Aska - Brooklyn, NY

Two weeks ago, I had officially visited my first “chef’s table” experience at Aska in Brooklyn, NY.  A Scandinavian/Nordic (2) Michelin Star culinary experience that brought so much light to the importances and intricacies of the culinary world.  Amidst the minimalist, black interior of the restaurant, I remember happening to glance over to my right, looking out the window and there stood one of the chefs I recalled from in front of me in the open kitchen. He stood there, hovering over one of the various types of flowers grown in the back patio/outdoor section of the restaurant.  He stood there, carefully observing, plucking each flower good enough to use for the next dish being created. It was at that moment that I understood this would be a significantly different experience than what I was generally used to. 

I was beyond excited for this new experience, as I have tended to learn towards appreciating culinary arts as I’ve traveled more in my life.  I’ve never been to the Nordic region yet, which is why I feel as if this restaurant in particular piqued my interest.  I was curious and wanted to explore something new. 

“I think food, culture, people, and landscape are all absolutely inseparable” - Anthony Bourdain. 

There’s a beautifully constructed perspective that sheds light when you begin to understand that an individual’s love for culinary arts is a near direct correlation to how much they appreciate their culture and the nature they’ve experienced - wherever that inspiration may be.  Food, culture, people, and landscape all go hand-in-hand when it comes to creation. If you are intuitive and aware enough of the gifts nature has given, and how lucky we have been to experience such beautiful things in our lifetime - an energy of reciprocation and love will arise.  It’s how every single piece of art was created.  Someone somewhere had such an intense appreciation for something that they decided to give back to the world by creating something profound.  Questions about these creations cannot go unasked, because they usually hold the most extraordinary truths. 

I received a personally signed cookbook from Fredrick Berslius with a drawing of a flower to the side.  A small detail - but, to me, it truly signifies what it means to exude expertise in a craft.  It’s a sign that demonstrates passion and mastery, but above all, love.  There’s levels to the amounts of love you put towards your chosen craft if you truly love it.  It’s an expression of you as a whole.  It’s a piece of you that you choose to give and share with others.  It’s a vulnerable piece of yourself that some, but not all, will make an effort to understand.  For the people who do understand and can think deeper amongst the superficial, a mutual sense of respect occurs.  It’s an appreciation for the effort and mastery of the creation.  An ode to one’s talents and capabilities.  

It’s experiences like this that will forcibly put a visitor into the present moment. I signed up for an experience.  It wasn’t to necessarily fill up my stomach and appease my appetite - that wasn’t my motivation.  I signed up to take a ride along a storyline that blooms with experimental creativity, shifting amongst 17 plates consisting of bold and soft tastes, firm and rough textures, and bright and pastel colors. There’s careful thought and imagination that is required to produce something like this. It’s not JUST a piece of fish on a plate.  It’s artistic expression, channeling and paying homage to the chef’s roots and influences.  It’s like any other form of art you can think of.  And I truly believe that if you think and believe in a similar way about art, please understand that it’s not as common and widely understood as it should be.  Understand that it’s a privilege to look through this type of lens, into another world that enables you to experience the gifts of the earth in a stronger, more tasteful way.  Every ingredient is carefully sourced and chosen, every placement of the food on the dish was thought through and intricately positioned.  There’s a sense of beauty in this sort of art.  And if you are an artist in any way, you know what it means and what it takes to create something out of nothing, make it come together as one, and then make it so beautiful that you are admired for it.  It takes an innumerable amount of time and effort to bring something to life that you truly believe in.  Something that moves and inspires you so much that you dedicate your parts of your life to it in efforts to share a message you want to communicate.  

That feeling of passion was felt among the entire room (for me, at least).  I’m not a chef, but I could understand the level of mastery it would take to be a part of this team and carry on the chef’s vision and legacy.  I truly give all credit to the people who made that experience the way it turned out.  It was incredible to be a part of such a creative and new environment, experimenting with new foods and tastes.  I am beyond grateful to have had the opportunity to engulf myself in this experience and get a glimpse of what the chef’s connections are to his roots.  If you are someone who feels like your heart's in two places at once, you may understand both the pain and beauty of being away too long from the other.  That sense of “loss” can be turned into an eruption of creation - fueled by emotions and memory.  

Maybe it’s just me and you think I’m totally insane for thinking this deep about food.  But, I hope I’m not the only one.  

If you’ve visited here or plan to, shoot me a message or something and I’d love to chat.  Xo