Would you invite a chef?

3/12/2017

Dessert - Alain Ducasse at the Dorchester - Pistachio & Strawberry

Is the glamorous imagery of gastro-porn a barrier to sharing your table?

Adam Gopnik, (frequent contributor to The New Yorker) wrote when reviewing a book by a three star chef…
Even for a good cook the dishes are essentially unrealizable, but that does not alter their encyclopedic significance: images of Heaven are painted to encourage you to go there, not to help you build it in your back yard.

I can't abseil, I can't play the piano, I don't have a swimming pool, I can't discuss dialectical materialism, I don't jog and I've never read Proust in the original French.
BUT...
I cook. I'm a retired chef of some note. I have good tastebuds. I have a good eye. I ran a business. I still have access to great produce. I have all the important cook books.
Non-chefs often cook as well as I do. Often, I just do it faster and neater. Sometimes I'm tired and mess up.
We're surely all allowed to be good at something without terrifying people into saying
"Oh, I couldn't cook for you!"

How do you feel about inviting a chef?

(The Table Comes First: Family, France, and the Meaning of Food - Adam Gopnik)

9 Comments

Ken Burgin

3/12/2017 03:10:28 pm

It’s another version of the ‘barbecue stopper’ - a psychologist friend has a similar challenge. See https://youtu.be/Dj8mSG7BUAk

Cath link

4/12/2017 08:34:03 am

Psychologists - I share their pain but as a psychologist manqué, I know I'd be spellbound by their conversation and want to know more, and more, and more.

3/12/2017 03:36:37 pm

Doctors are to be pitied at parties but they do get asked out, even if it is in the hope of free advice!

Pascale

3/12/2017 11:43:30 pm

I love inviting you for dinner! Your better off inviting a chef because they are more likely to like food.

4/12/2017 08:30:43 am

You are right, Pascale and cooks/chefs will always be more understanding and grateful because they know what thought has gone into the meal.

Helen Vincent

4/12/2017 10:25:52 am

I must say I do feel a little apprehensive when inviting eg.a chef and friends as most of my friends are very good cooks.
However I know that my friends never worry about "my worry"and you are always appreciative of what I serve up and you never criticize---only give me suggestions if I ask . Much appreciated.
I do know I am a reasonable cook thanks to Mum and my interest in reading and collecting recipes

4/12/2017 01:57:13 pm

Stop worrying Helen. Worry never cooked a nice meal. Just believe the genuine appreciation you receive from friends at your table. I must also get some photos of your table set for a special occasion. They'd make a good Home Page image.

Angela Bannon

8/12/2017 05:15:12 pm

I cooked for a very lovable Spanish friend who is a chef. He said "Oh you were so brave to cook rabbit!" I was put in mind of "Yes, Minister" where the key word was 'courageous', but I think the meaning was the same!

10/12/2017 03:08:14 pm

Mmmm. Strange comment from the Spaniard! I'm sure it was delicious.

But coincidences! I am sitting at Jean-Pierre's house by the sea, smelling a casserole of rabbit my brother and I prepared earlier. It has another 2 hours to go. He shot them two days ago. We marinated them overnight in masses of herbs from his garden, chopped spring onions and olive oil. It's in a low oven in red wine.

Would you invite a chef?

Leave a Reply.

Archives

Categories