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JAMES: IT’S A BUSY NIGHT IN THIS KITCHEN. >> THEY FULLY DONE. THEY FULLY DONE. WE JUST GOTTA PUT THEM ON A PLATE AND SEND THEM OUT. JAMES: YOU CAN HEAR THE CHEF IN THE BACKGROUND. >> ALWAYS BE THINKING AHEAD, THINKING AHEAD. NICK: -- JAMES: IT’S A FIVE COURSE MEAL THAT HE WANTS PICTURE PERFECT. >> THE FIRST COURSE WAS A BITTER GREEN SALAD WITH MUSTARD GREENS. JAMES: BUT, HE NEEDS SOME HELP WITH THAT. EIGHT YEARS AGO, BEFORE HE WAS A CHEF, HE BECAME THE VICTIM OF A DRIVE-BY SHOOTING. A BULLET TO THE HEAD LEFT HIM BLIND. >> PITCH BLACK DARKNESS. I DON’T SEE NOTHING. JAMES: THE BULLET TOOK AWAY HIS SIGHT, BUT IT DIDN’T TAKE AWAY HIS DRIV CRAWFORD JUST GRADUATED FROM CULINARY SCHOOL. >> NO MATTER WHAT PEOPLE SAY YOU CAN’T DO OR IS IMPOSSIBLE, YOU NEVER KNOW UNTIL YOU TRY. JAMES: MOTIVATED TO MOVE FORWARD BY THIS LITTLE BOY -- HIS SON. >> COOKED ALL OF THIS, PUT ALL THE FLAVORS TOGEHTER. JAMES: DAD, SERVING UP A DELICIOUS FIVE COURSE DINNER AT THIS POP UP RESTAURANT. THE FIRST SINCE GETTING HIS DIPLOMA. >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU. JAMES: CRAWFORD SAYS WITHOUT SIGHT OR SMELL -- THE SHOOTING TOOK THAT AWAY, TOO -- HE RELIES ON HIS OTHER SENSES WHEN HE COOKS. >> THE SOUND OF IT, THE TEXTURE OF IT, AND OF COURSE, THE TASTE. JAMES: A NEW CHEF WHO HOPES TO ONE DAY OPEN HIS OWN RESTAURANT. -- >> WELL, I’M GLAD YOU GUYS ARE ENJOYING IT. JAMES: IT COULD BE THE METRO'

Advertisement Blind chef proves anything is possible Mortel Crawford graduated from culinary school this month, nearly 8 years after shooting left him blind. Share Shares Copy Link Copy

Mortel Crawford is proving you can do whatever you set your mind to. Earlier this month, he graduated from Metro Community College with a culinary degree, but he can't see or smell any of the food he cooks."It went black. I couldn't see anything," Crawford said.Eight years ago, Crawford became a victim of a drive-by shooting. He took a bullet to the head, which took away his sight and his sense of smell. It didn't take away his drive."No matter what people say you can't do or is impossible, you never know until you try," he said.Crawford said he's been motivated by his son. The little boy was there Saturday when his dad held a pop-up kitchen in North Omaha. It's the first one since getting his associate's degree."I hope to one day have my own restaurant," Crawford said. "I already have my business plan."Crawford plans to go back to school to get a business degree. He even has a name picked out for his restaurant."Your Choice is what I'd call it. Your Choice," he said.