Guy's Books and Thoughts

This is about someone who went from crime and poverty to elite chef at
Bellagio's in Las Vegas. He started in crime at an early age.
Fortunately he was never a violent offender. But he did deal in
drugs. Eventually he was caught and sentenced to Federal Prison. His
original job was a kick back job. But due to disciplinary problems he
was sent to work in the kitchen. This was not a job he wanted. But
ironically this job was what got him interested in cooking. It
awakened his calling in life as a chef. Its kind of funny that some
of the jobs you don't want may turn out to be the key job in
determining your life for the better. I am reminded of Vaclav Havel,
who later became president of the Czech Republic. He had to serve in
the army in what was Czechoslovakia. He had tried avoiding the army,
but finally he had no choice. But oddly enough it was in the army that
he found his calling as a playwright. This is recounted in the book
DISTURBING THE PEACE (I believe the Czech title is "Long Distance
Interrogation).
For some reason, the kitchen became a point of fascination for Mr.
Henderson and he began to study all he could about the craft learning
from mentors and reading books.

While in prison he met some Black Muslims and was fascinated by their
teachings. They even helped him with his reading. But he never
converted to their religion. He wrote that in his heart he was a
Christian. I must admit I am embarrassed by the language in the book.
And he seemed worldly to me in attitude. But I guess I can't read his
heart I thought it was interesting that he would not convert.

After he got out of prison, he worked for or apprentice under various
chefs. His career path to Chef at Bellagio's was not a smooth one.
Office or kitchen politics sometimes left him out in the cold and he
had to scramble to find work. But he never gave up his passion to be a
chef.

In the epilogue, he describes a funeral he attended for a former gang
member, who was his protector and mentor. He concluded that he was
glad that he was out of the gang arena and out in the world making a
living. I suppose the moral of this book is to never give up on your
dream in spite of the setbacks. This author had to come from a tough
and poor background to reach his way to the top. Sure he didn't go to
the elite Culinary Institute of America, but he apprenticed under the
finest chefs and moved forward. I guess his story should be a lesson
to all of us who would prefer to wallow in self pity.
As Winston Churchill said "Never give up."