What makes someone a good cook? Many people I’ve asked answer that question by mentioning something about confidence in the kitchen and the ability to wing it — throw something together with limited ingredients, in an unfamiliar space perhaps, despite various obstacles. I like to tell the story of visiting a friend in Montreal who’s a great cook. We’d brought some strawberries from the market and gave them to him, and then started catching up and became so involved in the conversation that when he served us the strawberries as part of a salad, with fresh arugula and almonds and a light vinegary dressing, I was startled because I hadn’t noticed him cooking at all. The dish was simple (though perfectly seasoned) but what made it impressive was the naturalness with which he incorporated something unexpected into his plan, the seeming lack of thought in his movement.
That which makes spontaneous gesture possible
That which makes spontaneous gesture possible
That which makes spontaneous gesture possible
What makes someone a good cook? Many people I’ve asked answer that question by mentioning something about confidence in the kitchen and the ability to wing it — throw something together with limited ingredients, in an unfamiliar space perhaps, despite various obstacles. I like to tell the story of visiting a friend in Montreal who’s a great cook. We’d brought some strawberries from the market and gave them to him, and then started catching up and became so involved in the conversation that when he served us the strawberries as part of a salad, with fresh arugula and almonds and a light vinegary dressing, I was startled because I hadn’t noticed him cooking at all. The dish was simple (though perfectly seasoned) but what made it impressive was the naturalness with which he incorporated something unexpected into his plan, the seeming lack of thought in his movement.