Image from @grant_achatz Instagram (caption added)
"I would rather die than lose my tongue."
Acclaimed chef Grant Achatz, who presents plates served on aromatic pillows and makes chocolate desserts that look like paintings on the table, attacked his cancer the same way he creates a unique dining experience. By challenging traditional approaches.
Today I share his Ikigai story.
Achatz's career embodies the principle…Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist.
His culinary career started as a teenager, working in his parent's restaurants in Michigan. Later, he enrolled at The Culinary Institute of America, where he learned the formal 'rules' of cooking.
He continued to refine his craft. Working at a succession of great restaurants learning from some of the best chefs in the food world, he built a varied talent stack.
What struck me about Achatz was that he kept wondering at each point in his career; How can we take food to the next level? How can we take the dining experience and emphasize the experience part?
"I think working with people in other fields not only helps with the obvious, the aesthetic style of presentations and the guest experience, but maybe more importantly, it forces the chef to express himself and articulate. I have found this part of the interaction is incredibly valuable in learning about yourself and your goals as a chef and creative person."
Grant Achatz on creativity
He realized his vision of food when he opened Alinea in Chicago. Named one of the 50 best restaurants in the world, guests are treated to as many as 18 food courses demonstrating art as much as molecular gastronomy.
Fish N' Chips reimagined as cod wrapped in a potato sheet with a crispy potato net.
The dream becomes a reality, and then…
Alinea was taking off, and the vision was becoming a reality. Then Achatz received bad news. Despite having a 'spot' on his tongue for quite a while, a series of misdiagnoses had missed what was ultimately stage 4 cancer.
"You're 32 years old; you're a young, fit, healthy man, never smoked a cigarette in your life, never a heavy drinker, no genetic risks, and you're a chef, and somehow there's that irony of coming down with a relatively rare type of cancer and then having it be tongue cancer," he said. "You gather your composure and figure out what you have to do."
Traditional treatments involved removal of most of the tongue and damaging chemotherapy and radiation.
He searched for unconventional cancer treatments and found a doctor who, like him, was willing to challenge conventions. Ultimately, he decided to go with chemotherapy as the sole treatment. It worked.
Harry Potter Phoenix-inspired chocolate was created on a table.
Like a Phoenix
He lost his sense of taste forcing him to once again redefine his approach to cooking. Taste eventually returned, first only sweet, then salty. Eventually, it all returned.
It gave him a completely new understanding of taste, having experienced the component parts of taste each in isolation.
It's all there in his story. Being open to learning, experimenting, growth, developing interests and passions. Also, acceptance and a complete embrace of his art with or without a sense of taste.
When looking for an example of the never-ending journey of Ikigai, one need to look no further than Grant Achatz.
Very beautiful story. I am overwhelmingly touched. He has such that great fighting spirit of never giving up inspite of the challenge he is facing now. That's courage and determination. I admire you Chef Grant Achatz. God bless you!🙏🙏 Be strong. Be well.. Don't quit. Have faith. Believe. God loves you🙏🙏🙏. I'll include in my prayers🙏🙏🙏
I don’t read every post, but I’m so glad i read this one as I head down a similar road. Hoping for survival and inspiration!