When I decided to become a chef I was pursuing a life long dream and never really thought about the consequences. No, no, I knew about the long hours and the low pay…it’s the other stuff.
For instance, I didn’t realize that folks who had been cooking all their lives (and very well at that) suddenly in your presence have no idea how to make, say, toast. This person might walk up to me in their own kitchen waving a slice of bread in their hand and ask, “Gosh, I really feel like some toast. How do I make toast?” With a toaster? My other favorite question is “How long do you…?” Fill in the blank with roast, boil, steam, bake any food. I mean, if it was something out of the ordinary or a new recipe I can understand, but usually these are everyday foods this person has been cooking themselves for years with great success.
This is the worst of the consequences of being a chef…rarely being invited to someone’s house for a homecooked meal. Not many people will cook for a chef! Why? I mean, we’re just like the rest of the hungry folks out there. We appreciate being treated to a lovingly cooked meal. It’s not like we’re gasp…restaurant critics! Now then I would be worried but most chef’s I know enjoy all manner of food from fancy to simply prepared meals.
In fact, this Friday, P and I were invited to A and J’s for a simple dinner. A, who did the cooking enjoyed making her herb roasted chicken with roasted onions and an abundonza salad. We thoroughly enjoyed eating every morsel and sitting down with good friends chatting about life. J was by all accounts nervous (no, frantic) at the prospect of having me over for dinner and was wishing we were going out. But see, those fears were totally unfounded 🙂
So, make your favorite chef’s day and invite her or him over for a home-cooked meal.
