Fifteen Seconds on Innovation from Iron Chef, Jose Garces

While at the Housewares show today in Chicago I was able to speak to Iron Chef Jose Garces .  The question I put to him was simple, “What is your take on innovation?”  His answer is simple and  profound.  He expounds on this answer in the introduction to his new book, Latin Evolution:

“As a chef, my constant challenge is to find the possibilities that new ingredients and techniques offer, while honoring what has come before. My mantra is simple: ‘authentic’ and ‘innovative’ are not contradictory. This recipe collection is a highly personal mix of my family history, culinary training and personal creativity. That’s how my cuisine evolved.”

What do you think of this definition?

(By the way, Chef Garces is one of the most approachable, congenial men you will ever meet.  I’m looking forward to sampling more of his innovation at his restaurant Mercat a la Planxa here in Chicago. )

Wearing a Path to Your Door – Design Lessons From a Parking Lot

While recently stopping by at the local library I was surpised to see the following situation:

It’s interesting that the new made paths are not that far away from the desired walkway yet people aren’t using the walkway. 

One of the reasons I believe people don’t use the walkway is that it has a flag pole directly in the center of it.  By virtue of it being there is says, “Please walk around me,” and the width of the path doesn’t invite going around the pole.  Offsetting the flagpole or placing two paths on either side with a connection between them to the pole would probably save the grass and still create a clean path to the flagpole.  It would also provide a route to the two benches that are off to the side in the grass.

What are your thoughts?