For over 30 years, I’ve had a passion for cooking and have always been hungry to sharpen my skills. If you like to cook and would like to learn more, here are a few ways to improve your cooking chops.
Do some research and see if there is a cooking school in your area. In larger cities, there are numerous schools that are usually associated with cooking supply stores. The classes can range from knife skills to basic cooking techniques to ethnic cuisines, along with many others. There are also several specialty classes that are designed around events such as Valentine’s Day, Mardi Gras, summer barbeques, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Eve and Day. Novices as well as experienced cooks can benefit from taking any of these type classes. Also, the classes may target particular groups of students such as kids, business professionals, singles or couples.
When you do find a cooking school, sign up for a class! They are very informative, as well as fun and entertaining. Also, many of them need cooking assistants so this is a great way to gain knowledge from professional chefs but not have to pay for the class. They welcome volunteers and it’s a wonderful way to interact with the chefs, acquire delicious recipes and learn new tips and techniques.
You can also tune into cooking shows. There are a couple of networks dedicated just to food. The chefs have their own shows in their particular niche. While many of them are celebrities, they definitely know their craft and know how to connect with their audience. Browse the programs, watch a few and see how you can identify with their style and personality.
Over the years, food blogs and websites have exploded onto the internet scene. If you have an interest in a type of food or ethnic cuisine, just conduct a search and you will be pleasantly surprised at the number of sites out there that will appeal to you. There are also forums and memberships in which you can join. Forums are a way to interact with everyday cooks as well as more well-known chefs. There is no charge to join and you can often search for a topic within the forum to find answers on whatever you want to know. With memberships, there is usually a monthly or yearly charge involved. They offer information such as menu planning, cooking tips, chat sessions and private consultations with professional chefs.
These are wonderful ways to continue your ‘ ‘ culinary’ knowledge. Check out a few and improve your cooking skills today. The more you learn, the more you yearn!