Why can't British people cook, despite all the bloodty cookery programmes, magazines and cookbooks?

[moondog]

Yes, I know one or two MNers will come on all huffy about how fabulous they are at cooking but generally speaking we don't have a bloody clue do we?

I know hundreds of people from all different kinds of backgrounds and could count on one hand those who can put a decent meal together.
Why???

[meltedmarsbars]

Dunno.

I can cook, so can my sister, lots of my friends are rubbish.

BTW, some French people are rubbish cooks too, imhe!

[FiveGoMadInDorset]

I come from a completelt different perspective that I know only 2 who can't cook.

[Quattrocento]

I think lots of people can cook - everyone I know well enough to know whether or not they can cook, can cook.

[SixtyFootDoll]

I can cook I just find it so boring.
I would ratherr be cooked for.!

[moondog]

Really Five?
Tell me more about you and your circumstances.

It's not about other races all being perfect. Heavens,. I spend a lot of time in France and know plenty of appalling cooks but in general our interest in food (beyond the shovelling it down bit) is lamentable and people just don't seem to have an instinctive feel for what works or how long it needs to cook or what goes with what or how to do stuff frmo scratch...


It's unbeleivable really.

[Ragwort]

Really? Don't want to be all huffy but most of the people I know can cook a reasonable meal - although I can't talk as I only managed a jacket potato for dinner this evening .

I do remember the thread on mumsnet ages ago though when someone was making cauliflower cheese and hadn't realised you were meant to cook the cauliflower first before pouring the cheese sauce over !!

[chocolatefroggie]

I can cook very well, actually but i've found that a lot of friends especially the well educated, high powered job friends seem to see it as rather unneccessary.
I get lot's of comments from them along the lines of your a wonderful cook, but then your a housewife, as if because I'm not currently employing my university education I'm a better cook
If you can read you can cook of this I am adamant!

[Ragwort]

Avril - do you think it is really not enough time or more likely not enough inclination? Not being sarky but it amazes me when people say that but seem to manage enough time for other things? I always say I haven't got time to do any gardening when what I should say is that I hate gardening.

[chocolatefroggie]

Not that you can't cook if you can't read, but there is nooo excuse if you can follow a recipe!

[midnightexpress]

I disagree too. I know loads of excellent cooks.

And I totally don't get your point about people being uninterested in food - christ we all buy enough bloody cookery books, and watch enough cookery programmes (way more than they do in France, for example).

And, I would add that British people are often way more adventurous in their cooking than people in gastronomic powerhouses like France or Italy. Italian restaurants in Italy tend to be... well kinda boring and predictable. And I don't know many French people who can make a decent curry. Let alone a good vegetarian meal.

[moondog]

Yes, if one can;'t be arsed then say so and fair enough but I don't buy the 'not enough time' thing.
Question of priorities I suppose. Cooking and preparing/buying food is single most important domestic issue chez Moondog.

[FiveGoMadInDorset]

I live in rural community, supermarkets are few and far, and nearest takeaway is 15 minute drive, you just learn to cook, it is normal here.

[Minxie1977]

Everyone I know can cook from scratch - I find it odd that anyone can't!

[moondog]

Brita are indeed more adventurous and eclectic than most other nations but they want other peopel to cook it or to buy it ready prepared in the main.

[Pan]

as moondog implies, it's a lack of repect in this country for food in general. We don't buy properly ( so get ripped off) don't store it properly ( so throw a lot of it away) and then don't see the value in it whe nwe DO cook it.

Elizabeth David had it right when she wrote ( 1950's): buy the freshest ingredients you can, and simply follow the recipe.

Cooking needs planning and we don't do that well either in lots of ways, not just cooking.

[Pan]

and the books and programmes are to make maney, and gasp at the 'experts'.

[nameymcnamechange]

Yes, I find people who can't cook rather pathetic. But I am not as hardline about it all as you Moondog.

[midnightexpress]

Well, I use cookery books, and so do my friends.

[FiveGoMadInDorset]

I guess we are lucky, I have a quarter of a cow in my freezer from a friend, we are getting one of our lambs this winter, veg usually comes from my mother.

[Pan]

or 'money' even!

[said]

But who has time to buy the freshest ingredienst etc? That would require shopping daily. Most people work. I'm lucky - partner is great and intuitive cook.

[Pan]

said - take your point but the question is about organisation.

Also, we are a bit stuck compared to S. Euro countries - we 'do' root vegetables - they have an easier access to tree/plant stuff above the ground, from an early age - so they learn a bit of respect. Also, historically we were urbanised much more quickly in larger numbers so lost the connection wit hwhere food comes from.

that sort of thing.

[said]

They French buy loads of tinned veg remember.

It is about being organised, which is a bit of a problem if you're not. Don't even start of 'meal planning' - aarrggghhh!