Exploring the World of Food

Exploring the World of Food 

For Taiya, eating spaghetti and chicken nuggets was a way of life. Self-identified as a picky eater. She wouldn’t dare try new foods until she began her job at Panera, which resulted in gaining weight and a newfound conviction to change her eating habits. With the help of her mother (and lots of determination) she immersed herself into the community of cooking.  

Gaining weight was the catalyst in changing her lifestyle. Thankfully, cooking was nothing new to Taiya.  She took a class that helped her learn the fundamentals. Learning side by side with her mom, her adventure into cooking looked as straight as a butter knife.  

  “I took cooking classes in high school and my mom also took some cooking classes. She has taught me a lot!” Taiya exclaimed enthusiastically. To Taiya cooking is not only composed of making food to eat. It’s a gateway of trying different cultural cuisine and cultivate minds to new experiences and tastes. “I want to try different foods that were in my comfort zones and like try to learn how to work with them” Taiya points out. For instance, Taiya has noticed an improvement not only in her cooking and the food she eats but to value the importance of cooking in itself. She admits, "Cooking has taught me how much time and effort really goes into making a quality product.” 

 The United States is known for its fast food which makes it easy to undervalue a well-cooked meal however, the United States offer diversity in dishes from around the world which compliments Taiya’s cooking styles. Everyone has different types of taste buds, which determines our likes and dislikes, from favorite foods to foods that make you want to vomit with just an aroma, spicy food, and or plain food.  Taiya has a distinct taste which has influenced her cooking style. She wasn’t known for eating interesting foods but that’s all changing, “I grew up not eating anything, I was so picky!” she reminisces. For this reason, Taiya has her own style of cooking (which doesn’t include meat). Through trial and errors, she has developed and combined two different styles of her favorite foods. It is a combination of American and Asian styles, using foods she has grown up with and incorporating Asian style ingredients.  

Not only can trying new foods be a challenge. There are many variables that can cause one to like or dislike new food such as the type of texture, smell, visual, who made it, where it has been made, freshness, and the type of food (I.e. seafood). It can also be difficult to try new foods you’ve tried before because of a previous experience. 

 “My dad grills steak and it’s good! Something else I recently tried was calamari! But I hated it, I’m [now] terrified!” As a result, Taiya has established preferences in food categories. 

Meat, found almost in every kind of dish, is a challenge to Taiya. It’s not as simple as cooking other foods. Not only are there many ways to cook meat, there are also many different types of meat.  

“I don’t trust myself cooking meat. In my cooking class in high school there were these people who cooked chicken wings and it wasn't cooked thoroughly enough. I didn’t eat it thankfully!” Taiya says as she wrinkles her nose in disgust.  

Taiya would eventually like to consume all vegan. She eats meat here and there mostly because her parents cook it, but she said if she were to move out the potential to become vegan is much greater.   

Additionally, sharing a meal with others is the epitome of the full experience of cooking. Interacting with others over a meal that has been made by you gives a satisfaction of a job well done. “I [mostly] cook for myself and occasionally for my family of five. I would cook them my signature dish; zucchini noodles with tofu and peanut sauce.” Taiya states.  

According to Michelle Kayal, a journalist from The Seattle Times, every home cook should have at least these six set of skills; chopping, searing, sautéing, ability to emulsify, learning temps, and knowing how to blanch and shock. Taiya emphasized two key points in skills needed, “You need to be able to read directions and stir things often!” one of her most valuable skills is “having lots of patience!”  

Equally important is identifying the amount of materials needed to cook. It will depend on what you are cooking and how much. Since Taiya lives at home, her parents provide all the cooking equipment and pay for the ingredients. Realizing all her parents provide for her, she looks for specials on specific items and knows which grocery stores to go to. Taiya's excitement is when she finds “ridiculously low-priced items at Dillions, Farmers Market, and Sprouts in Lawrence, KS. I don’t go very much” she notes, “I get whatever is on sale.”   

Taiya can be found at her house chopping up carrots and zucchini, brainstorming with her mom how to make yet another delightful healthy dish. “Good things take time and patience!” 

Citations 

Kayal, M. (2018) 6 basic cooking skills to remember now. [online] The Seattle Times.https://www.seattletimes.com/life/food-drink/6-basic-cooking-skills-to-remember-now.

Kimmel, Taiya. College in Comp II. JCCC