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Do you still enjoy cooking after working?

When working in a kitchen all day, do you still enjoy cooking as a passion or hobby or do you grow sick of it after doing it everyday?
#culinary-skills

Thank you comment icon Yes, I enjoy cooking after work- more so for others than myself. Aletha Harden

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James’s Answer

I am a Pastry Chef so I bake all day. It's my passion but after a really crazy day, I am ok with not cooking or baking at home! That being said it is my passion and even on my days off work, I find myself thinking about new ideas or trying new techniques or ideas.

I'd say it depends on the work day, but not wanting to cook after doing it all day doesn't say anything bad about a chef!
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Jason’s Answer

I love cooking after work at home for my family. It’s very gratifying to serve my family after serving the public all day.

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Charlie’s Answer

Yes, I love going home and preparing a meal for my family. Love to put together a meal that reflects the passion I have for food and freshness.

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Jennifer’s Answer

Yes love it! Or I love cooking a few meals on Sunday's so I can easily reheat during the week!
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Lettesha’s Answer

In the beginning I found it exteremely hard to still enjoy cooking after working very long hours but I realized no matter how tired I was that I still enjoyed cooking. Cooking isn't just a job or hobby but it is who I am. When I am cooking a meal it's done out of love and passion. Cooking has taught me so many things over the years but it has given me a purpose and vision to explore all areas of cooking. Creating meals for my family has given me an accomplishment I didn't think I could achieve, it has taught me think out side of the box and create food that will leave a imprint in the lives of others. When I learned to embrace my true passion for cooking it taught me that I can accomplish anything that I put my mind to do. I gave up the dead end jobs to forfill my passion for cooking. At the present moment I am a private chef as well as an author. Never give up on your dreams no matter how far away they may seem.

Lettesha recommends the following next steps:

Make simple goals that are within reach
Allow your passion to become a reality
Keep working on your passion, don't give up!!!!
Be determined to learn all that you can
Embrace who you are no matter what others think of you
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John’s Answer

Cooking is about passion and love. I enjoy cooking all the time whether it be at work, at home, or for family and friends. I understand the being tired and worn out is an understandable side effect to this profession. I just remind myself that my family and friends are customers just like the one you serve in a restaurant. Come on, how long does it take to make a nice breakfast for you spouse or partner? How long does it take to make cupcakes for your son's/daughter's birthday? Prepare an appetizer for a friends or family party? I will be honest with you the love and attention is worth the extra work.

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Linda’s Answer

I chose my work as a pastry chef after 25 years in a completely unrelated field, and went to culinary school. A pastry chef's mindset is detail-oriented with an over-arching desire to experiment and measure creatively. I call it the confluence of math, science and creativity. It is unique to a pastry chef, and uncommonly found on the culinary side.

Because of the strong research component associated with the pastry side of cooking, my interest in cooking extends well into my personal life. I find each dish challenging even (and often) in its simplicity. I love cooking at home. It's an extension of my professional work.
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Christopher’s Answer

Hey Paul,

I do enjoy cooking after doing it for work when I get home. I cook for my family and I live in New Jersey where they have some of the most amazing farms and produce from May to October and I thoroughly enjoy using those foods because they are so flavorful. I also get my children involved in the process of cooking so they know how to cook as well. Hope this helps. Good luck!!!

Chris

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William’s Answer

I do not have a simple answer to this! As a Chef I love cooking and I could never picture myself doing anything else professionally. There are many days after a long day of work cooking for others, where it means everything for someone else to cook for ME. People often think Chef's are super critical, however, the thought of someone else cooking for us is so meaningful for us. With that being said, when people are over my home of course I love to cook. So I guess in a way I mostly like cooking for others over just cooking for myself.

Hope that answers your question!
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Junnie’s Answer

It is hard to get sick of working with food, if you truly interested in food. Working in the kitchen is very hard, it require both physical and mental fitness all day, but seeing the food production end result is such a satisfying feeling.

Do I still want to cook when I got home?! Most of the time I do, just to make something simple and delicious to satisfy my stomach. On my day off, I am as excited to make some creation that I have going in my mind, can't wait to see it come to life and able to taste it.

There's many things you can specialized in culinary, besides being in culinary or baking, food science is a good area to explore as well. Culinary and food science combination can lead to another exciting career path.

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Nate’s Answer

Paul,

This is a great question. Sometimes I'll get the creative bug and spend three hours cooking at home after 14 hours at work. Other times all I want to do is kick off my shoes and have Thai food delivered. The food industry demands a lot from those of us lucky enough to have careers here, and at times it can be exhausting. That being said, this industry is as rewarding as it is challanging.

Again, great question. Hope to see you in the field.

-N

Nate recommends the following next steps:

Practice, practice, practice.
Don't learn recipes, learn the techniques behind them. Mastering a technique (braising, sauteing, creaming method, etc.) Will open many more doors than simply learning one recipe.
Fail more. You won't truly understand a technique until you've screwed it up once or twice. Make mistakes, learn from them, make more mistakes. You reach success by standing on all your failures.
Surround yourself with people better than you; you will be amazed what you can learn through observation and listening.
Practice some more.
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Clayton’s Answer

Yes, one can never be less passionate about their perspective field of work they enjoy doing, and whenever there is an opportunity to express one's self, you find yourself doing what you love. In my case, working as a chef on a rig/boat/ferry etc, I've always found myself in the midst of friends and family and there can never be a doll moment when it comes to food, because each day we learn something new in the kitchen, whether its experimental or method cooking, applying new techniques also educating my love one around me of how much fun and how easy it is to cook with whatever you have around you.

Clayton recommends the following next steps:

Always think creatively in whatever you choose to do in the culinary field, be unique and express who you are through your food.
Open your eyes and taste buds, to different types of foods being able to match taste as well as create.
Start off your journey with friend and family, its a good way to start. You would be able to teach at home your new skills as well as practice your learned skill
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Patrick’s Answer

Hi there Paul G.! That's a question I think a lot of us in the field are asked. I can honestly say yes - I still love and enjoy cooking even after working in a kitchen all day. It's all about cooking for the people you love after work, so even the simplest of meals is still very rewarding. Something like a great homemade soup and a loaf of homemade bread can seem like a feast if it's made with love and enjoyed with the right person. The key is not letting anything dull your passion for food or the enjoyment you get out of cooking. Good luck to you! ;)

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Robert’s Answer

Hi Paul, great question! If I'm going to spend time cooking something it would be on my days off. When you work as a Chef you will be too tired after work to really want to cook anything, that would also depend on if the place you work at serves real food or not real food. For me, being in my work is where I'm able to invest my creativity, time, and effort with regards to the culinary arts.

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Michael’s Answer

My mom had me in the kitchen at 3 1/2. Wanted to make sure I could cook more than Mac ‘n’ chz from a box and soup from a can.

Cooked my first dinner (pork roast) when mom had the flu (3 1/2yrs old)

Learned more as I grew up, went to college. Got first apt. Junior year. Started cooking for myself.
Watched cooking shows, read books, taught myself. Got first job in ‘88. Got first REAL job in ‘95.
Learned so much.
30 yrs later, yes I still love to cook at home. For my son, my family, friends, myself.
NEVER stop playing with your food! If you learn something EVERY DAY, no matter what you’re doing, it was a good day!
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Jeronimo’s Answer

Absolutely, once I get home from a 12-14 hour day. I ask my family what they feel like having for dinner. To me, cooking is relaxing and it is my sanctuary. The part I enjoy the most about this process is having my daughter pull random things out of the pantry or fridge and incorporate them in the dinner.
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Terryl’s Answer

Comes and goes. I always live to cook but after long and consecutive shifts I’m pretty happy to let someone else cook

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Bob’s Answer

Yes. Cooking has always been a way of connecting with family and friends. It does not have to be a time-consuming endeavor; you can prepare a healthy, delicious meal with only a handful of ingredients and 30 minutes. Find some go-to recipes that you enjoy, and build off of the techniques they use.

A good reference is Jamie Oliver's '5 Ingredients' (the corresponding show is on Hulu), as well as the website Serious Eats.

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carlos’s Answer

Yes

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Anita’s Answer

Working in the kitchen for long hours is hard work. Depending on the time I get off, I look forward to cooking for loved ones. Actually I get a different satisfaction because my family gives me a more personal appreciation.
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KIYOKA’s Answer

I'm japanese chef. My culinary is very traditional. Traditional culinary have to work so much. Actually I work start @6 o'clock finish @20 o'clock.
Many friends say that why you work so much? Why you don't go more easy way? I always say them that my culinary is culture also I want to cross the higher wall. When I finished work after every day I wish that TOMORROW I'll make more delicious good and beautiful dish. That time is My happy time. Every day I'm tired but every day I'm so happy. I hope , Please enjoy your culinary.
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Sebastian’s Answer

Yes
Thank you comment icon Hi Sebastian, it's great that you still enjoy cooking when you get home. What motivates you to do it after a long day in the kitchen? Gurpreet Lally, Admin
Thank you comment icon Yes, cooking is a great interesting thing that we can try to thinking what we want to eat, what we want to do. PHIL
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Scott’s Answer

I love to cook, any time any place it's my passion and it never gets old. It's best when I'm cooking for friends and family but I enjoy my creations as well
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Matthew’s Answer

I’ve always enjoyed cooking for others rather than cooking for myself. My enjoyment has always come from satisfying others through food. Even when you’re tired, if you’re passionate, it’s never too difficult to make great food.

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Robert’s Answer

Hello, I have been in the restaurant business for over 25 years. I get asked this question often. My answer is always the same. From the time I was little growing up in an Italian house hold, I have always been fascinated by food. Watching my grandmothers, mom and aunt all being so passionate about cooking, and me having the benefits of getting to smell, taste and eat such delicious foods, is what drove me at a very young age to be curious and excited to be around food. Learning how food works, how foods are cooked in so may different ways, how to combined fresh ingredients and spices has always been and to this day is my biggest passion. I always tell everyone if you are not passionate to the core about food then this business is not for you, but if it is then the world is yours to learn. Food is forever changing and so are people’s taste. Remember to stay true to yourself first and be passionate about everything you make. May you all find your culinary palate. And remember to enjoy the journey.

Happy Eating,
Chef Robert
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David’s Answer

It kind of depends on the job. If you work 13 hours that day on your feet you don’t lose your passion but you most certainly will not want to cook when you are home. However, when I’ve had less strenuous jobs I love to come home and cook a good meal even if I have been cooking that day at work.
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Sara’s Answer

I still love to cook. I cook almost every day. I still am inspired by new flavors, experiences and healthy trends. I like to play in the kitchen. I cook after working all day. I did not cook after working all day when I was a young line cook and closing the kitchen. I still cooked on my days off though.

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JonVincent’s Answer

Of course! Being a Chef means tbat you have a God-given talent. When you are blessed eith that talent, you get to share it with the world!
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foodwinetour’s Answer

like my work is not as a chef, but previously I worked like a Chef, after work I cook and enjoy cooking everyday.
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Darlene’s Answer

Cooking for me is a gift and I truly am thankful that I can share my gift of hospitality with the world. I fell that the best chefs in the world are the ones with great passion for what they where born to do which is cooking really good food.

There are times when i cook all day and i come home exhausted and i cook a great meal and a dessert and just sit down with my family and enjoy it. Sometimes i dont oook because i have prepare a meal serveral days before so i create a meal from leftovers.

I never am too tired to cook because i have been conditioned to push througb my tiredness over 20 plus years of cooking. I think the key is to plan your meals ahead so you wont have to spend so much time when you get home.
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Matthew’s Answer

I love cooking after I get off work! It really helps relax me to put my focus elsewhere for little bit.
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Heather’s Answer

I love cooking! I enjoy cooking for people everyday, but I also enjoy cooking for my family at home. It's the process that I enjoy the most; shopping for ingredients, prepping the food, and finally cooking and serving the meal. It's like giving a part of myself to others. :)
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Chef Jeff’s Answer

While my work day is usually 10 hours of cooking all day, I prefer not to go home and cook some more. If there is a special event, I'm happy to go home and cook

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June’s Answer

If I work a super long day, I end up eating food that I had prepared for work (chef's privilege to take a plate home) or I'll just have a peanut and butter sandwich. I have been cooking for a living for 40 years and still love it!


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David’s Answer

It all depends on how much you’re working. I typically cook dinner on days off, but if I’ve getting crushed at work I’m probably sleeping. Any chance I get I always enjoy cooking outside the restaurant though, especially with family and friends outside at the park or beach or someone’s backyard!!!

David recommends the following next steps:

Stock your pantry with non perishables (oils, salts, spices, sauces, etc.)
Read cookbooks
Hop on line and look for artisan products such as Bourbon Barrel Foods, Red Clay Hot Sauces, Two Brooks Farms, Anson Mills, Grit Girl, etc.
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