Faculty Feature Ideas Narratives
At the best restaurant in the world, you can order a dish called "Oops! I dropped the lemon tart."
This quirky dessert – which has been covered on shows like Netflix's Chef's Table – has a charming origin story. It came about when the sous chef of Osteria Francescana accidentally dropped a lemon tart before serving it.
Instead of reprimanding him and serving a new tart, chef and owner Massimo Bottura was inspired by the turn of events. He decided to serve the dish as if the lemon tart fell on the ground. "It's amazing. It's the metaphor for south of Italy," Bottura said. "You're breaking the border between sweet and savory and it doesn't matter if it's perfect.[...]It’s also the way to make everyone feel comfortable, even if you’re not used to eating in the best restaurant in the world. Who cares? Look at that. He made a mistake."
Stories like that of "Oops! I dropped the lemon tart" illustrate the importance of delighting your customers, relating with them in unique and surprising ways.