The tears and joys of Cooking!

What is one constant struggle that thousands who live abroad or those who live a bachelor's life in India face everyday ? I am sure smart people such as you, who are reading this blog might have already guessed it. Well, the answer is food, or rather Indian food (the so called Ghar ka Khana) :)

It is not that easy task to adjust one's palate to the western cuisine or to the 'dhaaba' food, especially for Indians who have been pampered with delicious home food for years. Not only is eating out expensive but also it is not very healthy. Many times the food available in the restaurant or the 'dhaaba' is too oily or too spicy. Believe me, having eaten out both lunch and dinner for almost 2 years in Bangalore and having lived in Zurich for 6 months, I have really understood the craving for home cooked food that one gets. At times its depressing, especially if you are abroad. But can this problem be solved? How do you overcome this problem and get the food that you love.

The best way to solve this problem is to try your hand at cooking. Especially if you have time (Grad students and IT engineers). However, I often hear people grumbling that cooking is not my cup of tea or I can't cook. Believe me it not that difficult. Its all in the mind!!

The most important reason why most people do not try to cook, according to me, is the stereotypes that they associate with cooking. Many people, especially Indian men, think cooking to be something that is best done by the girls and women. Yes believe me, male chauvinism is the biggest hurdle that stops men from cooking and the irony is that most of the best chefs in the world are men !!

I have seen lot of people who say I don't know how to cook, i have never cooked in my life before. Believe me there are lot for things that you do for the first time and that you have never done before and you still you do it right. After all we are a nation of more than 1.2 billion people ;) Had people thought the same way about having sex for the first time as they think about cooking for the first time, i don't think we would have ended up with so many people in our country! ;)

Most of the times it is just an excuse that idle that procrastinating people put forward to escape any work that must be done to cook a decent meal.

Well, for those who cannot cook, all hope is not lost. There are other options which you can try. Today most of the Indian food is available in ready to eat form, both in India and abroad. Try your hands at the ready to eat food, though not the best option, it is definitely a decent one. In fact, i tried a lot of this ready to eat stuff when I was in Zurich.

The free rider syndrome

Well I have also seen a lot of times there would be a couple of enterprising souls who would give it a shot and try to cook. However, many a times they do not get enough support. Cooking requires a lot of monotonous operations such as cutting, chopping, cleaning etc. However, when people live in groups or cook in groups, Pareto's 80:20 rule applies. Free riders are found every where and then when the enterprising soul who tried to cook sees this happening, then frustration sets in. After that believe me, cooking is not that fun. So, what can you do to discourage this? Don't allow free riders.  Cajole then, use peer pressure, use positive KITA -admire and encourage the free rider even when he or she does a small task. If nothing works be ruthless!Sooner or later they will fall in line.

In a nut shell

Cooking is an experience in itself. It can be relaxing as well as taxing. But it is one glue that  bind sour social experience. While, people say that a lot can happen over coffee, but believe me a lot more can happen over cooking! ;)

Only when you actually cook yourself, you will truly realize and appreciate all the pain and effort  that people in your life take to make a good and tasty meal  for you !! Give cooking a shot and discover and explore a new and creative side of yours.