ROOTED FOOD!

  
    The ability to progress through unchanging values has seen the renaissance of New Orleans, or at least of what I can see since having been home.  An undercurrent of social betterment and cultural pleasure floats through the air of the French Quarter everyday now it seems, except when its cold.  A palm tree has the ability to sustain winds and never get blown over.  Its key to success is the root system.  Below the surface of the beautiful tree, is a root system.  A root system that keeps the tree anchored for its survival, if the tree where to become removed from its roots, it would die from lack of nourishment.  So while the trunk may sway with the wind, it will not die unless it leaves its roots.
    My gastronomic passion and ambition are well rooted.  New Orleans to New York has taught me, at the end of the day, regardless of where you are from and what you do...do it well and take pride in your actions and people will respond.  The response is not positive all the time, but when you put it out there, one must accept the opinions of others, even when they are wrong, and move on.  Funny Story.  The other day, it was my mistake of buying self-rising flour which led to the chicken dumplings on the menu.  The pierogies were shot, the gnocchi was a disaster, but the dumplings were amazing!  Mistakes lead to discoveries.

Cook well, Eat well, Speak well, and the rest will fall into place.
ROOTED FOOD!