Creation is the first step leading to any great result and "why not" is often the catalyst to creation. Yesterday, I stepped toward "why not" while embracing some simple constraints provided by scarcity in my fridge. First, it was lunch time and I was hungry (the need). Second, I was feeling lazy (constraint) and wanted to make some sort of left-over salad (intended product). Third, I had chili and fourth I had some greens and fifth some left over ranch. Our fridge lacked other "salad" style foods (the problem to solve and design around).
Never underestimate the power of constraints. Never ever underestimate the power of weird. Always embrace, why not.
I placed the greens upon a plate, threw down some ranch, raisins and peanuts and plopped the left-over chili on top (cold mind you). It was weird. It was memorable. It was FREAKIN AWESOME!
See:
No joke, this why-not creation is the start of a restaurant based on a simple concept premise: odd combinations and delightful paradox. Cold Chili + greens lightly swirled in hot garlic oil. Memorable, tasty combo's made fresh daily to challenge your culinary intellect and instinct.
Ordering at the new restaurant would involve liberal use of "why not" and "let's try it". Food gal to hungry customer, "how about dandelion greens, cabbage and cheese pizza strips?" Customer, "ok, why not, let's try it!"
Second prototype-
Today, I was faced with the same problem but this time the constraint was baked french fries made from scratch and frozen corn (my kids have a thing for eating frozen corn, frozen -whyNot).
I wanted salad and there were the fries just starin' at me. Wah-bam, FrenchFry salad with ranch, a bit a ketchup, some cut ginger chicken and my go-to culinary friend, raisins.
I won't lie, it rocks. The french fries had some indian spice and the Iowa chicken some Chinese ginger. Awesome. Seriously. Next paradox: there is perhaps nothing more American than a French fry and nothing more healthy than salad. Huh. Right! Hopefully by baking the fries and putting them on a salad I have reversed their power to make me fat and in the process made those American fries a bit more French :) "Sure, why not."
Regardless, this simple idea would hold weight in Big10 college towns like Madison, Lawrence, Ann Arbor and Columbus for at least a couple years. ;).
Why-not is a catalyst. Weird is memorable. Constraints are tasty.
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