with the ingredients and those who supply, grow, harvest, or forage for them. Without a relationship, there is no cooking.
Respect—esteem, admiration
We have a personal involvement with cooking and food. We must have and present respect for what we are cooking, the procedures we follow, and those around us which influence, drive, and guide our culinary approach: tradition, ingredients, innovation.
Refine—to bring to a pure state; free or separate from impurities or other extraneous substances
While we appreciate the natural structure and characteristics of ingredients, we must remove, trim, and furthermore highlight aspects of ingredients to shape their natural core. The individuality of ingredients and their perceived role in the final dish dictate the way we will need or choose to refine the ingredients.
Precise—exact in expressing oneself
In order to refine ingredients, we must be exacting in our actions, feelings, and approach to food. From start to finish, precise actions will allow for an exacting path to be created and give us the choice of following it or straying from it.
Finesse—extreme delicacy or subtlety in performance, skill, discrimination, etc.
Demonstrates how our thoughts are executed. The need for finesse is applied to the entire process of cooking, tasting, manipulating, dealing, creating, and envisioning food and its derivatives.
Technique—the body of specialized procedures and methods used in any specific field
We have learned and adapted techniques and are simultaneously searching for new and old methods for dealing with ingredients and the process of cooking to which we can add twists, refinement, or a new application so that new and old will add balance to our cuisine.
Original—capable of or given to thinking or acting in an independent, creative, or individual manner
We push ourselves to have thoughts and actions based on the knowledge that nothing is truly new. Our knowledge, examination, and interpretation of new and old cuisines in context with our approach and vision can get us at least close to an original idea.
Taste—to test the flavor or quality of by taking some into the mouth; to perceive or distinguish the flavor of—a sense of what is fitting, harmonious, or beautiful
Taste has two key definitions for us. Without the process of tasting, what are we doing? We taste everything: good, bad, great, awful, so as to build a structure of our own taste. It is the act of tasting which has molded our culinary beliefs and given us the experience to express them.
Focus—a central point, as of attraction, attention, or activity; to concentrate
Dining and its role in our lives is what we concentrate on. Without focus, there is no guide and our approach to cooking is lost.
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