Claire's story resinates with me. I cook at home for the love of sharing flavor and effort with friends and family. My father impressed me with his creativity for guests or just for his wife...I've learned to do the same and feel more at ease cooking for friends than sitting and socializing among them. Without cooking I would be considerably less warm.
As a home cook trying to find my place in this forum, I've discovered that much of what I do is from a vastly different perspective than the professionals who make up the forum community.
I can't help but think of Abe Maslow and his theory on intrinsic motivation. If you do something that you love and it becomes your job...that love with be lost in time. I'm sure cooking has strong motives for those masters who do it day in and day out, but in my case, cutting a few veggies with a Jknife for my friends is a thrill...cutting a few crates of veggies for patrons who I'll never know...far less so.
To Ecchef
On the island, number six reminds us that we are all prisoners of our own making.
Still, I ate a pepper biscuit this AM and it brought back warm thoughts of a beloved Italian grandmother. The rest of the tray ended up on my desk with the invitation for coworkers to do the same.
