To be shocked that Annabel Karmel's 18yr old son can't cook?

[Bucketsofdynomite]

In Saturday's Guardian magazine Annabel Karmel apperared shocked to find her 18yr old son couldn't actually cook and had never seen a wok. He lives away at university. How would you not notice something like that? How, as a food writer, do you not remember to teach your child to cook? Can only assume she's a total control freak in the kitchen and wouldn't want her kids making a mess.
Do you intend to teach your kids how to cook? Are you a non-cook yourself? How did that happen (or not happen)?

My Dc's are both learning and Ds as can be seen on the thread I started is able to cook a full roast.

• that does seem a bit strange, doesn't it.

pmsl

He can't cook because the poor child has been unable to get into the kithen due to his mother polluting the air with several cans of hairspray, I suspect.

He may also just not like chicken with grapes and custard, and prefer Pot Noodles like a normal student.

Would link but am no good at that

Nah - am not shocked at all. Loads of 18 year olds go away and suddenly discover that food does not magically appear at regular intervals - nor do socks roll themselves into neat balls and hide in the draw. As for that cup of coffee - the mug doesn't get sparkly and clean as if by magic - it sits under the bed and grows mould.

Mine are young atm to do full meals, but they can russle up breakfast and sandwiches.

They will be 'encouraged' to move on to 'proper' cookery once they hit secondary school.

Since schools don't do much by way of real cookery classes anymore (due to the idiocy of the QCA curriculum that is foised on them, NOT due to lack of trying by the teachers) I feel that I need to fill the gap.

I would definately teach my children to cook. Its suprising how many people turn up at self catering university and then realise they cant cook!

I am still at uni and people are always shocked when I can cook properly from scratch and not use packets or ready meals.

One girl all she eats is weight watchers soup for lunch and dinner because she thinks its healthy as it says weight watchers on it

Can't imagine anyone reaching that age and not being able to cook. DS has been cooking proper meals since the age of about 10 - although he did always want to be a chef. He's 17 now and does the most amazing Thai food - YUM!!! (pity I'm on a diet)

Just read the article - did I read this right?:

"There's always been loads of different choices for dinner: my mum'll cook four things and I'll just choose whatever I want." !!!!!!!![schock]!!!!!!

Bump - was that the sound of a children's food guru falling from her pedestal!

article

"It's good you've got all these recipes written down. Because when you're married, your wife will be able to cook the same food you had at home, and your children will be able to cook it and it will live on." says AK to her son

So thats why he doesn't cook - his wife will do it using her recipes.

yeah, I noticed that quote too. He's going to be quite a catch for some poor girl isn't he - can you imagine Karmel for a MIL?

She actually said that his wife could cook her recipies for him when he marries!!!!
FFS does she believe that only women should cook?She needs to realise that not teaching her child to cook was a mistake.
Also how could she not notice that her son couldn't cook.She's his mother!!!!!!!

xposted

Maybe she's expecting 18yrs of nutitious home-cooked meals to tide him over until he finds a wife that will meet her standards. There's just something so un-feminist about sending your son out into the world unable to look after himself. See any MIL rant thread on MN for the problems it causes.

I couldn't cook at 18. I couldn't even boil an egg.

I could BAKE though!

SSshakethechi, could your parents cook? I can understand that if you don't know how to cook you're not going to be able to teach your child.

Imagine if her son married a BLWer

RE: the 'Wife' quote:

1. Because what else is a woman for? Perhaps if AK had a career she'd understand. Oh, wait, she does have a career, so ....

1. 'Same food you had at home' because his home will always be with his mummy. Even when he's married.

1. Will he starve until he finds a wife wot cooks?

1. How the hell will his children be able to cook it if his wife follows his mother and never feffing teaches them.

1. I have more issue with this quote than I know what to do with.

i am absolutely beyond belief! she's supposed to be teaching children to have a healthy relationship with food... surely that includes cooking? i've never slagged AK off before particularly (apart from the £16 hand blender) as, you know, whatever floats your boat, but that article is a facking disgrace on So Many Levels. [feminist]

at the wife quote, poor woman whoever marries him. Why shouldnt men cook!

1. Exactly how are her grandchildren going to be cooking her meals - oh dear God, will she be holding cookery auditions for future DILs?

1. The egotism of the 'Annabel Karmel' meals makes me want to whack someone over the head with the nearest cookbook.

1. Gaaaaah!!!!!

He probably did lots of 'cooking' as a child - filled pitta breads, make-your-own wraps, decorate the pizza before mummy puts in the oven, dip the chicken in the breadcrumbs etc.

Y'know, I read this article yesterday and my first thought was 'how long before someone starts a thread' . Maybe AK was too busy making cat faces on his dinner to teach the boy to cook?

I thought she promoted 'family' mealtimes? In my house that means as many people contribute to making it & laying the table as well as sitting down together to eat.

I'm more of a Hugh F-W cook anyway.

Still, children eh? Maybe he never wanted to join in. Or maybe he's showing off.