What makes cooking an art

What would Eid be without sewai, Christmas be without cakes and Pongal without payasam? Food is inextricably linked to occasions and memories. The connection also works in reverse. When you cook something, your state of mind gets reflected on the plate. All this makes cooking the most versatile art form and in a way, a spiritual activity. Unlike other artistic mediums, it has the capacity to engage all the senses.

Chefs have long known that the presentation of a dish is as important as the taste, aroma and texture of what is served. However, recent research shows that sound, too, is a critical element in creating the right dining experience. It features a collection of seafood served on a bed of sand-like tapioca resembling the seashore. But what makes the dish really unique is that diners are encouraged to listen to the sound of waves playing on an iPod while savouring this culinary treat.

Blumenthal came up with the idea after research at Oxford University proved that sound could influence and enhance the sense of taste. Culinary Arts Instructor Jon Orren incorporates history and culture in teaching about the sophistication of the foods consumed, and thus goes beyond basic knife skills and time management techniques.

However, some students are more intrigued in the food itself, rather than the history of the ingredient. In addition, Orren seriously considers the characteristics required in a successful art class, passion and creativity. Cooking does not just depend upon reading a recipe and following directions, a lot of other aspects — like oven temperatures, ingredient interpretation, and mixing techniques — all factor into the dish. These aspects are similar to the variation in color choice, brush strokes, and painting medium painters have.

The art of cooking involves pleasing the eye and the palate. If cooking is your hobby, it will be something fun to do but not something that you let take over more and more of your life. This will give you a much greater appreciation for different cultures, which in turn helps to build empathy for people in general. The author of Think Like a Chef is betting that if he shows you what he does in a commercial kitchen, it will have an impact on your home cooking.

Because what he does in his kitchen is what he likes to eat at home. Cooking is a rather versatile hobby. You can listen to music and dance around your kitchen as you prepare dinner. You can spend quality time with others while cooking, too. Culinary art is both an art and a science. It requires more than just knowledge of the food being prepared and the methods of preparation.