In The 4-Hour Chef, #TimFerriss shares 2 things to consider when teaching any skill
What are the points of failure?
Where are the easiest places to begin with and build upon?
By points of failure, he means identifying and addressing the confusing and complex items which often lead to people quitting. If students feel comfortable navigating them, cooking will be less intimidating.
In terms of simplest places to begin, he means “bulletproof” recipes. Dishes that don’t require perfection to be delicious. The goal is giving people easier “wins” at the beginning, which makes them want to keep practicing.
From the beginning, I’ve based my #mixology teachings on Ferriss’s principles. I try to make each interaction simple, delicious, and impart a sense of “I can do this”. When I’m teaching or working on content, this thinking is present. But neither has required me to codify my method from start to finish.
My new online course “Fear No Dinner Party” covers my approach in full. I address points of failure like
Avoiding expensive or spoiling ingredients
Demystifying intimidating drink-making techniques
Avoiding complex and time-consuming recipes
Ensuring you don’t feel overwhelmed or trapped behind the bar during a party
We begin with 6 foundational recipes, upon which all cocktails are based. None require more than 4 ingredients. We then discuss the ratios that transform them into countless drinks, which as #MichaelRuhlman writes in Ratio,
"When you know a culinary ratio, it's not like knowing a single recipe,
it's instantly knowing thousands."
Once you’re comfortable with the 3 drink-making techniques and 6 foundational recipes, we put that into practice during happy hour. Whether it’s just you or a dinner party of 12, you’ll have the cocktail confidence.
I hope you’ll join me on the journey. You can learn more here.