So there I was in HOTS, bragging of the monkfish in herbs, lemon, garlic, butter, broccolini and orzo I had just preparedin text chat. Now, I don't voicechat generally, but I had it toggled on somehow (I still don't fully know how to turn it on or off- I'm sure it's obvious, but for some reason, HOTS backend just confuses me) and I was playing Tychus- so the female of a boyfriend/girlfriend gaming duo assumed I was a dude. Cue her getting all hot and bothered over dudes who cook. And I honestly couldn't blame her.
Gentleman? Men who cook are Hot.
Now, at this point in the gender roles conversation, I HOPE we have for the most part moved past the "get back in the kitchen, woman" end of the conversation, leaving it for troglodyte "traditionalists" who are happy to keep the second class labour. (Personally, I'm a big fan of the "women belong in the kitchen, men belong in the kitchen, everyone belongs in the kitchen, the kitchen has food" adage). No one Generally these days goes around blasting the misogynist horn of "make me a sandwich"- out loud anyway. There's a reason women stay out of gaming chat.
Still, there's the lingering idea that culinary artistry is more of an acceptable career on a woman. An Entirely strange notion that humanity frequently goes back and forth on- naught but mid last century did we see the infamous Julia Child struggle to break into French culinary school, a career, at the the time, dominated by men.
But somewhere around Gordon Ramsay o'clock did the popular world learn that we were still big fans of men in the kitchen. (Especially masculine, dominant men. I may not be a fan of his- far too many hissy fit tantrums- but Anthony Bourdain... now THERE was a silver fox of a man. RIP. It does not hurt that I very much belong to his school of thought when it comes to culinary artistry: that fine dining was not the providence of the rich, but rather, a testament of skill and artistry that runs the gamut from haute cuisine to down home cooking, and that quality was determined by love, science, culture, history and sensory fulfillment. Taste is Not subjective- quality can be determined- but taste is personal, and what makes something divine takes investment.)
But to this day, if a man sits me down to a great white, a lit candle and a pan-seared scallop or an Italian puts me in front of a whole branzino or a man just knows his way around a good old fashioned steak (I'll bring the red wine), you'll see me there with HEART EYES.
Now, to be fair, this credit does not solely belong to the male members of our little species. I currently have the good fortune of a ongoing female lover, friend and companion who, quite regularly, cooks for a small army and will send choice bits my way, now and again. (I do much the same for her, but usually in the form of handpicked spice blends, mushroom tea, or wine.) I have the Very good fortune of licking my fingers clean of some of the most delectable lemon curd I've ever gotten my paws on, a sensory experience to itself. (The 90s weren't lying- food is sexy.)
Food is, for many, a love language. And for myself, anyone who puts in the effort to teach themselves a craft, even a specific dish... if you've invested the time to perfect something you favour, that is a FANTASTIC way into a lady's pants, just sayin'.
Tell me of something you love to cook!