What attracts individuals to a career in the kitchen, what excites students who seek to become a chef, what can help restaurants and schools retain today’s cooks and chefs – these are questions that challenge restaurateurs, chefs, and culinary educators. Is it pay and benefits, a lifestyle that requires so much of those who participate, or could it be an innate desire to be creative, expressive, and connected with the plate as a canvas? Join CAFÉ Talks for an interview with Jennifer Reardon-Brown, artist and educator as we delve into these questions and take a hard look at the importance of the art in culinary art. Understanding the answer to the stated questions may very well unlock the door to success in the kitchen and in the classroom.