I felt like saying thanks last night… I wrote Jeff Blank an e-mail and told him how he has inspired me. It was awesome to receive a response from him so quickly.
I was telling Elise last night after I sent this e-mail to Jeff that being a chef has to be such a rewarding job. I think of it not much unlike being a doctor. There is a finite balance among art and science. There are so many rewards and so many failures.
I’d love to be a chef.
On Apr 8, 2005, at 7:35 AM, Jeff Blank wrote:
Josh,
What a tribute ….Thank you…I will pass this on to Robert. It is rewarding to know that our love for food & cooking is understood & appreciated. It makes the effort all worth it. Thanks for “getting it”COOK FEARLESSLY
Jeff
P.S. The new book will be out this June
—–Original Message—–
From: Josh Janicek
Sent: Thursday, April 07, 2005 9:47 PM
To: jeffreyblank@something.com
Subject: Thank you!!!Jeff,
I received an e-mail announcement for the cooking class on April 17th. I wish I could attend but will be out of town that weekend.
I also wanted to say thank you for the wonderful class you held at your house back in January. That Sunday afternoon was one of the best days of my life!
I used to work at the Austin Country Club as a banquet captain. After a few months I buddied up with the chefs (back then it was Jim McNeil, Jim Sicher and Ron Cook). I showed an interest in the back of the house and helped out whenever I could. I never officially ‘worked’ in the kitchen but I made sure to bug the hell out of them… “what is that? what’s in that sauce? how did you cook that?”
I would get home late at night after working a banquet and be so inspired. I began trying out my own ‘culinary endeavors’ shortly thereafter. I screwed up A LOT of meals trying to play chef. That was six years ago. Since then I’ve become a lot more comfortable in trying new things in the kitchen.
A few years ago I took my wife to Hudson’s on the Bend to celebrate her getting a new job. It was our first time at the restaurant and we both absolutely loved the food, service and atmosphere. My wife bought me the ‘Cooking Fearlessly’ cookbook and a gift certificate to your cooking class for my birthday a year later. That was one of the best gifts I’ve ever received.
Since then we’ve been back to the restaurant many times and have loved every meal.
After many sliced fingers, burned food, broken plates, fires, jalapeno oil in the eye, etc. etc., I really enjoy cooking and, more importantly, enjoy cooking fearlessly – and I don’t think I’m too shabby for an amateur!!
Again, thanks for the many great meals and, more importantly, the inspiration!
Best regards,
Josh Janicek