I don’t watch much TV and when people tell me I need to see a series, I let them know I’ll probably get to it within the next five to seven years.

However, my wife and I are regular viewers of Top Chef.

Aside from the eye-rolling product placements, I like the by-play of needing both technique and creativity to win that competition. It’s a reminder that cooking is an art form just like any other artistic endeavour.

In the latest episode, they had an 8th generation butcher on the show as a special guest. He cut up an entire cow for them and each contestant had to break down and cook a different cut of meat.

The results were embarrassing.

All but a few of the chefs prepared a solid cut of cooked meat. Most went with a dainty little fancy dish that did more to showcase how pretty a plate can look rather than respecting the cut of meat they were given.

Both Cecchini and the farmer who donated the cow were sitting at the table and you could tell they were disappointed. It was almost the equivalent to watching someone tell a war veteran they understood where they’re coming from because they had to yell at their neighbour once.

The deeper issue at hand were the chefs lack of courage to be raw. To let their cooking and the ingredients speak for themselves.

I think of it in my own classroom where I am bombarded with methodologies, lesson plans, assignment ideas, management styles and endless conflicting research on the “best” way to educate students.

My best time in the classroom is still when I close the door, put aside the frills and have a real conversation with my students — drawing upon the life experiences I can share with them.

I edit enough to maintain a level of professionalism, but not enough where they can’t see the real me. I may not be every student’s cup of tea, but they know what kind of tea they’re getting when they walk into my room.*

(*Black, bitter and with enough caffeine to kill a horse*)

My favourite magician to follow is still Nate Staniforth. His act is so raw and pure that if you’re not a fan before seeing him, you will be afterward.

My favourite writers are those who put themselves on the page and stand up for their art so it isn’t content edited to the point of sounding like every other forgettable “best-seller” out there.

What was the #1 best-seller last year?

No one knows and I don’t think anyone cares. Some of the literature we study in school were done by writers who finished their work in one draft and let it stand on its own merit.

Avatar may have grossed over $1 billion, but can anyone remember a single line from the movie?

The courage to be raw isn’t an excuse to give your worst.

It’s the courage to give your best without worrying whether people will dislike you because you didn’t include all the frills.

It’s the courage to be you and only you.