07/24/2026
Over the years, Iโve learned that becoming a great chef is about much more than recipes, techniques, or the final plate. Itโs about discipline. Itโs about humility. Itโs about how you handle pressure, how you treat people, and the standards you hold yourself to when nobody is watching.
These are the six principles I believe create great kitchens: Chef Brian Isbellโs Six Principles of Great Kitchens
1. ๐๐ญ๐ฉ๐ง๐๐ข๐ ๐ฟ๐๐จ๐๐๐ฅ๐ก๐๐ฃ๐ โ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ฉ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐๐ง ๐พ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐จ
A great chef doesnโt work hard only when someone is watching. The standard is the standard.
Itโs making sure the station is clean before service, checking every plate, tasting every component, and doing the small things correctly even when nobody notices.
A chefโs reputation is built in the moments nobody sees.
2. ๐๐ค๐ฉ๐๐ก ๐ผ๐๐๐ค๐ช๐ฃ๐ฉ๐๐๐๐ก๐๐ฉ๐ฎ โ ๐๐ฌ๐ฃ ๐๐ฉ, ๐๐๐ญ ๐๐ฉ, ๐๐๐๐ง๐ฃ ๐๐ง๐ค๐ข ๐๐ฉ
Mistakes happen in every kitchen. The difference is how we respond.
A great chef doesnโt blame the equipment, the ingredients, the schedule, or another person. They ask:
"What could I have done differently?"
Accountability creates trust. Excuses destroy it.
3. ๐๐ฉ๐๐ง๐ฃ๐๐ก ๐พ๐ช๐ง๐๐ค๐จ๐๐ฉ๐ฎ โ ๐ผ๐ก๐ฌ๐๐ฎ๐จ ๐ฝ๐ ๐ ๐๐ฉ๐ช๐๐๐ฃ๐ฉ
The best chefs never stop learning.
You can learn from a dishwasher, a prep cook, a server, a farmer, a resident, or a customer.
Every person in the kitchen has something valuable to teach us if we are humble enough to listen.
4. ๐๐ข๐ค๐ฉ๐๐ค๐ฃ๐๐ก ๐พ๐ค๐ข๐ฅ๐ค๐จ๐ช๐ง๐ โ ๐ฝ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐พ๐๐ก๐ข ๐๐ฃ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐ฉ๐ค๐ง๐ข
A kitchen under pressure doesnโt need more chaos.
The leader sets the temperature of the room.
When tickets pile up, equipment fails, or something goes wrong, the best chefs slow down, communicate clearly, and find solutions.
Panic spreads. Calm spreads too.
5. ๐๐๐จ๐ฅ๐๐๐ฉ ๐๐ค๐ง ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ซ๐๐ง๐ค๐ฃ๐ข๐๐ฃ๐ฉ โ ๐ผ ๐พ๐ก๐๐๐ฃ ๐๐๐ฉ๐๐๐๐ฃ ๐พ๐ง๐๐๐ฉ๐๐จ ๐ ๐พ๐ก๐๐๐ง ๐๐๐ฃ๐
A clean station is not about appearances. Itโs about discipline.
Mise en place is more than having ingredients ready. Itโs being mentally prepared.
A cluttered workspace creates mistakes. An organized workspace creates confidence.
๐๐ฃ๐ซ๐๐จ๐ฉ๐ข๐๐ฃ๐ฉ ๐๐ฃ ๐๐ฉ๐๐๐ง๐จ โ ๐๐ง๐๐๐ฉ ๐พ๐๐๐๐จ ๐ฝ๐ช๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ง๐๐๐ฉ ๐พ๐๐๐๐จ
The greatest chefs donโt protect their knowledge โ they share it.
A recipe, technique, or lesson becomes more valuable when it helps someone else grow.
Your success is measured by the people you help become better.
A great meal starts long before it reaches the table. It starts with the culture, the preparation, and the people behind it.
Always learning. Always improving. Always striving to be better than yesterday.
โ ๐๐ฝ๐๐ป ๐ต๐๐พ๐ถ๐ ๐ผ๐๐ท๐๐๐ ๐จโ๐ณ
