Innovation Speech: Creativity and Innovation in Cuisine. “The best way to be global is to be local,” renowned Brazilian chef Alex Atala declared at Design Indaba Conference 2013.

View the full version of this inspiring talk at http://inda.ba/15Fga2L

For Atala a chef’s creativity does not lie in creating something new, but rather creating something that surprises people. He also spoke about primitive, versus modern, interpretations of food and flavours. It’s about integrating what is already known into something totally new. “Old ideas can be much more clever, intelligent and modern than new ideas,” he believes.

Our preconceptions are what prohibits us from experiencing new things in a unique manner, Atala proposes. Looking to creativity and innovation, and what it means to chefs, Atala believes that the two are indistinguishable: “Innovation is creativity and utility!”

Challenging the cultural interpretations of food is one of Atala’s key interests. He believes that an entire culture can be summed up in three flavours: “If I said soya sauce, ginger and seaweed your mind goes to Japan. If I said tomato, basil and mozzarella, your mind goes to Italy,” says Atala. In a similar way Atala wants to sum up the taste of the Amazon for both locals and visitors in his native Brazil.

Atala also spoke about recycling flavour and the taste of insects, and how the cultural stigma attached to them prevents us from eating then.

Considering the scarcity of food Atala believes that people need to start eating entire ingredients: “We need to learn how to eat an entire ingredient, it is more than just reducing waste, it’s about being respectful to the environment.”

Atala also showed a video that revealed how he creates his tasting menu at his famous restaurant D.O.M in Sao Paulo

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After you’ve watched an innovation video what can you do next? How can you apply what you’ve learned or been inspired to do…and keep learning and being inspired? You can watch more videos or read more on the topic but consider this. We learn most through reflective action, through applying the knowledge we’ve gained, through experiencing and making it real for use. What can you do or take action on?

This Innovation Videos website is a resources to help you stay fresh, on the cutting edge, and up to date with your own learning and personal and professional development. The ability and skill to innovate is becoming more important than ever due to the rapid pace of change in our world. You may not have had a class on “innovation” in school or at your work so it is up to you to gain the knowledge, attitude, mindset, and skill that will allow you to adapt and respond to change with innovation. A first step is to read or watch videos on this site to get inspired and learn ways you can be more innovative. Then, take what you are learning and apply it to your own life and work. Take on an innovative project to create and develop something new that can have an impact, something you may not have ever done before. Perhaps you will get an idea from an innovation video on our site.

After learning on your own look to be a part of a leadership program, workshop, course, or seminar. Join a group or even create a startup with some partners. Involve other people in learning and doing innovation with you. Keep reading and keep listening because there is always opportunity to learn new methods since new technologies are being introduced all the time. When you are just working on your computer, have a video playing to listen and learn. See if you can watch (or at least listen to) a different innovation video everyday to keep developing your knowledge base and leadership skills. But remember…you will need to do something. Take action!