I first fell in love with cooking over 30 years ago when I was just a little kid living on my grandparents’ farm. To be honest, I wasn’t much of a fan at first—after all, who likes to eat dinner at 5 pm? But when I discovered that I could create things in the kitchen out of just about anything, I was hooked!
Learning to Cook is Like Learning Anything Else
One of my favorite quotes is by violinist Yehudi Menuhin. He said, As a violinist I have no idea how to fix a motorcar engine, but if someone asked me how to make one sound better, I would know what to do. The lesson here is that learning any skill requires practice and honing your craft.
Learning From My Grandmother
Ever since I was a little kid, I’ve been hooked on cooking. The way my grandmother used to tell me stories about making meals for her family growing up, and how good those meals were, always inspired me to cook and create magic right there in my own kitchen. As an adult now with a family of my own, that inspiration is even stronger than ever before. I never realized how she helped me become a chef until last year when she passed away at 94 years old.
Growing Up On The Farm
Rigo spent much of his childhood helping out on his grandparents’ small farm. In fact, he can barely remember a time when food wasn’t an integral part of everyday life. From an early age, Rigo learned how to source local ingredients and cook with them all summer long. He says it wasn’t unusual for him to spend whole afternoons by himself, running around outside and collecting eggs from their chickens or picking vegetables from their garden.
Just like any skill, you get better with practice
Cooking takes time and patience, but it is well worth your time to do it. The more you do it, though, the more confidence you will gain and soon cooking becomes second nature. Instead of ordering out all the time for takeout or eating at restaurants all week, save some money by making simple yet tasty meals at home using fresh ingredients. It’s also a great way to connect with loved ones by setting aside time to cook a meal together.
You Need Creativity & a Sense of Adventure
It can take years to develop a talent for cooking, but with a little creativity and some confidence you’ll be amazed at what you can whip up. Try using fresh ingredients from local farms, or experimenting with recipes from your family archives to make new favorites. And don’t forget to incorporate a sense of adventure into your kitchen—you never know what delicious creations you might stumble upon!
It’s Not About Perfection
Although new chefs tend to focus on replicating their favorite recipes, it’s important to remember that cooking is about creating something unique and delicious. Don’t be afraid to experiment and mess up along the way! The more mistakes you make, and learn from, the better your cooking will become.
Never Use Complicated Ingredients When Simple Ones Will Do
In life, we’re constantly presented with multiple options. We can eat fast food or have a home-cooked meal; we can work at our job and live paycheck to paycheck, or we can get a degree and learn how to become financially independent. The same goes for cooking. Why go out and spend $10 on herbs like rosemary when all you need is thyme? If you’re new to cooking, there are several simple ingredients that will make your dish taste great without busting your budget.
Always Read the Recipe Beforehand
Skipping recipes and just throwing things together can sometimes result in delicious meals, but there’s a big risk that you’ll waste money on ingredients or even burn down your kitchen. Always read a recipe all the way through before starting to cook, as well as any additional instructions that come with it. This will help you avoid problems and better understand what’s going on behind-the-scenes.
Don’t Skip the Directions!
Directions may seem like a hassle, but they actually make your recipes easier to execute and improve your food’s flavor. Recipes without directions are like recipes without measurements—you can try them, but they’re more likely to fail. So ditch any recipe that doesn’t include instructions for preparation and cooking time. (And, if you need more convincing, check out our guide to why reading recipes is so important.)
Chef Of Toronto, Ivan Bodnar
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