The choice of sobriety
There is a fundamental difference that many do not understand: the difference between being simple by poverty and being simple by choice. I am firmly in the second camp. My cooking is not minimalist because I lack means or technique, but because I have chosen sobriety as a form of excellence. It is a conscious, thoughtful, respected simplicity. It means deciding to keep only what has real value, to leave no room for noise or artifice.
This approach requires more rigor than complexity. When you only have three ingredients on a plate, each one has to be perfect. You can't hide an approximation behind a complicated sauce or a spectacular presentation. Simplicity is a mirror that reveals the truth of the product and the talent of the chef. It is a school of demands that pushes us upwards. Clarity begins with this refusal of the superfluous. It’s a constant practice.
Respect for the object
When I cook simply, each ingredient receives maximum attention. Since there are few elements, I can devote myself entirely to each of them. I monitor the cooking of the fish to the nearest degree, I choose each chard leaf carefully, I measure out the salt with surgical precision. It is a form of respect for the object, for the living thing which will nourish us. This conscious attention is transmitted to the plate. We feel that everything is there for a reason, that it has been treated with love and dignity.
This quality of attention changes our relationship to consumption. We no longer eat absent-mindedly, we savor with awareness. We realize that a simple plate well made is infinitely superior to a complicated plate poorly executed. The simplicity allows a direct connection between the product and the palate, without interference. It is an experience of purity that makes us more sensitive and more grateful. Clarity is the fruit of this total presence.
The end of the confusion
A simple plate creates a clear intention. We know why everything is there. There's no confusion, no mixing of conflicting flavors, no unnecessary filler. It is an architecture of taste that is readable and honest. This clarity of intention is reflected in our own metabolism. The body receives simple and consistent signals, which greatly facilitates digestion and assimilation. We leave the table with a rested mind, because we have not had to decode a complex and noisy message.
At 38 years old, I favor this economy of means. I want my kitchen to be a haven of peace in a world saturated with information and artificial stimulation. I want to offer a pause, a moment of raw truth. Conscious simplicity is my way of staying true to my values and my land. It is a discipline that requires humility, but which offers immense satisfaction. Clarity is my horizon, accuracy is my guide. A little is my everything.
The lesson of the coast
It's Australian coastal wisdom: that less is more when everything is chosen with care. It’s a practice of respect that goes far beyond the kitchen. It is a philosophy of life that teaches us to appreciate the value of the essential. By choosing simplicity, we choose freedom. We are no longer slaves to accumulation or superficial performance. We are simply there, present to ourselves and to the world. Health is the basis of this newfound freedom.
My cooking is a reflection of this journey. She is sober, she is frank, she is alive. I want to show that we can achieve gastronomic excellence and perfect health through stripping. Clarity is in the gesture, strength is in the product. My grill is my instrument of truth, my vitality is its signature. Life is richer when it is simplified. ¡Zhu ni hao wei kou e viva a simplicidade real!
The power of the little
Adopting conscious simplicity in your diet is the surest way to regain mental clarity, perfect digestion and deep satisfaction.
I invite you to practice pruning in your own kitchen. Dare to remove what is not essential, focus on raw quality and pay total attention to each ingredient. Observe how this clarity transforms your relationship with food and yourself. The truth is in simplicity. ¡Zhu ni hao wei kou e viva a conscience real!
