(Excerpt from Eye Design Studio blog)

OK. So, the question is, what is it that you do on a routine basis that you might die without? I know. How dramatic. But seriously, what takes the edge off and puts you back at ease after a stressful day? What helps you reset after a long work week? We all have something that helps us suspend “reality” for a while and enter our own “happy place”, if you will.

Mine would easily be cooking. This probably doesn’t come as much of a surprise to those of you who know me, but to those of you that don’t, I’ll elaborate a little on why it’s so important. But, since this is a design blog, I think it’s only fitting that I explain why the act of cooking most likely affects me the way it does. There are so many aspects that seem to have parallels with my artistic background and resonate throughout the entire process of creating a meal. Beyond the simple elegance, relaxation, and romance that cooking evokes for me, there are calculated reasons for all of the decisions I make along the way.

Conceptualization:

It starts with choosing a meal. This could start days in advance with an idea gleaned from any number of things; a television show or commercial, an image from a magazine, the thought of a restaurant and a past experience, the mention of another country or its cuisine. Whether by envisioning the final meal or imagining the aroma of the progressive mixture of ingredients, my creative process has started.

Research:

Next it’s time to figure out how to achieve those initial thoughts. Is this something I’ve never cooked before? Is the combination of sides appropriate? Do I have the right tools at hand to actually create the meal? What’s the number to the nearest pizza joint… just in case?

Design:

Once the decisions of recipe are made, it’s on to find the actual parts involved. In the grocer or at the butcher, why this choice or that? Color, size, cut, complementary tastes, final presentation potential? They’re all factors. At home, as the pans and dishes come out for preparation and the table settings begin to take shape, the expectations for the meal continue to grow. Will the meal be candlelit or basked in natural light? Indoors or out? What background sounds will accompany it; the conversations of crickets and the wind from the evening or the soft stories from Michael Buble or Norah Jones slowly seducing the night?

Implementation:

The plan has been laid and the ingredients await being united to create a finished “piece”. As with most things in life and design, there is a natural order. Sway from these time proven rules and the outcome could be disaster. Calculated variances are safe, but only in small doses. Change too many things and you may not know where something went wrong.

The Results:

Ahhhhh. What started with an idea a few days ago has gone through a transformation into realization. All it took was some thought, a couple hours, a bottle of wine and some good company. The result is all around you. It’s not just the meal on the plate in the physical form. It’s the distinct smells, the individual tastes of each part, the sounds at the table and beyond, the settings, the wine in the glasses and most importantly the memories made throughout the entire experience.

Call me crazy, but two or three hours in an evening preparing a meal is my euphoria. The meal itself is simply the payoff, but I couldn’t enjoy it without the buildup. I allow myself to forget the day passed or the thoughts of the morning to follow and simply enjoy the sights, sounds and tastes of the moment.