A Meal That Missed the Mark: What It Teaches Us About Creativity

A meal so bad it becomes unforgettable. That's what happened at Bros. , a restaurant with a Michelin star. In 2021, food blogger Geraldine DeRuiter reviewed it. She described 27 courses that were more like a horror show than fine dining. Imagine eating an oyster loaf that tasted like an airport and foam that came in twelve flavors. The dessert? A foam served in a plaster cast of the chef's mouth. It sounded like something from a scary movie. This meal shows a big problem in creative work. Making something new is hard. But making something new that people actually like is even harder. Creativity isn't just about being original. It's also about giving people something they value. That value could be fun, knowledge, or just a good taste.Think about Homer Simpson's "Everything's OK" alarm. It was a new idea, but it didn't solve any real problem. Bros. tried to be unique, but forgot the most important thing: making the food taste good. Novelty alone isn't enough. A study showed that home chefs thought originality made their sandwiches more appealing. But customers disagreed. The more original the sandwich, the less they wanted to try it. The same thing happened on "Top Chef. " Contestants who focused on being original were more likely to be eliminated. So, what's the lesson? Instead of chasing something completely new, look at what has worked before. Successful ideas often cluster together. Paying attention to past successes can help find new promising ideas.