When I was around 24 years old..I started writing Christmas cards and letters to every well-known chef in the country. My intention was simple, put it out into the world that one day I would meet these people, stand among them as equals, colleagues, friends, and mentors. One of those letters went to Chef Charlie Trotter. I had no expectation of a response. None. But what Chef Trotter did next is something I've never forgotten.
Weeks after I sent that letter, a large box arrived in the mail. Inside was every book he had ever written…every single one signed by him personally. I was floored. Inspired. And quietly relieved: the letter had actually reached him.
What followed over the years meant even more. Every time I appeared in an article, he would cut it out and send me a handwritten note of congratulations. That gesture, repeated again and again, said everything about who he was, his genuine care for people, his belief in hospitality as a way of giving, and his deep commitment to lifting up the next generation.
When he passed, he left behind a legacy of true excellence. His son
@dyltrot has since taken on the profound work of honoring that legacy, hosting Guest Chef events at his father's restaurant.
Last night, we had the privilege of cooking a meal at that very restaurant for
@mentorbkb , an organization built entirely around mentorship, training, and guiding the next generation of chefs into this profession. Beside me in the kitchen were
@philiptessier @chefbrianlockwood @toeknee_yang - our own local legend
@marabygk It was a magical night, layered with the history of everything that happened in that space long before I ever called myself a chef.
In a world where it's so easy to pull up someone's profile with a click, I'd encourage you to write a letter instead. Don't give up on the dream behind it. You may be surprised by what comes back to you…and more than anything, you will receive what you give. So give everything you have, if everything you can achieve is what you're after. My perspective, always: honor tradition, protect legacy, and mentor others to understand the shoulders we all stand on…the ones that give us the platform we have today.
