Let's Get Cooking

My friend MzB suggested a cooking class. Let's go learn to make homemade stocks. What a great idea! Let's do that. I can't believe I never thought of it. Especially as I am in the midst of compiling a soup cookbook.

Silly me.
I completely overlooked the stock aspect of it. I like to think I would have noticed eventually.

But this is the difference between me and MzB... she could easily be the most competent person on the planet. I'm not kidding. There's not much she can't do. She has her own vineyard, she makes her own bread, she creates jams to die for, meals at her house are gourmet, she makes the most beautiful custom window coverings I've ever seen in my life, she gives the best hostess gifts bar none, she pilots a large sailboat. She even has her own motorcycle - I think that's terribly impressive.

She's so creative and productive. At the moment she's got a little greenhouse going in the garage. She's already produced an assortment of annual flowers and now she's moved on to tomatoes and basil.

I'm exhausted just recounting everything she does. But hey, I'm capable of tagging along to a class.

The class was advertised as an Anthony Bourdain class. Which had us kind of excited. We're going to go cook with a rock star! However, there was no sign what-so-ever of Anthony. Instead they apparently pulled someone named Mimi out of retirement, slapped her on the butt and sent her in to teach us.

There was a small nod to Anthony when Mimi noted in her distracted introduction to the class that he was the "bad boy" of cuisine. Only Gordon Ramsey is badder.

OK then, duly noted. Is that why Anthony is not here?? Did he just skip out? That would be bad. The good new is: I'm not the least bit worried Mimi is going to scream at us.

The class was about half men. I'm busy taking mental notes on all the personal dynamics while MzB, (who I think we've already established as the responsible one) is gently trying to wring specific stock making details out of our vague chef. "When do we add the bouquet garni? How long exactly should we roast the bones...?"

I'm noting how tentative some of the men are. Some of them act like they snuck in here. I'm thinking, "how funny, apparently it's in their DNA... this reticence to make any bold moves in the kitchen." Mom might get mad. We could get thrown out and not even get a cookie.

One man noted that he was really much more comfortable cooking with wine. In his glass. I thought  it was a helpful suggestion. But if we let Mimi wander off for wine she might never come back.

Another asserted he had cooking skills. Yes he did. He just wanted to enhance them. He is only here for the enhancement.

I presented the wooden spoon to one of the young men at my cooking station. "Here, go for it..." He beamed and stepped up to the pot with his scepter. Too bad for him we'd been assigned the fish stock. You're not likely to impress your girl with fish stock.

Which reminded me, someone close to me is in a new relationship. He and his charming love interest are spending a lot of time in the... ahem... kitchen. And he is loving it, it's a new and rich experience for him - they are baking, cooking, entertaining friends, trying new things. They are creating something sweet together. It's the ultimate metaphor.

One of the women commented that one of the first things her ex-husband did after becoming her ex, was take a cooking class. When he departed he wasn't capable of making a meal - even for himself. After he took a series of classes, he could cook, but without any kind of deviation from the formal cooking lessons. He was too fearful of screwing up.

The women laughed. The men looked uncomfortable. I think that is so sad... cooking should be done with abandon. It's meant to be fun. Cooking is about pleasure. It's a sensuous art that engages all your senses. The tactile experience of creating it, the aromas, the appearance, the anticipation. The pleasure of preparing something wonderful and the enjoyment of sitting down and sharing it with good company.

And hey, if the result turns out to be truly unfortunate, uncork another bottle of wine and use your speed dial to call that pizza place. Because there's an old saying... "A good cook knows it's not what's on the table that counts - it's what's in the chairs."
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Delicious
DELECTABLE
mouthwatering, appetizing, tasty, flavorful, toothsome, palatable; succulent, luscious; informal scrumptious,delish, yummy, finger-licking, nummy, lip-smacking, melt-in-your-mouth.
DELIGHTFUL
exquisite, lovely, pleasurable, pleasant; informal heavenly, divine