[hoagy62]

There was an interview back in 2006, I believe, where Anthony Bourdain was asked about people who are over the age of 35 that want to get into culinary.

His answer was simple, and rather direct... “Forget it, bub. Your creativity is gone, you don’t have the speed, and your taste buds are shot.”

When I read those words, I was 47 years old, and in culinary arts school. Suffice it to say, that didn’t do wonders for my confidence.

At current, I am working in culinary, or at least Food Service. Maybe I am not as fast as some of the younger folks, but my taste buds aren’t shot, and my creativity is still there. So, Anthony Bourdain was wrong.

It is kind of a shock to hear that he offed himself, but the guy did struggle with drugs quite a bit. Some things you just can’t shake.

[gattaca]

I’m in my 60’s and my taste buds aren’t shot. I’m watching a Mediterranean cooking show on “Great Courses” through Amazon Prime. It’s done by a chef from the The Culinary Institute of America.

[Trillian]

“Forget it, bub. Your creativity is gone, you don’t have the speed, and your taste buds are shot.”

That is an AWFUL thing to say to anyone. You can learn and be great at almost any age if you have the passion, hard work and willingness to learn. Chase your dreams!

[Calvin Locke]

...and your taste buds are shot.”

There was that 30ish noted chef out of Chicago that had a mouth cancer.

Radiation therapy knocked out his taste buds for quite a while, but he had a good taste memory, and was actively creating dishes for the months his taste sense was knocked out.

(And in the fictional movie "Eat Drink Man Woman", ... old chef, tast buds, tasting assistant... )