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What's in cooking?

It's time to redefine domestic cooking, as more and more people look outside their homes to satisfy their appetite

As an art, domestic cooking has undergone redefinition in style and essence. A periodic Residential Energy Consumption survey conducted by the U.S. department of energy reports a decrease in the share of households that reported cooking at least twice a day, as compared to the increase in the number of households that cooked once a day. This is slowly becoming a reality in the Indian context also, as more and more middle-class and upper middle-class households look outside home to satisfy their appetite.

From the time when man was just a hunter-gatherer till today, the spiritual and ceremonial importance of domestic cooking has gradually waned. Food was not only perceived as an instrument to satisfy hunger but was also an expression of one's individuality. Seventy-eight old Uma Devi reminisces, "We used to have specific recipes to mark specific occasions. Cooking was an important aspect of family life and was indulged with passion. Cooking was performed on the lines of recipes passed down the generations, word of mouth."

Geographical location and changing seasons dictated the cooking methods and food habits of people. Says 59-year-old Kumudha, "The fruit or vegetable that was available during a particular season dominated the cuisine and we used to look forward to the season to savour it. I think it was more natural that way. Nature dictated our food habits, unlike today. Food packaging technology has ensured that almost any kind of food can be wrapped and transported across seas with their flavour and essence intact."

Fast food culture

In the midst of all the revolutionary changes brought about by food preservation and distribution technology, cooking seems to have lost its charm in households. Says Jayashree, "Nowadays, the children in nuclear families dictate the cooking habits of the household. Most children favour fast food over traditionally cooked food. With so much of junk food available outside, mothers are sometimes forced to give in to their children's demands."

With women too working, the time to perform elaborate domestic activities is at a premium. The concept of a family meal is on the verge of extinction. As compared to decorating the home many consider cooking, a lesser chore. Says Radhika "With very less time on hand, we hardly assemble as a family for a meal. Sometimes we don't even have the time to exchange compliments on how good a meal tastes. No wonder then that cooking is slowly losing its charm among families. "

Easy-to-make dishes

The trend is to either cook less time consuming meals or to cook less often. Cookery books and cookery shows on television are a reflection of this trend. Cooking in 10 minutes, Easy recipes etc... are some of the titles that catch the attention of today's young householders. The demands of the corporate world and the availability of alternative fast food options have changed the face of domestic cooking. It is all about going the easy way. Says Anandi, a working mother "I don't get the time to perform elaborate cooking on week days. I try to buy products that require less cooking and more of assembling. I also try out my own quick recipes. As they say necessity is the mother of invention." Parties and small get-togethers organised at home no longer involve true home cooked food. Celebrations with family and friends take place at expensive restaurants that organise theme parties. Ramya, a homemaker wishes to highlight the positive side of it — "With catered food, the women of the house get more time to take part in celebrations and look after guests. It becomes enjoyable for everyone including the host as the drudgery of cooking and cleaning is reduced."

Aniket, a consultant who is a self-confessed cooking enthusiast disagrees, "I love to cook. Cooking for smaller gatherings gives me a high. Sometimes my guests drop in early to help me. The kitchen then becomes the focal point of activity and everybody enjoys it." Lalitha, a software engineer has a solution, "What if one is not able to cook food at home all by oneself? Help is always at hand in the form of a cook or domestic help. That way, food can still be cooked at home! For me, it is the end that matters and not the means." May be it's a matter of the palate versus the mind.

B. DIVYA VARMA

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