The Summer When It All Began

I was recently thinking about when I initially started getting into cooking. Not that long ago, I wasn't comfortable in the kitchen, and didn't consider myself a good cook, especially since I rarely did it. And when I did cook something, it always felt more like a chore than something enjoyable.

 During the Summer of 2014, I think I read my first cooking memoir called Yes, chef by Marcus Sameulsson. I tried reading it once before and didn't really get into it, but once I started reading it again that Summer, I knew that this was a good book and this time it instantly kept me engaged and interested the whole way through. That same Summer, my Mom and my sisters saw a cooking movie called The 100 Foot Journey. I became so interested in the story line, cooking, the characters, I felt that I was becoming more and more connected with cooking. If you are unfamilar with this movie, it's about two cultures colliding, French and Indian, as well as the cuisine. You get to see two restaurants compete against one another and see how the characters gain more respect and understanding for the other's culture.

After these experiences, I felt that I was becoming closer to cooking. It wasn't so far removed from me anymore, I felt more inspired and engaged that cooking is a process, a creative process. I was slowly learning that cooking is a creative activity, using your hands, mixing things to create something. I had a hunch that I would enjoy cooking, after reading about someone's experience with becoming a chef, opening up their own restaurant and telling a true story of how food was close to their heart and culture. And also from watching a movie that brought cooking more to life and tapped something inside that I didn't know that I had, an interest and passion for cooking.

I started cooking more that Fall. I had my other siblings at home also have a cooking night, where they cook dinner for the rest of the family. Having to cook for 5 other people, not including myself taught me many things, and it challenged me to learn more and get more and more comfortable in the kitchen.

Ever since then, I have become more inspired with cooking dinner, and wanting to try out new recipes. Also, I've been reading and on the look out for more cooking memoirs. I think they are one of my favorite genres. It's so interesting to me because it combines the love of food with someone's personal story, and I feel that there is always something to be learned, and taken from these kinds of books. I only hope I can continue to challenge myself, and become more inspired with the great art of cooking!