Obviously its a necessity to feed ourselves, but im talking deeper here. What inspires you? Who are your muses? What beyond the basic need to eat keeps you excited about food?
I am endlessly inspired by Nigella Lawson and her entire ethos around cooking. “Food is both a pleasure palace and a sanctuary.” “Cooking is a balm in troubled times.” “Food has the ability to make a real difference, every single day.” So many amazing quotes of hers ring around my head when im in the kitchen.
For me, cooking is spiritual, practical, creative and scientific all at once. It gets me on my feet, off my screen, and allows me to nourish myself and those I love. It requires all of my senses and no matter how practiced a recipe is there is always an element of improvisation.
I could go on, but im much more curious…why do you cook?
My mother. She is the most self centered, hypocrite person I know.
As 70s kids, my sister and me were unhealthy, hungry, skinny, with orange flaking skin from a fad diet called makrobiotics. We had an overdose of carotene and salt. To this day I do not eat or cook pumpkin, only the smell of it gives me ptsd. She would balance my behaviour. If you behaved too “yang” (probably adhd), 2 weeks of “yin” diet, which was just salads prepared in the most bland way…plus some slapping around or other punishments for a good spiritual esoteric cleansing. I was out at 14, when child protection services stepped in.
My aspiration as a kid was to buy me a piece of cheese when grown up.
Love for cooking started at boardingschool making toasted cheese sandwiches or omelets for everyone in our group for lunch on certain days. I was able to learn in our central kitchen (with the impressivly large equipment) where all the meals where prepared for the 5 groups (with 11 to 15 teenagers per group), and I was able to help prepare holiday specials. On wednessdays we had cooking class were we first would buy ingredients on a 10 guilder budget and then prepare meals, or bake bread and what not for the kitchen staff.
Had a good time there. I was very fixed on preparing and eating tasty food, and am to this day. Trained as a cook lateron, and still cook happily every day for my fam and friends now with early retirement.
What a tale and so amazing that food has helped you persevere, and hopefully, heal too. Glad you’ve found your footing, and here’s to delicious cheese sandwiches, sometimes the best salve to be found.