Rudyard Kipling's THE LAW OF THE JUNGLE

I often seek inspiration from other great Chefs and what others are doing in the wonderful world of Culinary Arts. But also being open to all creative aspects of learning, I seek inspirational mentorship from great people legends from all walks of life. This post was inspired by the great Phil Jackson who spoke on some of his success as the greatest winning basketball coach of all time. Although being a Chef and a Head Basketball coach may be totally different careers-they are strikingly similar in countless ways. And definitely their similarities outweigh their differences. And this is what I look for when I seek winning guidance. Phil commented on some of his past inspiration and credited it to Rudyard Kipling, the infamous author of the Jungle Book. Rudyard attributed the success of a wolf pack to the single act of being a 'pack' versus an individual and the the pack lives while the individual dies. Phil put this philosophy to work in coaching the winning Chicago Bulls & Los Angeles Lakers. He applied it to the 'Team'-Team Building. It is what I believe in also as a Chef that the team and team building is what makes or breaks the operation. Sure I am happy to be blessed with the skills and talents of a Chef and feel totally confident in my ability to rock as a chef. But it is with and through my team that I shine and I know that. Such was with Phil Jackson and his team and he knew that. So a word to the wise and a lesson to the renegade chefs; its all about the team, always was and always will. It is what you can do 'with' them. As I learned from a great teacher: "Tell them what you're going to tell them...Tell them...Tell them what you told them! (the basic principle of teaching, you can apply this to showing, doing, ect.) And now for the famous words from Rudyard Kipling's The Law of the Jungle, that inpired Phil Jackson and in turn inspired myself and hopefully can inpire you as well and then another and another...get the point. Rudyard Kipling The Law of the Jungle (from The Jungle Book) Now this is the Law of the Jungle -- as old and as true as the sky; And the Wolf that shall keep it may prosper, but the Wolf that shall break it must die. As the creeper that girdles the tree-trunk the Law runneth forward and back -- For the strength of the Pack is the Wolf, and the strength of the Wolf is the Pack. So remember that the strength of the Wolf is the Pack so in that the strength of the individual is the Team

A Food is a Food no matter how Small (a twist on the famous words of Horton hears an Who)

So definitely a food is a food no matter how small. I also have a curious mind when it comes to food, what we eat, why, how and when-you know foodie stuff...Ok, so my dog watches me as I eat, I get it...people food rocks, dog food bites...we use herbs, spice, love and it tantalizes our taste buds. I mean, when was the last time you tasted dog food-see! Heck, we barely taste baby food before serving it, and dog food never. How many times do we taste a savory Bolognese Pasta Italiano before serving it. Dog food should be somewhat on the radar of flavor. Just food for thought. Whats on your palate?