Master of the Cutting Board, Mediocre at the Stove

What’s your favorite thing to cook?

What Do You Like to Cook?

I like to cook. Or at least, I like the process of cooking. The chopping, cutting, mashing, sautéing—the tactile, physical act of transforming raw ingredients into something that looks like it belongs in a cookbook. But here’s the truth: my cooking is not great.

I have come to realize that my ability to taste is… lacking. And taste, as any decent cook will tell you, is deeply connected to smell. Unfortunately, my sinuses have been at war with me for as long as I can remember, dulling my sense of smell and, by extension, my ability to create well-balanced flavors.

Enter my wife. She can taste a dish and immediately tell me every ingredient—probably down to the brand of olive oil I used. It’s a kind of superpower. I, on the other hand, have been known to create stunning visual masterpieces that deliver either a bland, uninspired bite or an aggressive explosion of clashing flavors. There is no middle ground.

For years, I tried to cook intuitively—adding a dash of this, a pinch of that—imagining myself as some kind of culinary artist. But on my journey of self-awareness, I have humbly accepted that I am not an artist in this particular medium. So, I now follow recipes. I let my wife taste-test before subjecting others to my creations.

That said, I do cook a mean frozen pizza. And if you need an omelet absolutely packed with freshly chopped vegetables (regardless of whether they actually belong in an omelet), I’m your guy.

Cooking may not be my strongest suit, but I still love the process. And at the very least, I make sure the food looks good—even if the taste is a surprise every time.