Building the family – be a cook, not a chef

Last updated on: December 10, 2008 at 7:33 am by Pia de Solenni

Building the family – be a cook, not a chef 2008-12-10T07:33:26-07:00 Pia de Solenni

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Marcella Hazan, one of the foremost experts of Italian cooking, offers some sage advice for human relations in her recent column for the NYT.

I’m a big fan of Marcella Hazan’s cookbooks, in part because they’re not overly complicated. They’re very Italian. A recipe, for example, will call for one onion. She won’t say a small, yellow onion that was harvested on a full moon. It’s just an onion. That’s all you need.

Her simplicity and authenticity shows itself in this piece where she discusses the difference between a “chef” and a “cook.” In keeping with the general trends of our society, people tend toward the word “chef” because it connotes a higher status than a lowly cook. But Hazan cautions against this based on how important she sees the role of the cook in the family.

I am my family’s cook. It is the food prepared and shared at home that, for more than 50 years, has provided a solid center for our lives. In the context of the values that cement human relations, the clamor of restaurants and the facelessness of takeout are no match for what the well-laid family table has to offer. A restaurant will never strengthen familial bonds.

Which is why, as we come together over the holidays, we should take a moment to think about how we might become cooks again. We could even begin, in these financially straitened times, by replacing store-bought presents with meals cooked at home.

After all, what experience of food can compare with eating something good made by someone you can hug? Like other forms of human affection, cooking delivers its truest and most enduring gifts when it is savored in intimacy — prepared not by a chef but by a cook and with love.

So here’s to all the cooks out there. Here’s to building the bonds of friendship and family.

Thinking Out Loud

Uncategorized

Previous Post

November 24, 2008

Continuing distinctions and clarifications: organ harvesting and euthanasia

Next Post

December 10, 2008 More Virgin Mary, Less Virgin Islands

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Articles Thinking Out Loud Uncategorized

Select a Month August 2016 July 2016 May 2016 March 2016 February 2016 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 September 2013 August 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 August 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 July 2007 October 1008

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

How long, Lord, must I call for help and you do not listen? Why do you make me look at injustice? This prophet questioned God's justice. Who am I?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Habakkuk Asaph Jeremiah Job