Mise en Place

Mise en place: A culinary process in which ingredients are prepared and organized (as in a restaurant kitchen) before cooking.  - Definition from Merriam-Webster

As I’ve been immersed in my holiday cooking these past few weeks, I’m reminded of how valuable good preparation can be.  With my recipes in place I buy the ingredients, gather my equipment, and then create my mise en place to kick-off my kitchen time.  Assembling this culinary canvas up-front not only makes the process easier when I am ready to dive in, it allows me to enjoy it more.  

Good preparation affords me more creativity.

This might sound strange – how does putting structure in place actually give rise to imagination?  For me, the initial rigor of organizing options and having them on-hand shapes the foundation for experimentation.  With everything I need right in front of me, I know the essentials are in place and my attention can move elsewhere.  My brain is now open to more options as I move through the process, surfacing space to tinker and play.  

Mise en place is a powerful ritual that carries over from the kitchen into my larger life. Prioritizing important tasks each morning is like dicing onions or measuring flour.  These routines better equip me for the work I will be doing and allow me to be fully present throughout the day.  They also render freedom to generate new ideas and collaborate with curiosity.