--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Prior to my second stint in Perpignan, I…" description: "\"“Prior to my second stint in Perpignan, I was a fine diner and as I saw it, food was art. At vocational school, I was being taught how to cook, but I w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38f/eric-ripert-8689_art_prior-to-my-second-stint-in-perpignan-i_294777.jpg" --- # Prior to my second stint in Perpignan, I was a fine diner… ![“Prior to my second stint in Perpignan, I was a fine diner and as I saw it, food was art. At vocational school, I was being taught how to cook, but I was frustrated by how basic the dishes were. I was like a kid who had grown up listening to Chopin, then showed up at music school, never having…” quote by Eric Ripert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38f/eric-ripert-8689_art_prior-to-my-second-stint-in-perpignan-i_294777.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38f/eric-ripert-8689_art_prior-to-my-second-stint-in-perpignan-i_294777.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38f/eric-ripert-8689_art_prior-to-my-second-stint-in-perpignan-i_294777.jpg) > ““Prior to my second stint in Perpignan, I was a fine diner and as I saw it, food was art. At vocational school, I was being taught how to cook, but I was frustrated by how basic the dishes were. I was like a kid who had grown up listening to Chopin, then showed up at music school, never having actually played an instrument. I mean, when you listen to Chopin all the time, you want to become Chopin. And then you go to music school and all you're doing is plunking out do...re... mi for hours at a time. It's boring as hell, and not why you enrolled. I was impatient to create great meals and not so excited about starting with the basics. Why were we spending hours learning how to hold a knife or mine a shallot when we could be making nouvelle cuisine? True, I didn't know how to cut a chicken in eight pieces or make a bechamel. But in the two- and three-start restaurants I had been to, they were way over the bechamel. Still, there I was, in school, making the most basic of dishes--salade Nicoise, potato-leek soup, an omelette.”” [Eric Ripert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-ripert/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The chef laments focusing on basic skills before mastering advanced cooking, comparing it to music students playing simple notes before creating complex pieces. **In simple terms:** Master basics before advanced art; skipping fundamentals hinders growth. Key Takeaway Embrace foundational training before aiming for innovation. Themes education craftsmanship patience Mood reflective inquisitive Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - culinary school - career development - artistic practice Key Concepts skill acquisition creative process Questions to Reflect On - What basics are you neglecting? - How can you balance fundamentals with experimentation? A Different Perspective Skipping fundamentals can limit creative expression. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Food](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/food/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) ## Related quotes > [I don't like nouvelle cuisine, too small bits. I like to have a nice wine, nice pasta, tomatoes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luca-cordero-di-montezemolo/i-don-t-like-nouvelle-cuisine-too-small-bits-i-like-to-have-a-nice/) [Luca Cordero di Montezemolo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luca-cordero-di-montezemolo/) > [I wanted to take nouvelle cuisine further, to the point where we were breaking down the essence of taste and sensation, reconfiguring food as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ferran-adria/i-wanted-to-take-nouvelle-cuisine-further-to-the-point-where-we-were/) [Ferran Adria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ferran-adria/) > [The so-called nouvelle cuisine usually means not enough on your plate and too much on your bill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-bocuse/the-so-called-nouvelle-cuisine-usually-means-not-enough-on-your-plate/) [Paul Bocuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-bocuse/) > [Nouvelle Cuisine, roughly translated, means: I can't believe I paid ninety-six dollars and I'm still hungry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-kalin/nouvelle-cuisine-roughly-translated-means-i-can-t-believe-i-paid/) Mike Kalin > [To the chefs who pioneered the nouvelle cuisine in France, the ancienne cuisine they were rebelling against looked timeless, primordial, old as the hills.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-sokolov/to-the-chefs-who-pioneered-the-nouvelle-cuisine-in-france-the/) [Raymond Sokolov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-sokolov/) > [In the 1970s we got nouvelle cuisine, in which a lot of the old rules were kicked over. And then we had cuisine minceur,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-child/in-the-1970s-we-got-nouvelle-cuisine-in-which-a-lot-of-the-old-rules/) [Julia Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-child/) > [I worked at the Sheraton Commander Hotel, which was my first hotel job. They were doing nouvelle cuisine so it was the first time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-wahlberg/i-worked-at-the-sheraton-commander-hotel-which-was-my-first-hotel-job/) [Paul Wahlberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-wahlberg/) > [I'm so thankful that Mum taught me to cook, because not every day is a takeaway day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-narstie/i-m-so-thankful-that-mum-taught-me-to-cook-because-not-every-day-is-a/) [Big Narstie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-narstie/) > [I've always been very open about how my mother taught me to cook and how I'm delighted to share my family's recipes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-giudice/i-ve-always-been-very-open-about-how-my-mother-taught-me-to-cook-and/) [Teresa Giudice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-giudice/) > [“If we were taught to cook as we are taught to walk, encouraged first to feel for pebbles with our toes, then to wobble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamar-adler/if-we-were-taught-to-cook-as-we-are-taught-to-walk-encouraged-first/) [Tamar Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamar-adler/) > [Every child should be taught to cook in school, not just talk about nutrition all day. Good food can be made in 15 minutes.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-oliver/every-child-should-be-taught-to-cook-in-school-not-just-talk-about/) [Jamie Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-oliver/) > [My mum originally taught me to cook.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-weymouth/my-mum-originally-taught-me-to-cook/) [Emma Weymouth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-weymouth/) > [Children aren't being taught to cook or encouraged to try things or told why food is important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prue-leith/children-aren-t-being-taught-to-cook-or-encouraged-to-try-things-or/) [Prue Leith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prue-leith/) > [I'd have made you breakfast in bed if you'd taught me how to cook.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-d-have-made-you-breakfast-in-bed-if-you-d-taught-me-how-to-cook/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The guy that taught me how to cook risotto lives right down the street and I see him all the time. I go to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wilson/the-guy-that-taught-me-how-to-cook-risotto-lives-right-down-the/) [John Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wilson/) ## More by Eric Ripert > [For me, food is about memories, feelings, emotions, and so is Le Bernardin, and that's why it's not just a restaurant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-ripert/for-me-food-is-about-memories-feelings-emotions-and-so-is-le/) [Eric Ripert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-ripert/) > [Well, cooking starts with shopping. If the ingredients are not good, you don't do it. Just change your mind and do something else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-ripert/well-cooking-starts-with-shopping-if-the-ingredients-are-not-good-you/) [Eric Ripert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-ripert/) > [Cooks build muscles; we can stand all day long on our feet and not feel the pain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-ripert/cooks-build-muscles-we-can-stand-all-day-long-on-our-feet-and-not/) [Eric Ripert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-ripert/) > [My mother and my grandmother would make an apple tart in different styles, and I had one per day. Every day I would eat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-ripert/my-mother-and-my-grandmother-would-make-an-apple-tart-in-different/) [Eric Ripert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-ripert/) > [I barely speak English.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-ripert/i-barely-speak-english/) [Eric Ripert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-ripert/) > [I find the organic wave much more interesting in America than in France.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-ripert/i-find-the-organic-wave-much-more-interesting-in-america-than-in/) [Eric Ripert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-ripert/) > [To me, it's very important to have time at the restaurant but also time with family and time for myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-ripert/to-me-it-s-very-important-to-have-time-at-the-restaurant-but-also/) [Eric Ripert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-ripert/) > [I come from a family of farmers on both sides of my family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-ripert/i-come-from-a-family-of-farmers-on-both-sides-of-my-family/) [Eric Ripert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-ripert/) > [For me, I do not wish to build an empire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-ripert/for-me-i-do-not-wish-to-build-an-empire/) [Eric Ripert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-ripert/) > [I'm a very bad baker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-ripert/i-m-a-very-bad-baker/) [Eric Ripert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-ripert/) > [Fast food is both evil and genius. Because of it we can feed a large number of people fairly decently at an affordable price.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-ripert/fast-food-is-both-evil-and-genius-because-of-it-we-can-feed-a-large/) [Eric Ripert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-ripert/) > [The importance of reading, for me, is that it allows you to dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-ripert/the-importance-of-reading-for-me-is-that-it-allows-you-to-dream/) [Eric Ripert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-ripert/) > [Cooking is a holistic process of planning, preparing, dining and sharing food. I place food at the center of our humanity, as it nourishes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-ripert/cooking-is-a-holistic-process-of-planning-preparing-dining-and/) [Eric Ripert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-ripert/) > [A lot of foreign people say, when asking about eating habits, 'What is your guilty pleasure?' I have no guilt. Whatever I do, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-ripert/a-lot-of-foreign-people-say-when-asking-about-eating-habits-what-is/) [Eric Ripert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-ripert/) > [It has been stressful to be a French resident in America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-ripert/it-has-been-stressful-to-be-a-french-resident-in-america/) [Eric Ripert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-ripert/) [Explore all 78 Eric Ripert quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-ripert/) ## More Art quotes > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“Hear the sum of the whole matter in the compass of one brief word — every art possessed by man comes from Prometheus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/hear-the-sum-of-the-whole-matter-in-the-compass-of-one-brief-word/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/) [Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/) > [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/) Taf Teh > [The house has to serve comfort. The work of art is revolutionary; the house is conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/the-house-has-to-serve-comfort-the-work-of-art-is-revolutionary-the/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [During human progress, every science is evolved out of its corresponding art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/during-human-progress-every-science-is-evolved-out-of-its/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [In literature and art memory is a synonym for invention. It is the life-blood of imagination, which faints and dies when the veins are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aris-willmott/in-literature-and-art-memory-is-a-synonym-for-invention-it-is-the/) [Robert Aris Willmott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aris-willmott/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [“The only thing--I tell you this straight from the heart--that disgusts me in Salzburg is that one can't have any proper social intercourse with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/the-only-thing-i-tell-you-this-straight-from-the-heart-that-disgusts/) [Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/) > [The sublime in art is the attempt to express the infinite without finding in the realm of phenomena any object which proves itself fitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/the-sublime-in-art-is-the-attempt-to-express-the-infinite-without/) [Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/) > [Art isn't done to decorate apartments, but to wage war against the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/art-isn-t-done-to-decorate-apartments-but-to-wage-war-against-the/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) [Browse all 48,643 Art quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Prior to my second stint in Perpignan, I was a fine diner and as I saw it, food was art. At vocational school, I was being taught how to cook, but I was frustrated by how basic the dishes were. I was like a kid who had grown up listening to Chopin, then showed up at music school, never having actually played an instrument. I mean, when you listen to Chopin all the time, you want to become Chopin. And then you go to music school and all you're doing is plunking out do...re... mi for hours at a time. It's boring as hell, and not why you enrolled. I was impatient to create great meals and not so excited about starting with the basics. Why were we spending hours learning how to hold a knife or mine a shallot when we could be making nouvelle cuisine? True, I didn't know how to cut a chicken in eight pieces or make a bechamel. But in the two- and three-start restaurants I had been to, they were way over the bechamel. 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