Why cooking is the new Rock n Roll.

Maybe Jamie, Nigella or George and Gary can save our lives

I was lucky to grow up in a family in which food was something to be cherished and valued. I remember being vaguely pleased, if a little surprised, at been given a pig’s ear by a friendly butcher at the Vic Markets as a little boy, when we went for weekly supplies.  Food was part of the fabric of our lives and the meals ranged from hot curries to stir fries to roasts with all the trimmings, not to mention the traditional Friday night fish and chips from the jovial Greek fishmonger up the road.

Flashback, Australia in the 1970’s. Most of my friends were been served a steady diet of meat and three vege for dinner and polony sauce sandwiches for lunch. Wine was for the Europeans, beer for Aussies and the only time you saw Roast Chicken was in a greasy KFC wrapper or on the dining table at Christmas.  But changes were soon to come.

My own food journey began when I first moved out of home. I cooked the dishes I grew up with and then discovered Charmaine Solomon (who once cooked in my food savvy Godmother’s kitchen) and a whole variety of Asian dishes. The arrival of the little ones bought a love of all things Italian (including Marzella Kazan) and presently to my current love of Elizabeth David and French food in general.

Food seems to dominate not only my life, but also that of our friends and family. Who is cooking and drinking what is a staple of our conversation. The latest “Masterchef” or Nigella episode is discussed, along with where to get the best organic chickens, and what sort of deals the wine merchant is doing at moment.

The kids are at it too. Café smart from day one, they move from Babycinos to risotto, calamari, and cheese platters. They save their pocket money to buy kids cooking books and magazines. My oldest, the poet, has cooked potato and leek soup and Neenish tarts in the last month. Recently I heard that one of her friends had held a cooking them

ed birthday party.

While the baby boomers turned to musicians to get life direction, we now seem to look to the chefs. When they advocate quality products, local growers and producers, along with healthy eating, the fast food industry is delivered quite a serve and the seeds of economic and cultural growth are planted. Cooking is also essentially a community activity – generally we are cooking for more than just ourselves. Perhaps the days of gathering around the table for a meal are resurging thanks to the cooking craze, and will serve as an antidote to the cyber isolation which plagues many of us.

The last word has to come from a father with two older teen sons being interviewed after a Jamie Oliver live show. He credited Jamie as getting his boys into cooking, and preventing them getting into the dysfunctional behavior of their mates. He was almost in tears with gratitude.

Buon appetito!!