"And I like asking questions, to keep learning; people with big egos might not want to look unsure"
About this Quote
The subtext is a critique of culinary ego and, by extension, the broader masculine performance that often comes with elite craft. Kitchens have long run on hierarchy and theater; apprentices learn by watching, not by interrogating. Blumenthal, famous for turning cooking into experimentation (temperature probes, flavor chemistry, controlled chaos), legitimizes a different power structure: knowledge is provisional, and the smartest person in the room is the one still gathering data. "Big egos" aren't just annoying; they're obstacles to iteration. If you can't ask, you can't refine.
Context matters. Blumenthal came up as a disruptor in a moment when chefs began branding themselves as auteurs. His quote punctures the romance of the lone visionary and replaces it with something more modern: learning as a public act. It's also a subtle invitation to diners and fans to value process over posture - to admire the chef who keeps the lab coat on, even when the camera is rolling.
Quote Details
| Topic | Learning |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
| Cite |
Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
Blumenthal, Heston. (2026, January 15). And I like asking questions, to keep learning; people with big egos might not want to look unsure. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/and-i-like-asking-questions-to-keep-learning-11980/
Chicago Style
Blumenthal, Heston. "And I like asking questions, to keep learning; people with big egos might not want to look unsure." FixQuotes. January 15, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/and-i-like-asking-questions-to-keep-learning-11980/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"And I like asking questions, to keep learning; people with big egos might not want to look unsure." FixQuotes, 15 Jan. 2026, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/and-i-like-asking-questions-to-keep-learning-11980/. Accessed 12 Feb. 2026.






