We’ve created words for almost every interaction imaginable. There’s “ragebait” which is used for media that generates engagement through intentionally frustrating viewers. There’s “flush” a term used in construction which describes when two surfaces are combined creating a smooth plane. And finally, there’s “mantecatura” an Italian culinary term which is roughly translated as “to make smooth” and more narrowly refers to the final step in making risotto. When a chef correctly performs the matecatura, she uses butter and the natural starchiness of Arborio rice to create an emulsion that elevates the dish above the sum of its parts.

On the surface, mantecatura is a technique that seems reserved for the world of cooking, but using simple components to transform our projects into something special, is a term we could all keep in our back pockets. The only difference we should be aware of when applying mantecatura in a more general sense, is that in cooking, mantecatura is not really an optional part of the process. No chef would allow risotto to be served without “making it smooth.”Whereas in our broader lives, mantecatura is often seen as the cherry on-top.

Regardless of the “why” we often choose the option that’s “up to spec” as opposed to the one that’s “buttery smooth.” And while there’s (literally) nothing wrong with shipping a solution that does the trick, I’m beginning to realize that even the smallest project, chore, or responsibility could benefit from a final push, centered around a luxuriant transformation.