Hi Everyone,
Tonight was our final cooking class and it was the most special. Unfortunately, with the changing weather, Corey had a crippling migraine and we had to leave early but not before we had a chance to meet and briefly speak to tonights Chef.
10 years ago Chef KP was in graduate school at the University of Delaware when she was in a car accident. She suffered multiple injuries including her right arm being severed. She was sent to Thomas Jefferson hospital in Philadelphia. The team surgically reattached her arm. She was unconscious for months and sent to rehab for years without the hope she would recover feeling or function of her right arm.
Chef KP took this accident as a sign to live the motto Carpe Diem. She quickly learned, as most people that survive a tragedy do, we only have today. Don’t waste your time with anything that causes unhappiness. What can you do to live to the fullest today and not only bring joy to yourself but to others as well? Chef KP was raised by several ‘home cooks’. Her mother, father and grandmother loved to cook. Once she felt strong enough she decided to change her life’s direction from the Science field to Culinary.
Four years post injury, Chef KP flew to California and enrolled in culinary school. Culinary school was very difficult especially learning to cook with one arm but she shared a great story. One of her professors was trying to teach her knife skills. That’s challenging for someone with two arms and hands! Chef KP needed to learn how to adapt to a one-handed approach. Her professor helped but not before he tied his right arm behind his back to recognize what Chef KP was thinking and feeling. By the way…they were both right handed and both needed to overcome the left handed adjustment too. Not unlike a surgeon, she scrubs up to her elbows so she can ‘hold’ the meat with her right elbow as she carves with her left hand. She also learned to use the back of her right hand instead of her palm as she held the bowl while whisking, among other ‘new tricks’ of the trade.
Needless to say, Chef KP graduated and relocated back to the Wilmington area a few years ago. She now owns and operates a catering company and Cafe. She spoke to Corey and told her to keep at it even when she doesn’t think she can. “If you believe deep within yourself that you can do it…you will”.
We couldn’t stay for the full class but that didn’t matter…the lesson we learned was about life’s ingredients. Live each day with fresh perspective, season it with whatever your passion is and as you serve others, you will all savor the joy life has to offer, xoxo