Chicken and Baked Veggies on Baguette

by Amy

“He strongly believed in collaboration, not competition, within his team. He realized he was in a minority within the leadership of the Sûreté. He believed a good leader was also a good follower. And he invited his team to treat each other with respect, listen to ideas, support each other. Not everyone got it.”

The setting for this meal is a private back room at Olivier’s where we listen in on the first Sûreté team meeting in the books. It is where we are introduced to the Chief Inspector’s kind (and successful) mode of leadership: collaboration and respect.

I like how the food they eat gives us a feel for the characters, who they are and, as we read through the series, how they change. I found it interesting to see how their meal choices varied with their moods and the phase they're living in their own lives (Beauvoir's lack of appetite in A Trick of the Light comes to mind). In this scene, we aren’t told what the other agents ate. We "see" Beauvoir’s ham sandwich (with honey-mustard sauce and aged cheddar on a fresh croissant), but I ended up choosing to make Gamache’s lunch for this post.

There is room for individuality and difference in opinions – and taste. Gamache, through Louise Penny’s writing, fosters tolerance and acceptance with rare kindness. Each individual is allowed to have – and share – even wild, unexpected, and apparently insane ideas. He embraces respectful divergence of opinion and frequently encourages it in an attempt to reach a fuller understanding and have a better grasp of the whole. That does not mean he is weak or doesn’t have his own ideas and beliefs. The ability to listen and cultivate empathy does not presuppose lack of firmness or decisiveness. And opinion isn't equal to fact.

Actually, that last sentence may be the key issue in respect. Opinion and fact are not the same thing. Gamache understands (more than most) that perception, affinity, beliefs, and personal taste are not absolutes. They cannot be proven right or wrong. Unlike facts. He fosters respect for opinions and perceptions while seeking factual truths.

It’s easy to support those who share your views, your ideas, and your tastes. It’s harder to listen and respect when you disagree. Respect doesn't require agreement. You don’t need to condone to empathize. You don’t need to share a belief to try to understand why and how someone might hold that belief.

Gamache put together a team of underestimated and misunderstood individuals. He has a rare gift: he sees people. He knows how to make use of and value what each member of his team is able – and willing – to contribute. He helps them optimize their strengths, understand their weaknesses, and grow where they need improvement. The quote above uses the word “invite”: “he invited his team to treat each other with respect“. He doesn’t even force the process of teamwork – he gives them time to adjust and room to grow into a better version of themselves. He’s one of those people (I’m sure we all have at least one of those in our lives) who inspire us to be better just by knowing them.

I’m not sure if the grilled chicken and roasted vegetable baguette (as worded  in the book) corresponds to my interpretation of it, but maybe all of my rationalization on respecting variety in taste was an excuse change the recipe... I allowed myself to experiment and also to use some leftover grilled chicken that was in the fridge. I’d run across a recipe for baked vegetables that I wanted to try and dragged my son (who wasn’t happy about leaving his Legos on a Saturday) out of the house to go buy a petit pain (which isn’t quite the same, but very similar to a baguette). So I guess it isn’t at all the same meal… I’m sure Gamache would excuse my poetic license, I hope everyone else will, too.

Here is the recipe I used as inspiration (of course I tweaked it) for the baked vegetables: http://www.thewednesdaychef.com/the_wednesday_chef/2013/07/the-best-roasted-vegetables-ever.html

This scene is on page 65 of the paperback copy of Still Life.