I stopped by Elements this afternoon hoping to catch up with Jeremiah Langhorne before his dinner tomorrow night at the restaurant. At least that was my excuse. I was actually hoping to taste some of the bounty he had made down at McCrady's and transported to integrate into his dinner. (Which, by the way, still has space available.) I was fortunate enough to taste some incredible Coppa, Oat "soy" sauce, Muscadine vinegar, and scallop-bushi. As Jeremiah was sharing his bounty my mind began reeling with ideas for these ingredients, the principles and process behind them and the ingredients and resources at my fingertips. It is essential to connect with other cooks and to get into their kitchens, their minds and their shoes. The connections we make are the catalysts for the ideas that shape our cuisine. With this brief visit my mind has begun to generate a notebook full of ideas and avenues to travel down. Without these experiences and these conversations my notebook would be empty.
Years Past
May 17, 2005