Ready For Excuses?

Damn it…that means I lost!

And I did.  I did not win or place in tonight’s pork contest.  But I did learn. 

There were only two judges tonight and for the most part, tonight was a cluster f…   however, that is what ever chef must deal with on most days.  The judging ran late, I was judged 25 minutes past my plate time, a judge did not show up and we were being given different instructions by the minute.

Okay, those are just excuses.  As a chef, that is more the norm than the exception.  We deal with that on a daily basis.  So as far as that goes, well, it was a normal night and I did okay with all of that.  Improvise and adapt.  Chef credo. 

Bottom line, I  lost…damn…

However the judges did come up to me after the event and explained to me why i lost.  Now, judges coming to you is very rare.  They normally move on quickly after a competition.  So for them to come to me was something I wasn’t ready for.

They both told me the same thing.  I had the best tasting plate.  I did not, however, have the best tasting pork.  Why the difference?  Well, we were being judged on our pork.  The rest is just filler.  Granted, I have never been part of a competition where the judges didn’t judge the rest of your plate, but tonight the judges rated the plate strictly by the rules.

So I agree, I did not have the best pork.   So it some sonsulation that the judges deemed it neccasary to explain to me and I will take that knowledge into future events and hope to be a better chef because of it.