The Scrambled Egg Test
According to one definition, a “foodie” is a person who has “a passionate, or refined interest in food, who views eating and cooking as a hobby rather than just sustenance. They are adventurous eaters who explore diverse cuisines, try new restaurants, and often share their culinary experiences on social media.”
Based on that definition, both of my sons are foodies. They are always discussing their favorite recipes, their favorite chefs, and their favorite restaurants. To give you an example of how deep their interest and affection is, consider this: several years ago (when he was in his early teens), one of them asked if I could order him an expensive wagyu rib-eye steak from some mail order food company headquartered in another country as a Christmas present! What teenager does that? Both of my sons are foodies. They love to cook, love to eat, and love for ME to take THEM to restaurants. LOL.
On one of their recent visits to Los Angeles, they asked if I could take them to Gordon Ramsey’s restaurant Hells Kitchen. I agreed, and off we went. I must confess that it was a great experience. The food was incredible! But beyond the food, we had a great conversation with one of the student chefs who was training at the restaurant. My sons asked him about how he prepared our dishes, where the restaurant sourced the food, searing techniques, and other culinary arcana. However, I wanted to know how he got hired to work with one of the most popular and profitable restaurants in the world.
He said that during his interview for the job, Gordon Ramsey asked him to make him some scrambled eggs. I was puzzled. But the young chef in-training informed us that such a request is quite common within the universe of top tier chefs. He explained that the “scrambled eggs test” rests on a simple thesis. The idea is that if you can make something as simple as scrambled eggs, you should be able to make almost anything else. The reverse also holds true. If you can’t make scrambled eggs—well, then you probably should forget about making creme brulee’.
My conversation with that chef was a reminder of the power of simplicity. Far too many of us needlessly complicate our lives. The true test of mastery in any domain is the demonstration of simplicity. Albert Einstein once said that the highest form of cognitive prowess is not intelligence, nor brilliance, nor genius. Einstein argued that the highest form of cognitive prowess is simplicity. To the simple belong the spoils.
One of my favorite stories in scripture profoundly and picturesquely illustrates this truth. When a high ranking government official named Naaman contracted a disease called leprosy, a woman who worked for him told him that he should go visit a prophet named Elisha. Naaman went. He arrived in grand style with an entourage, expecting to be treated as if he was doing the prophet a favor by just showing up. Elisha did not even greet him. Instead, he sent a messenger and told Naaman that if he wanted to be healed, he should go wash in the Jordan River. The high ranking official was highly offended by this directive. His offense was understandable, especially given the fact that the Jordan River wasn’t the purest, cleanest, or safest river around. Naaman wasn’t sure how he could be healed from a skin disease by washing in a dirty river. According to 2 Kings 4:7-11, this is what happened next:
Naaman lost his temper. He spun around saying, “I thought he’d personally come out and meet me, call on the name of God, wave his hand over the diseased spot, and get rid of the disease. The Damascus rivers, Abana and Pharpar, are cleaner by far than any of the rivers in Israel. Why not bathe in them? I’d at least get clean.” He stomped off, mad as a hornet. But his servants caught up with him and said, “Father, if the prophet had asked you to do something hard and heroic, wouldn’t you have done it? So why not this simple ‘wash and be clean’?” So he did it. He went down and immersed himself in the Jordan seven times, following the orders of the Holy Man. His skin was healed; it was like the skin of a little baby. He was as good as new.
Naaman almost missed a miracle.
Like Naaman, many of us want to do the “hard and heroic” thing. However, the best solution may be far simpler. I want you to start subjecting your dreams, decisions, relationships, and emotions to the “scrambled egg test.” Today, start asking yourself the following questions:
Is there a simpler way to do what I am doing or am about to do?
Is there a simpler explanation for what I am feeling or why something is happening?
Am I seeking or do I prefer “hard and heroic” solutions instead of basic and simple ones?
Do I hide behind complex words and ideas?
Finally, never confuse simple with easy, nor with being a simpleton. Scrambled eggs are easy to make. But my scrambled eggs don’t taste that good, and I’ve been at it all my life! LOL.