You can take the hotelier out of the hotel, but I don’t think you can take the hotel out of the hotelier. And so it is with me. My favourite TV shows are therefore all the Master Chefs and the MKRs and even America’s worst cooks! I can watch them endlessly, much to the disgust of my family, they insisted on having multiple TVs in the house so they don’t have to put up with me.
While the element of cooking, plating and serving are core to these shows, there is something else about them that catch my attention time and time again. I am always fascinated by the behaviours that are displayed by the men and women who eventually emerge as the ‘Masterchef’ in these shows, and that peek into their psyche is a driving force behind my fascination with these shows. I think there are so many tips that every professional can take away from these individuals, tips on what makes the winner………………eh, WIN!
I am attempting here to list out those traits, those behaviours that I see time and again in the winners, the guys and gals who always finished at number one – not two, not three, but the first!
Learn and grow, constantly, aggressively – from day one where one is selected into the show, to the day where they end on top, they are the ones who are eagerly lapping up every new technique, every feedback and suggestion, even watching other contestants and picking up from them.
Risk-takers – playing safe got you to number two or number three. But taking big, bold risks, trying to do more than what one can do in the given period of time, difficult techniques, tough dishes, is what got the winners up ahead. Combine this with the fact that they are constantly learning – they are also courageous to try new techniques. Sometimes fail, but that is ok too!
Stretch, going beyond limits and boundaries – The winners always surprise everyone maybe even themselves, by taking on menus which are seemingly impossible. When you build this ‘can do’ and urge to push boundaries, with the risk taking and learning, you obviously have the Winner!
Self belief, ability to withstand failures – some of the winners are the ones who have been on the edge of elimination a couple of times; some really bad cooking days; but their ability to pick themselves up after a failure, learn from it, and move on, with an unshakeable faith in their own capability sets them apart. They don’t get depressed, they move forward.
Innovative – whether it was a new combination of flavours that one didn’t think went together, or a new presentation, or even a combination of technique, winners constantly and tirelessly innovated. Some innovations were horrible, but that didn’t deter them from always trying to do something new, and discovering new and awe inspiring dishes.
I can hear Ashwin and Rangaraj snickering as they read this – they see through the attempt to rationalise away my fascination with these shows……