Lettre de motivation

 non scholæ sed vitæ discimus

Dear Monsieur or Madame,
Looking at my CV you’ll see no mention of the heat of summer kitchens, the fluidity of a well-laid line, crisp starched tablecloths, or the labor of love that is the demand of the brigade. You’ll see office jobs held, projects managed, budgets accounted for, a winery to be fair, but only a one-dimensional picture of my pursuits. Food and drink are the hours between the words on that page. My escape from obligation. The breaths between client meetings and conference calls. My quiet moments kneading dough, separating eggs, sweating onions, or sweating over a soufflé.


My family was built around a dinner table. Food was a not only a staple of nutrition but at the center of every important conversation, every happiness celebrated and burden shared. It took me most of my life, however, to find myself in the throes of culinary curiosity. I can look back at distinct moments in my life where I missed the signs. As a toddler, I pulled bowls from my mother’s kitchen cupboards and put on cooking shows for her in the style of Frugal Gourmet and Julia Child. As a child looking to prove her independence, I remember understanding the power in being
the only kid I knew who ate liver, raw beef, giblets, sardines, oysters, jalapenos, and wild game. As a teenager, I competed in cooking competitions at school putting as much effort into those as I did any midterm exam. But when university came and went, I hadn’t followed that path.

It was my trip to Paris that reacquainted me to a love that had been lost to myself over time.  To be fair I could write a novel just on my food revelations in Paris so I’ll spare the reader and say that in those surreal moments, France became a part of me with every sip and every bite.

My motivation in applying to, and hopefully attending, Gastronomicom is to feed the lifelong chef in myself. I’m looking to challenge myself to be a better cook, more skilled, more knowledgeable, more entwined with the kitchen and with my fellow like-minded comrades. I’ve spent the past five years honing my skills in my own home and feel like professional training is the next logical step.

At this moment in my life, at the proverbial crossroads, I don’t want to miss the signs again. I want to give myself a chance to experience and learn as much as I possibly can.  I want to lend my personal experiences to the broader learning community and step firmly outside of my comfort zone. I want to teach and be taught. Taste and feed.

It is with giddy anticipation I thank you for considering me for your program. I will happily provide references or additional information upon request.

Best, Carrielee