We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Stephen Lee a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi STEPHEN, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
To; Anyone who cares.
How I found my purpose; My name is Stephen Lee and I have been asked to share my story. Unfortunately my story is not a happy one. It is a story filled with heartache and obstacles. I suffered the loss of my mother as a child and a vacant father which shaped my life and led me down the gypsy lifestyle from city to city. I was punk rock and spent a considerable amount of time sleeping in the park, on couches or wherever I passed out for the evening. I went job to job getting what I could. I mostly found myself washing dishes or bussing tables. It was the summer of ’86 and I was washing dishes at the
Ave Ristorante in the University district, Seattle WA. One morning the line cook didn’t show up for his shift. I was called up from the prep table and asked to step up and saute for the lunch shift. I am always willing to take chances just for the thrill of it. At the end of the shift Bruno Pacci (co-owner) asked if I wanted the position with a hefty raise. I accepted. I continued to cook but the gypsy spirit was strong in me and so I moved on. I found myself at a popular Italian restaurant in Seattle, Serafina. I was one of the evening saute cooks that were named for the success the venue received.
Fast forward to 2015 I was chosen to be a participant in the hit show MasterChef starring Gordon Ramsay which led me to what I do now as a private chef in Palm Springs, CA. I am not sure if what I do now is my purpose, I do know that I hate everything else so much that I choose to do what I do. I also know that I make so many people happy with what I do. Many nights I receive clapping and pictures and smiles and laughter with my food and stories. I imagine my mother being in the room witnessing the spectacle and that brings a good feeling to me. I believe she would be happy with my choices and happy I made this life my reality. And so if this is my purpose then so be it. I will take it over anything else.
Best
Stephen Lee
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
If anyone is interested in learning more about what I do, please go to my web pages;
StephenLeeCooks.com
thedepartmentoffood.com
IG stephen lee cooks
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
I believe my suffering in this life has led to my success. For all those people who are going through the “suck”, it will pass or it wont. Embrace hardship and wear it as your badge of courage.
As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?
The little prince has been a book of great wisdom, I read it often and the words are soothing and give me comfort and clarity.
Contact Info:
- Website: thedepartmentoffood.com, Stephenleecooks.com
- Instagram: stephenleecooks
- Linkedin: Stephen Lee
- Twitter: Stephen Lee @sweetpealee23
- Yelp: food dept, Stephen Lee
Image Credits
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so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
