A Foodie for the People

I love to cook. When I'm stressed, I cook. When I'm giving a gift, I cook. When I want to feel productive, I cook. I will cook anything and everything, on any day, and for any occasion. But for as much as I love to cook, I hate the culinary world. Sure, I love to read culinary publications and watch TV chefs. But each time I take in another form of "food media," I always have the same thought: this is so unapproachable.

In the last decade, the food world has simplified itself, catering to those who need to cook fast. That was great news for me, considering my single, working mother didn't have time to cook full meals unless it was her day off. But as I got older, I discovered the reoccurring theme of "this is in no way fancy" when it comes to these near-instant foods.

There is no issue with that, but I never saw a middle-ground. Food was either quick, cheap, and ugly, or tedious, extravagant, and artful. I have yet to find a chef that will cook something actually artful AND affordable. When food is accessible, it's always "less nice." Food's purpose is simply nourishment; yet, the culinary world is so complicated. I don't see the point in that. If you want to reach millions of people and show them your art, shouldn't you at least acknowledge that not everyone has the means to do what you're doing? Not everything cheap is ugly, and not everything expensive tastes good.

I believe in the idea of free art. Art is for everyone, and making it accessible to only the elite is conceptually flawed, considering the great artists of history were notoriously devoid of funds. Van Gogh never sold a painting during his lifetime, and Claude Monet lived in poverty. Art is for the people. Food is for the people. So let's make it as accessible and approachable as possible.

#cooking #food #socialissues