In another world, I used to write about the furniture industry, with a special emphasis on the custom woodworking side. I was able to visit the workshops of some of the finest artisans in the country, and their work continually left me in awe. In their hands, anything from a conference table to a kitchen cabinet set could be transformed from utilitarian furniture to a breathtaking piece of functional art. It took a little extra time and the occasional addition of a custom finish, exotic wood inlays or handwork, but the end results were beautiful — and worth every bit of the premium price.
While I changed industries to write about food for a living, I never really got away from the custom work. The meat processors I visit today have just as much vision and creativity as those master woodworkers; they just use a different medium.