Only the Fearless Can be Great

"Anyone can cook, but only the fearless can be great." – Chef Auguste Gusteau.

This is one of Brian's favorite movie quotes, from "Ratatouille", and one he says often while cooking. He's not too shabby in the kitchen. Oh....okay--he taught me A LOT about getting around in the kitchen--improvising with ingredients in the pantry, identifying and smelling spices, taste tesing at excellent restaurants and then rushing home to recreate and improve upon the same mouth-watering recipe just consumed. If something doesn't turn out right in the kitchen, he doesn't get detoured. Instead of viewing the culinary catastrophe as a failure, he sees it as a challenge. Those who know Brian know that he also approaches life that way. It's easy to look at him and think that everything he attempts comes easy. He tried to tell me that it wasn't true, but it took me being his wife and living under his roof to see that he was, in fact, telling the truth. The guy is downright amazing. I've seen his first attempts at new sports, instruments, wood projects and they hardly ever turn out perfect the first time...and sometimes far from it. I know if I were in his shoes, I would have given up. In our world today, if success is not easy, many see that as some kind of "sign" that they are not to persue that given hobby, path, or skill. But not Brian. With tenacity he pushes forward, with courage he makes himself (and his pride) vulnerable, and with humblness he comes alongside and teaches others. I love that about him. One of his more recent endeavors has been making sushi. I count myself spoiled because I get to taste his creations about every week, and he will cater to my daily whim. As of late, he has also tailored sushi especially for the pregnant version of myself, replacing the raw fish with smoked, etc. He has mastered the seasonings and combinations so well, that after dining at our favorite sushi restaurant here in town, I realized more fully how much culinary creativity Brian has and allows himself...or shall we say it like the Great Gusteau? Fearlessness. I actually enjoy his sushi more than I do sushi at the high-priced establishments.

And it even looks fancy.