Why I love to Cook .

I love to cook. I watched my mother and grandmother cook when I was a young child and when I was old enough to see above the kitchen counter they taught me how to cook many of the recipes common in Thai culture. Now that I live in America I still love to cook but probably for different reasons. When I cook my own food I save money. It is also convenient for me to cook my own food because I can prepare it using the recipes I learned at home. Ironically, I find more than convenience in cooking, I feel more connected to my Thai culture.

When I moved to America two years ago I didn’t know exactly what to expect. From a culinary standpoint I knew that there would be many different types of foods to choose from because America is so multicultural. While I enjoy many different types of foods, the thing that struck me most was how expensive it is to routinely eat out in San Francisco. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, going to the bar at night…It really costs a lot of money to eat out all the time. I discovered that my ability to cook can save me a lot of money! I can cook the foods I like, in the amounts I need and save money from going out to restaurants. But I also discovered that while there are many different types of cuisines to choose from in San Francisco, I enjoy Thai food the best.

It is not difficult to notice that there are many Thai restaurants in San Francisco. Many of them are good…if you are not Thai. Thai restaurants typically serve food that is better suited for the tastes of people who are not Thai. The food is prepared in the Thai style but it is normally not authentic Thai food prepared the way I’m used to. Sometimes if you want something done right (or to your tastes) you have to do it yourself. This is the other reason why I like to cook. I can prepare traditional Thai dishes, not normally found on menus in Thai Restaurants in San Francisco. I can prepare dishes using ingredients from recipes that were handed down to me from my family. I can control the freshness of the ingredients, the amount of food prepared, and most importantly I control the flavor of the food. So, not only am I saving money, I’m preparing the dishes that taste the best to me. This food reminds me of home.

This might be the best reason to cook my own food. Living far away from Thailand is fun. I love San Francisco. But sometimes (actually, maybe a lot of times) I want to feel connected to my culture. There is no better way to feel close to home than to eat a home cooked meal. I like preparing a meal the way my mother and my grandmother did. I like the aroma of the food cooking in the kitchen. I love the flavor of the food. It reminds me of home. It brings me closer to my Thai culture even though I am far away from home. These things are an excellent reminder. Sometimes I even call my mother for advice on how to prepare some of my favorite soups or to talk about certain ingredience.

It is easier to simply go to a restaurant and have someone else cook your food. And it’s nice to go out with friends. But I have discovered it’s not only expensive to go out, but over the long run it’s not as convenient. I like cooking. I like it because I cook the dishes I like best. I can prepare the food I like best with flavors and ingredience I enjoy the most. But most of all, cooking brings me closer to home, reminds me of my culture, of my family, of Thailand so that I need not feel far away from home.