COOKING
As I was preparing my ingredients for a new Thai stew, I had been thinking about cooking for quite a while and I started thinking about why I enjoy cooking so much.
I could not really put an exact finger on why exactly I love to cook so much but I did come across a lot of memories and a few reasons I think I enjoy cooking so much. Sometimes it’s hard to put an exact “why” behind some things we are passionate and sometimes it is quite easy.
I love photography because it was a seed planted in my heart when I was just a wee little whipper snapper. I loved looking at national geographic and dreaming about being that person sharing those interesting photos and experiences. My dad was into photography and there were always a ton of photography books in the library of books he kept. I always found them very interesting. I can not draw, paint, sing or play an instrument to save my life. Photography in the beginning for me was a way to get in touch with my artistic side. Over the years, what I like most in photography has change. Recently, I have I really enjoyed sports photography, although there has not been anything to shoot lately. Event photography is another area I really enjoy here of late.
My number two passion is cooking. I think I have been cooking since I could reach the stove. Although I did cook as a child back then mac and cheese, beanie weenies, grilled cheese, soup and so on.. you get the point. Over the years, I have acquired 16 or so years of restaurant experience. So, my palate, cooking styles and expertise has grown quite a bit since I was knee high to a grass hopper. I have always prided myself on my knife skills and palate. You can make anything as long as you really know flavor profiles (what ingredients go great together).
Another reason I love to cook and probably what I love most about cooking over the past 10 to 15 years, is seeing the look those I cook for show when they eat my cooking. I don’t just cook for anyone either. If I love yah, then you will see me cook for yah eventually. Cooking is just another way of showing my love for someone. I enjoy cooking for Amanda probably more than anything else. I have slowly been exposing her to new flavors very slowly. Her family has a long and rich history of picky eaters. I will probably get in trouble for that later.
The other main reason I really love to cook is the improvisation of cooking. Some people would say that is why some cook better then others. It all goes back to knowing flavor profiles. When I go to Stewarts I come up with recipes while shopping or I will get ingredients of the flavors I want for that meal and figure it out when I get home. Like I did for what I am cooking tonight. Thai inspired stew over jasmine rice with a pickled jicama slaw on top.
This is Will B. Saying cook a big pot of something or other and show those you love most how much you care.