It used to be such a basic activity. From the time when our ancestors came down out of the trees, discovered fire and decided that a hot meal was somehow nicer than chomping on lumps of raw mammoth, cooking has been a central facet of human activity.
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As we evolved, so too did our means of preparing meals. Other cultural influences gave us variety and diversity and the advent of appliances gave us more flexibility in cooking methods.
Cooking and eating has always been more than simply staying alive. The traditions of food between cultures may differ, but the one thing that remains common throughout human existence is the role of cooking and sharing food. From family mealtimes to gala banquets, picnics in the park to formal dinner parties, human society gathers for meals. The creeping and insidious influence of TV cooking shows, however, seems to have ushered in the era of 'peak culinary evolution'.
It is now not enough to cook and serve a meal. One's culinary activities must be garnished with terms like deconstructed, deglazed, jus, flambé, caramelise and tempered. It is no longer enough to have an oven, a blender and a sink. One's kitchen must contain a Thermomix, a steam oven, a wifi-enabled crockpot (no, I didn't make that up) and a fridge cam. Fridge cam? Really? Does anyone seriously want to capture the slow composting process that occurs within the ironically-named crisper of one's fridge on live webcam? And still, with all this, what do restaurants do? Serve meals on wooden boards and drinks in mason jars! Crockery and glassware used to be such nice meal accompaniments.
A recent OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) study found that across its member countries, people spend on average one hour and 31 minutes a day eating and drinking. Australia is right on average at one hour and 31 minutes. The French, who enjoy a rich food culture like no other, spend upwards of two hours a day eating and drinking. The USA, spiritual home of fast food, is lowest on the list with a scant one hour a day. Presumably that doesn't include the time spent in the queue for the drive-through burger joint.
Most certainly, a well-cooked (deconstructed, chiffonaded, quenelled) meal, should be honoured. But we need to draw a line somewhere. Masterchef has a lot to answer for and Heston Blumenthal is surely evil incarnate.
