So I don’t know about other chef’s but the most asked question I get is, “so……uh…what, what is your FAVORITE thing to make?……you know, like for yourself.” For years I went with my mom’s home cooking. Not because it was out of this world but because everyone can identify with home cooking and the nostalgia gets you every time. Everyone thinks their family member makes the BEST….dot, dot, dot. But they usually don’t. Making a connection is the goal to a healthy conversation. But this question has always disdained me when asked.
I found that most people just want to hear some cool crazy dish that they have never made before and then for the follow up question. “How do you make that?” A question I try to avoid in any conversation. I moved on from that and for a little time went with, “ cooking anything for family and friends”. Because that is what it all boils down to, bringing a group of people family, friends, strangers alike and enjoying some much deserved sustenance. Most animals feel stress when enjoying a meal fearful of pirates hijacking the daily catch from their teeth. Not us, the top of the food chain, Alpha Dog, Predator, King of the jungle, whatever you want to call yourself. We are different we must have pleasure when we eat. It starts with the eyes, then the hooting and chanting starts and like clock work we all take a deep breath in and smell the wonderful flavors. By this point the decision is made. Either you get an Uummmmm or yum-yum. The smack of the lips and maybe a little tongue lick upon the lips and we are ready to dig in.
Chef’s miss that everytime they make their food. You watch any chef on TV or in real life and they get more excited about mediocre food just because they get to be served for this meal. So I have made my final answer. My favorite thing to make is anything someone else makes me. The first two answers will always apply. I just want to be like everyone else.
-Chef Greg
