Why Cooking is Caregiving, with Chef Hillary Sterling | Better in Person

Professional cooking requires a deep, sensory connection to ingredients rather than mere adherence to technical recipes or temperature gauges. Executive chef Hillary Sterling, known for her work at the New York City restaurant Ci Siamo, advocates for a leadership style that prioritizes teaching and fairness over the traditional, often toxic, kitchen hierarchies of the past. By focusing on the "soul" of food and the narrative behind each dish, she creates a collaborative environment where cooks are encouraged to trust their instincts. This philosophy extends to her business operations, where she balances the intense economic demands of high-volume service with a commitment to quality and regional authenticity. Her career trajectory, marked by a refusal to conform to established restaurant formulas, highlights the necessity of finding one's own voice to achieve creative and professional success in the culinary industry.