Waldy Cabral
Nathan Fetherolf
Writing For The Social Sciences
12/09/2024
The Divine Obsession With Cooking
It was during our Writing for the Social Sciences class that I first noticed that everyone’s computer was on, and they were starting to write notes as they followed the Professor’s lecture. In front of me was Awa’s computer and I saw that she had a left window tab opened for her notes and a right window tab that showed a list of recipes that were written down. It caught my eye because several ingredients were listed. Awa carefully took down notes and was ready to review the recipe that she had on the other side of her laptop. It was the day of our interview, Awa had multiple tabs open for different foods and YouTube videos that sounded so delicious it could make anybody’s mouth water. Lime Chipotle Carnitas Tostadas. Awa quickly closed both tabs and apologized Sorry I know it is a lot of tabs I was just studying this recipe really quick
This is when I realized Awa’s obsession with cooking goes far beyond measure. Even in school, she feels this attachment to these recipes and dishes that span across different cultures. Nah it’s Okay I didn’t know you were that obsessed with cooking I said jokingly. Awa is of African American particularly Malian descent. Mali is a small country in West Africa and the country is known for its wealth and historic trade routes. They are also known for dishes like Fufu and Jollof Rice. “Typical dishes include rice with vegetables in a peanut sauce, rice or other cereal grains served with tomatoes and fish, or meat with vegetables. Meat curries are frequently made with lamb.” Rise, T. W. (2017, April 6). Malian culture carries natural ingredients and nutritious meals that sound delicious even on paper. Whenever I asked her about different foods she loved to make, her eyes lit up quickly, confident in knowing what she was already going to say. I find myself cooking a lot of Asian dishes like Korean or Indian, and sometimes like Hispanic dishes like Dominican recipes, and sometimes even Mexican as well. It was genuinely interesting how Awa loves to dive into different recipes from different cultures since it also allows her to find new foods that she can try and make in the future.
Awa grew up watching cable for most of her life and as she scrolled through the channels, the ones that mainly caught her attention were the baking and cooking channels. Shows and channels like Food Network, Iron Chef America, and Kitchen Nightmares, all would premiere episodes that inspired her to step into the kitchen and master ways she would see different chefs cook their dishes. She would also watch popular videos on YouTube and take notes on the next recipes she wanted to learn to try to cook in the future with her family. Cooking shows often portray an ideal version of cooking, where everything goes smoothly, the dishes turn out perfectly, and the food looks beautiful. For Awa, watching these shows became a way to escape from the stress of her everyday life. It was a peaceful space where she could forget about her worries and just enjoy the calm, orderly world of cooking, even if it wasn’t her reality. I’ve learned so much from watching these shows. It’s not just about the recipes, but also the techniques and the confidence to try new things, Awa said. This idea made me realize that: food shows can really impact how people cook. They inspire viewers to try new recipes and techniques, and they help make cooking feel like a fun and positive experience.
Awa started her cooking journey when she was about ten years old. Her parents were finally able to let her use the stove by herself but she used this as a stepping stone to gain more confidence with her cooking skills. Around the age of thirteen Awa was able to use the kitchen freely and turn her cooking obsession into a hobby. The recipes she had written down were all she wanted to try making. Awa spent countless hours in the kitchen trying new recipes. She eventually had her brother taste some of the dishes she would cook. Her obsession with cooking grew more and more from there. Awa’s brother would be the first to try the dishes she would make. Awa also gained inspiration from her mother, she learned the ways her mother would make dinners for her family and, she would always try her best to help her mother out in the kitchen. Additionally, she would get lots of compliments from her family for the meals she would make and her father jokingly said Your cooking is becoming better than your mom’s, which opened so many doors for Awa since now her craft gained approval from the ones that taught her best-her parents.
For Awa, she believes that her obsession is expensive. When the food doesn’t come out the way you want to, it makes you want to scrap the recipe and not try new things, as well as making minor mistakes can completely destroy whatever you’re cooking, like over-seasoning. This obsession can sometimes be challenging because it causes many problems like food waste whenever the food doesn’t come out the way Awa would want it to turn out “America wastes roughly 40 percent of its food.1 Of the estimated 125 to 160 billion pounds of food that goes to waste every year, much of it is perfectly edible and nutritious.”Food Waste Is a Massive Problem—Here’s Why – FoodPrint. (2024, February 28). This challenge causes many around the world with the same obsession to potentially throw food out that is possibly still nutritious and edible and can be donated or given to those around us who need it the most.
Awa enjoys cooking for herself, her friends, and her family. The best part of her cooking obsession is the way she receives criticism for the meals she makes for her family and her friends. She believes that she can learn so many new ways to improve her food and tweak recipes to perfect her future meals. In addition, she enjoys feeding the ones she truly loves. When Awa sees her craft being enjoyed by those around her, she feels honored and motivated to try new recipes. Awa always expects surprises whenever she jumps into the kitchen. Not knowing what to expect she is met with new surprises. My perfect routine is just being prepared to face the unexpected. Of course for Awa this is motivating because she can learn from these surprises and the mistakes that she makes in the kitchen can elevate her cooking skills profoundly.
For Awa, her obsession is deep in her eyes, I asked her if she would take her obsession to the next level and try to master this skill by going to culinary school and learning different ways to improve her cooking. So right now I’m not doing culinary school and that’s for a reason, I want to pursue something else, and maybe later on in my life, go to culinary school and start monetizing my obsession. For Awa this is perfect, not only can she enjoy the meals she makes for herself, she can also monetize her obsession by creating programs, as well as uploading YouTube videos that can potentially blow her up and make her a decent profit. Her skills can also open up opportunities to become a chef for a restaurant and lead her to start her own business, which she plans on doing in the future.
Some recipes for Awa can be difficult since most ingredients required for certain dishes are difficult for Awa to find in local markets and delis. Since she enjoys making dishes from Asian cultures she sometimes struggles to make certain Asian dishes like Hainanese Chicken rice or Japanese Curry. Certain spices and ingredients are difficult to find in some markets and this can certainly throw Awa since she always tries her best to make these meals as similar and authentic as possible. For Awa, cooking shows are more than just about following recipes; they offer a deeper look into the culture behind the food. I feel like cooking shows teach you about the culture of the food. You get to learn the story behind a dish, the history of the ingredients, and that’s what really interests me, she said. Awa enjoys how cooking shows let her connect with the traditions and history behind the meals.
After sitting down and talking to Awa on a deeper note about her obsession with cooking I learned that Awa’s passion for cooking shows shows how they can appeal to people in many different ways. The competitive part of these shows gives viewers the excitement of drama, while the educational side helps them learn new skills and techniques. For Awa, cooking is more than just about making food—it’s also about learning about different cultures, the history behind dishes, and the creativity involved in cooking. This shows that cooking shows offer a mix of entertainment, personal growth, and a way for people to connect with food and culture. Awa’s experiences show how food has become an important way for people to express who they are and connect with their culture. As cooking shows focus more on the art and history behind food, they’ve changed the way viewers, like Awa, think about and appreciate different food traditions. These shows don’t just entertain—they also give people a sense of comfort and a way to connect with others. By watching, people can share ideas, learn from each other, and explore their own identity through food, which is something everyone can relate to.
Works Cited: Food Waste Is a Massive Problem—Here’s Why – FoodPrint. (2024, February 28). FoodPrint. https://foodprint.org/issues/the-problem-of-food-waste/
Rise, T. W. (2017, April 6). Customs and Cuisine of Mali – Together Women Rise. Together Women Rise -. https://togetherwomenrise.org/customsandcuisine/customs-and-cuisine-of-mali-caravan-to-class/#:~:text=African%20rice%20has%20a%20distinct,are%20frequently%20made%20with%20lamb.
