I feel like I have just begun to gain confidence in my abilities. I am finally trusting my training and feel like I can offer Hawaii something new and exciting. But, when do you know when your ready. When is the time right to go out on your own? Selfishly, I may never feel like my resume and training will ever be good enough to justify my own place. I guess we'll see.
On another note. A few weeks ago I had a great meal at Town Restaurant. I always hear great things about the place, so I decided to return after my mediocre first experience. The menu was very approachable and simple. It reminded me of a simple, yet great San Francisco restaurant. Great, local- sustainable produce coupled with restraint and good execution. It was one of the better meals I have had in Hawaii in a long time. So please support Chef Kenney. His respect for cuisine can be tasted through his food.
I am often asked why I don't apply to be on the show "Top Chef". It's a wildly popular and exciting show that I am a fan of. The first season was filmed in San Francisco. The restaurant I used to work in was approached to be the featured restaurant in the first episode and my chef the featured judge. I even remember when the producers came in to watch a kitchen service. It was a fun night because I know they were impressed. Because I worked in a hotel, an agreement was not reached. The producers even asked us to apply for the show. Would I ever apply to be on the "Top Chef"? It's a great prize, you gain publicity and maybe even some fame, but your left with that stigma. The stigma of being on a reality tv cooking show. Am I too good for that? No way, I even attended culinary school with many of the contestants. They are good people and good cooks, but I would rather garner attention for my cooking and not the way I played a game. I would rather have a restaurant that was respected for the experience it provided. Plus, I don't think I am pretty enough to be on T.V.
