“You really make me sick. In the nicest possible way.”
OK, perhaps not the nicest possible way to introduce yourself to someone, but I did want to congratulate the chef for a delightful lunch (it was like that film with that woman: “you had me at triple-cooked chips”). The thing being that the head chef in this swanky Berkshire hotel (I wasn’t paying, it was a Hyundai event) is only 18 years old.
No, really. Luke Thomas has just become the youngest head chef in the country with his own restaurant at Sanctum on the Green in Cookham Dean and I think I hate him. Not only is he successful in a field that he’s set his mind on reaching the top of, he has a clarity and sense of purpose and I’ve not seen in anyone of any age for quite a long time. In the (almost) decade I have on him I should have been able to cure one of the easier cancers, broker at least five minutes of peace in the Middle East or even just learn to cook rice without messing it up. He even does better brownies than mine, and I was always really proud of those.
I couldn’t say that it was anything personal, my hatred of this talented wunderkind: I pretty much don’t like anyone talented. I find them intimidating and good at stuff. If everyone was a bit rubbish at things I’d feel a lot better about it all. Certainly not knocking together a delicious scotch egg with a crispy breadcrumb shell and soft yolk for lunch. And where does one find time to cook chips three times? I think it’s all because I’m essentially quite arrogant, and like to think that I could be brilliant at anything (it’s so obviously not true, it’s clearly an illness). Anything contrary to that is a challenge to my very psyche.
That said, the brownies and the chips did distract me for a few minutes.
5 hours ago
He may indeed be a talented and successful chef, but everything has a way of balancing things out. Perhaps he's not very good at trigonometry.
ReplyDeleteA good point well made. Although I am also rubbish at trigonometry.
ReplyDelete"You are so talented. I hate you."
ReplyDeleteFour people have said this to me as of late, leaving me dumbfounded. Thus the google search that led me here. I am actually a very modest person about my talent- never feeling as though I have accomplished something great because there is always some facet I would do differently and better next time. Therein lies talent.
So, to you and them I say ; I am very sorry that you feel the need to compare yourself to me, and that you find yourself lacking. Would you have it that I bring myself down to your level so that you may feel better? Of course you would.
That is not going to happen. I do not have the time or energy to spend with you in your talent show competition where everybody gets a "participated" ribbon. I am busy concentrating on achieving perfection, attempting, reaching, DOING. Not to make you feel badly about yourself, not even to make me feel good about myself- but because I have to be doing something that I love to do in order be content.
I'm so pleased you've actually taken the time to read what I've actually written.
ReplyDeleteOf course you appreciated that I was actually praising the chef here, and in a self-deprecating way saying that it made me reflective about how I applied my own talents.
Your clumsy use of the semi-colon up there actually makes me feel a lot better, clearly these things do have a way of balancing out.
(And again, that was a joke.)
And since you took my comment for what it was worth, rather than bristling, I also took the time to read your history. You may be lacking in chip-cooking abilities but your sense of humor is definitely admirable.
ReplyDeleteDammit! Now that the veil has been removed and the person behind revealed I feel badly for having been ; rude.
Thanks for brightening what was a cloudy day.