Cookbook Author, Chef & Owner at Hardscrabble Hospitality

I learned the hard way to put my head down and just work.

Chef Floyd Cardoz always reminded me and others that you need to cook from the heart. It is important to be passionate with every dish you put out. It instills in us why we do what we do and you can taste it in the food.

Laying the foundation to create a respected work environment is one of the best commitments to yourself and to your work. People will come and go in the industry, but you cannot treat your staff as just another body in the kitchen. Keeping employee morale and a positive work environment is important and we try hard to make it a part of our culture. I try to take some of our cooks out, once a month, to grab a bite after work and get their feedback and thoughts. But, most of all, it allows them to experience something different. To me, that's important.