The Perfectionist

A beautiful and ultimately sad story of a chef who lived in the highest realms of grand cooking. One of two books that I have read on the topic - the other being Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain. And he took his own life too.

I have on occasion entertained this fantasy of having my own restaurant and cooking for a living. Of planning out my dining room, what the menu might look like and the room appointments. The music selection, in particular. As important as the wine.

But knowing what I know now about the restaurant business, you would have to be clinically insane to do that. Unless you are prepared to put every last dime and rupee you own into the business and work non-stop for no pay, no time off and no adulation for years and years, you should not step into it.

But then history isn’t made by us pragmatists, is it?