Some people love to cook

There are people who live to create culinary delights, a good part of whose days are spent running thought experiments on flavor combinations, the load balancing of calorie types, and of course, where and when to procure groceries for cooking. Then, of course, there’s another type of person.

I had heard tell that Germans love to socialize while preparing dinner. That’s already been proven quite a sound insight in the short time I’ve been here. Very few people in our building actually have TVs, as we’re students, and most of us are too poor to go out to bars often, as we’re students. But every so often, there’s a soccer game on, and Germans don’t miss German teams playing soccer. For this reason, TV tuners and antennas were procured for laptops, and on gamenights the largest laptop we can find is plunked down in the kitchen for all to behold.

Cooking ensues, as a kind of pre-game activity. Our floor of this building is somewhat limited in cooking resources, such as skillets and pots, but we only have two stoves for sixteen people, so there’s always a line anyway. Usually the top chefs will begin the off-the-stove preparations, such as chopping vegetables and coordinating spices. During this period the cooking n00bz will whip up some pasta and butter, or perhaps some sausage, but rarely anything more complex or toothsome.

When the top chefs take over, the n00bz retreat to seated positions and make sure the laptop is tuned to the right channel. They dine, their meal flavored with the aroma and laughter both so inherent to quality cooking. After eating, the table is cleared in preparation of the deployment of the real meals, and it is the top chefs’ turn to dine.

I don’t quite have my mind around the joy of cooking, but I know that it’s more complex than just the cooking. It might be greater than the joy of witnessing cooking, much as the artist undergoes a thrill unlike that of any who merely observe his work. But I think what’s really important is the witnessing of the witnessing, the feedback, the sharing, the community and the culture of indulgence. Stated in electrical engineering or anthropological terms, it means the same thing: Chefs love feeding people.

So in exchange for cooking classes and exceptional meals, I often wash dishes and help people configure their VPN clients. “No, you see, you’ve set it up only to receive e-mail, but to send you also need to configure SMTP. Is that honey I taste in this spaghetti sauce? Yes, a little wine next time would be a great idea!”