The Trials and Tribulations of being a Chef …and a Daughter
10 May
I haven’t been doing much these days other than studying for LSAT, watching TV, and cooking. I’ve been doing lots and lots of cooking. It’s my current obsession. All the shows I watch, the books I read, and my shopping trips – they all have something to do with what I end up doing in the kitchen.
Which is all fine and dandy except… I am on a diet. Yes, I know, it’s the five most common words in today’s society, but it’s true. I’ve finally resolved to lose the weight I gained in first year university. So my cooking obsession is really quite untimely. But then again, I’ve always been queen of doing the right things at the wrong time.
So instead, I’m making my parents eat my elaborate culinary triumphs while I sit across from them salivating and firing questions like “How is it? Is it too salty? Too sweet? Is it tender? DO YOU LOVE IT?”
My parents, of course, have always been the harshest critics in all aspects of my life, so I can always count on them to give me their most honest opinon. “No, it is not tender enough. No, you did not put enough salt in. We like things flavourful, honey. What is this bland shit (well, of course they did not say “shit” – god forbid they ever learn to say anything remotely degrading in English – but that was the gist of it) you’re serving us. And why is everything so damn (see previous note) healthy? Where are the big plates of meat? What’s with all these vegetables? What’s the matter with you?”
Of course, they would say that since they are 1) anal as all hell, 2) the founders of the soy-sauce-and-salt cult, 3) unwilling to shower praise for anything ever period (which kind of explains how I turned out – dedicating my life to eliciting praise while appearing to be modest). Not to mention that they believe diets are the work of the devil and a healthy dinner is always a balance of 3:1 meats to vegetables and always twice as large as lunch and breakfast combined. In other words, no, they are not supportive of my diet. They are, however, supportive of my goal to lose weight, but how they fathom I’ll do that if I’m living by their eating habits is beyond me. My mom is always telling me I have no figure and I have “lumps in all the wrong places.” Look it woman, I am not mashed potatoes so please don’t ever describe me with the word “lumps”!
It’s a wonder I have any self-esteem at all.
But I digress. Back to the cooking. So yesterday, I finally won over my mom with a bowl of coconut and corn chowder. She was so pleased with it she nearly jumped for joy when I told her there was enough left over for another meal. My dad, on the other hand, hated the soup but loved the coconut shrimp alfredo. Nonetheless, he was not pleased. He wanted roast duck and barbequed pork! Where was all the game meat? “Why am I being subjected to these healthy Thai-infused dishes? And last night, what was that stuffed chicken dish? French? Stop being so international! I demand Chinese!” He cried. You’d think a guy who spent nearly 50 years eating Chinese bok choy with a bowl of white rice would appreciate some new culinary tastes, but no. “Patience, grasshopper. Chinese stir-fry and big game meat tomorrow,” I replied in a most zen tone.
It’s amazing that I’ve survived a week with my parents without pulling out any hair or chugging a bottle of wine. Particularly considering that I am always in a bad mood when I can’t pig out on my favourite food. They can’t even appreciate the culinary adventures that I have taken them upon this week! But I must not let my frustrations interfere with my diet.
So tonight, I am making my parents lemon chicken, black bean pork with peppers, and mushroom risotto, while I chew on the end of a celery stick. Ah, the injustice.
Hey hey!
I was tag surfing and found your bloggg! I felt for your blog somehow because you talked about your parents’ comments affecting your self esteem and also about your diet to lose the weight you’d gained..
I’d just like to say, babe.. keep cooking and keep following your passion alright? No matter what others (and your parents) may say.. Because at the end of the day, I really believe that at the heart of excellence is passion and heart. You clearly love cooking!! I mean, just from your entry alone, I can feel that. And I know that your love will take you through :)
I’ve started a blog on beauty and self esteem because I feel strongly for this topic. Do pop by sometimes alright? Because I’d love to hear your take on it! (notjustskindeep.wordpress.com)
*Hugs*
Mariko
it sounds like you’re an awesome cook :) I do the same thing – I decide to go on a diet, then I start thinking about all the things I need to eat and from there digress to baking cakes and tarts :/
Hey, cooking a lot is great. And believe it or not, it’s GOOD to cook for yourself when you’re on a diet. Cooking for yourself is invariably more healthy than going out to eat.
I’m sorry about your parents..I think that’s why they’re put on this earth. To torment us!!
Wow I’m jealous that you can cook anything lol. I would probably set my house on fire just trying to make any of those things!
Omg lol. That sounds terrible. I hope youre doing okay with your weight loss. I recently have an obsession with baking–Im baking something nearly every day now. Mostly different types of muffins, cookies, and cakes. Im underweight so it doesnt matter if I eat them really, plus I eat really healthy and I don’t really eat a lot of the food I bake so its not really a problem. I am, however, probably making the rest of my family fat lol