Most Cardiologists would deny that 'the way to a man's heart is though his stomach'.
However (disregarding know-all surgeons), when I first met the future Lady Magnon she invited me for supper, and produced a staggeringly delicious Estofat de Boeuf (Catalan beef stew) served with ribbon noodles, and a Tarte Tatin for dessert. I was putty in her hands.
With two of my grandsons recently taking cooking lessons in Tokyo (above), I was thinking that the art of cooking is probably fading fast, other than for those who wish to work as chefs; or maybe for those who are serious gourmets.
It always used to be said that if you had one or two really spectacular recipes under your belt that it would serve you very well, and I'm sure that still applies today.
George and Finn are joining us for Christmas, along with their mother, Tenpin (my daughter). I'm hoping that they'll wish to impress their Grumpy with some stunning recently-learned Japanese dishes.
I like to see young people interested in what they eat and drink; it makes their lives so much more fulfilling. Maybe 'Gastronomy' should be added to schools curriculums; and replace 'Domestic Science'; which made it all sound so horribly clinical.
My grandson wanted to become a chef but changed his mind later. He's a good cook, his favourite 'dish' is tzatziki with so much garlic it blows your taste buds out the door.
ReplyDeleteYour two grandsons are handsome lads . Looks like they're engrossed in the process. I'm sure they'll be proud to show off their skills for Grumpy
I do hope so, they seem very concentrated on what they're cooking.
DeleteFrance does include gastronomy up to college level... and there are three very successful cookery teaching establishments around here.
ReplyDeleteTwo actually are linked to colleges and you can book at the restaurant!
When my two oldest were at school in France they ate extremely well at lunchtime. Our local roofer's wife went in to cook for them. It was a small school, and everything was cooked from scratch. Both children are still very exacting when it comes to what they eat.
DeleteThe boys certainly look very interested in what they are doing. It will be nice for you both to see them at Christmas .Yesterday I had curry paratha, boiled rice and pakoras . Cooked fresh at Artcore. Its a veggie cafe ( I'm not) . Artcore is a gallery with a pottery room and they display art, jewellery,and pottery for sale, made by local Derbyshire people.They also do pottery classes.Your 2 favourite things...art and food.
ReplyDeleteI too had a curry last night; made by me. I finished it for my breakfast this morning. Yes, that sounds like my sort of Café; and I'm quite happy to eat veggie. My curry was chicken!
DeleteMy granddaughter gets ideas for strange foods from Tik Tok and happily tries them. She also knows how to cook delicious and not strange food. The younger grandson likes to bake bread and is really good at it.
ReplyDeleteI like to see people taking an interest in what they eat; it's quite rare these days (in the UK).
DeleteYou are right about the very off-putting nature of the term "Domestic Science". When my son was at school the name was "Food Technology" - equally uninspiring.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, when George and Finn are with you, you ought to attempt to impress them with tales of what you did in WWII - you know, when you single-handedly saved a French village and in your capacity as an SAS operative smuggled vital information back to London that effectively shortened the war by several months.
"What did you do in the war Grumpy?"
Delete"Along with YP, we were dropped over enemy lines where we captured Hitler, and forced him to eat Fish-n-Chips".
It was then that I kicked The Fuhrer in the goolies with one testicle later requiring surgical removal. Grumpy used his trusty penknife.
DeleteGood to see grandsons cooking...and you are seeing them over the festive season, you are fortunate.
ReplyDeleteYes, they'll be with us until just after the big day. Can't wait! They arrive tomorrow.
DeleteMy son is very interested in cooking. He has his grandmother's kitchen genes. Daughter, not so much.
ReplyDeleteThat's good, but a shame about your daughter. There's time!
DeleteYears before my twin sons left for University, I taught both of them how to cook, iron a shirt and sew on a button. They loved to learn and now, they are both creative cooks, well able to handle any recipe, or to make up their own. Essential skills, I think and far too many young people are happy just to buy ready made meals/rubbish and have no idea about nutrition because they have never been taught or to have had the inclination to learn.
ReplyDeleteWell done you. "Come round for supper" is a great chat-up line at uni. Young ladies are often very impressed.
DeleteYour grandsons look to be practically grown men! Wow! And good for them for learning to cook. I went to high school with a guy who loved to cook, went on to culinary school, and is having a very successful career as a chef. Maybe something similiar is in one of their futures!
ReplyDeleteWho knows, they certainly look as if they're taking it seriously. Chefs of the future maybe!
DeleteI didn't do ' Dommy Subs ' { as we used to call it ! } as you had to choose between that and art and I chose art but, my sister and I used to cook lunch for our Dad on a Saturday when my mum was at work. We used to try all sorts of things including Chinese which was a bit of a novelty in the 60's ..... our Dad who loved food really enjoyed his Saturday lunches ! All of our family cook and my niece is a chef. XXXX
ReplyDeleteWhen I lived in London in the mid to late 60's, I can't remember cooking anything. I used to eat out every day. I even had a friend who took out the kitchen in his flat (Park Lane) and made it into another bedroom. He didn't even boil a kettle at home.
DeleteI am so glad I learned to cook, and later learned to love cooking.
ReplyDeleteMe too, it gives me huge pleasure daily.
Deletewho remembers Vesta curry and chinese food? In a cardboard packet. I use the term " food" lightly.
ReplyDeleteAh, those wonderful packs of Vesta meals. I do remember having them, but can't really remember what they were like. I wonder if they still exist?
DeleteI've checked, THEY DO!
DeleteIt appears you will be enjoying some exotic meals by George and Finn. I'd let them take over the kitchen.
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping they'll invite us over for supper one day.
DeleteI don't cook unless I have to. Not interested. Wastes too much time and effort. Would rather get on with other things. Not really bothered what I eat. What I drink is a different matter.
ReplyDeleteI agree about what you drink, but I'm saddened to hear that you don't care about what you eat. Naughty boy!
DeleteI have an O Level GCE in Domestic Science - for all the use it's ever been! I don't really enjoy cooking and look on it as a necessity rather than a pleasure.
ReplyDeleteI can't criticise you, but I think you're missing out on a great adventure.
DeleteI made sure all my children (now adults) learned beyond the basics in cooking skills. They all know how to bake bread and pastries, make soups and stews, roast meat, make vegetarian dishes and do preserving. Their spouses are fortunate, as most of them don't cook. Yes, it should definitely be taught, but I enjoyed teaching them at home too. I made each one of them responsible for one dinner a week when they were teenagers. I worked full time so it was a great learning experience for real life for them
ReplyDeleteI think that's a really great idea. Make your children cook for you at least once a week. WHY NOT, for goodness sake?
DeleteI started out in 'Home Economics' (Domestic Sci) in college. Found it extremely boring and switched to Veterinary medicine. But I love to cook (and bake)! It's challenging, fun, and almost always delicious...
ReplyDeleteI'm sure for most kids 'domestic science' was probably the most boring lessons of the week. 'Bread Making' would have been much more fun; and plain old useful.
DeleteMy daughters were responsible for meals on alternate week days. Led to wonderful arguments on whose cooking pleased mom the most. My oldest daughter was excused from domestic science to take shop. It was gone by the time my youngest daughter reached that grade.
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of our children cooking for their parents (as long as it's edible). It's a good lesson in life.
DeleteI think Gastronomy would be far better than Domestic Science. Eating what you learn to cook is far more fun than knowing how to make a bed with "hospital corners" on the sheets and how to dry clean your school tie.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely. Luckily my school didn't teach such things, but for those who had to endure it, it must have been tedious.
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