A Special Place

Composure, Truth, Precision, Ownership, Presence

After spending two weeks in Copenhagen, immersing myself in a new culture and meeting new people, I can truly say that this city has changed me. I first arrived feeling a bit lost. I had recently made a major life decision, one where I felt I was leaving behind a great love and a world that had filled me with immense life and joy.

Nonetheless, life is filled with surprises; once you open yourself to them, you begin to receive them in the most unexpected ways and at the most unexpected times. I arrived with the gift of not being alone; I was welcomed by a wonderful family and stayed in a charming apartment. During my first week, I underwent my first job trial and explored Copenhagen amidst its coldest winds, biking through it all.

This journey led me to open a door I never even thought of approaching: I was given the opportunity to work at Noma.

I arrived with no expectations, as what I imagined Noma to be was very different from the reality. The week began on Tuesday and ended on Saturday; though I spent only five days there, it felt as though I had been there for a month. I walked into an entirely new world, hearing and seeing a language I never knew could exist.

To me, cooking is a universal language that every chef and cook knows how to speak. Nonetheless, every kitchen sustains its own unique dialect, from the way they clean to the team organization, production, and service. Every single component of their work dynamic creates that language. My first day started at 9:00 am with techno at full volume in the background; I could hardly believe it. But as the week progressed, I began to recognize the language everyone spoke, and after each service, I found myself more and more surprised.

The standards they uphold are extraordinary in every sense. It seemed the place attracted like-minded people, each one striving to give their absolute best. The entire team was aligned; they shared the same ends and the same means of achieving them. During service, when the head chef called for a dish, everyone responded with a military-like "Yes!" At first, I didn’t understand it, but I soon realized it was a testament to the collective strength they hold as a team.

On my last day, I felt so full. I carried a sentiment of gratitude and joy that I could not quite grasp in words. I felt the precision of life, how everything happens exactly as it is meant to, at the exact time it must. I found myself at peace, accepting those uncomfortable moments and remaining open to them, as life works in ways that go far beyond our imagination. I lived an undreamt dream.

If you are open to it, you can learn a lifetime in just one week. I had the privilege of leaving this wonderful city with five values that I will carry with me for the rest of my life, both in the kitchen and as a person. I have come to the conclusion that we must strive, seek, find special places, and not yield to the ordinary; for those are what touch the deepest reaches of our soul, heart, and mind. For that, I am eternally grateful.