I believe this book actually contributed to my leadership qualities rather than just filling my reading appetite. (See what I did there?! Appetite? Book about food critic?!) As Ruth Reichl stated in the book in page 192, "Pandas at play is pleasant. But don't you ever do anything original?" I took this as go beyond the limit and expectations of others. Serving pandas is already outrageous and "out of the box". It's not normal to find pandas and peacocks being served at a table. And yet Ruth Reichl still calls it unoriginal. I believe this will be my motto next year and I will live up to the creativity I claim to have.
After finishing the book, I believe creativity is the main theme Reichl tried to deliver to us. On page 281, she states "This isn't one of those foods that you eat. It's one of the ones that's only supposed to make you happy." I want this to be the attitude at Renton next year. It made me realize that getting people peppy once just isn't enough. It's the happiness they feel that will get them addicted. Starting a new tradition sounds good right now, something CREATIVE, that will get them ADDICTED. I want their veins to be rushed in happiness.
Other than the theme that I got caught with, I thought this book was hilarious! Sometimes she may be blunt but the dialogue is funny because it was actually based on the real life conversations she had with other critics. Jokes jokes jokes!