What’s Cooking?

Mon, 09/14/2009 - 23:41 —Swati

It’s funny, you know. The first chefs in history were men. Cooking was one of those privileged forms of knowledge that only men had access to. Then, there was a period when cooking, as a domestic task, was considered a woman’s duty. Dining tables have turned! Men are entering the kitchen. Is history repeating itself? 

Fashionable Men: Cooking is ‘In’

Many Japanese schools offering cookery classes for men are flourishing. The focus has shifted from traditional gourmet dishes (that men would prepare leisurely over the weekend) to a selection of simple everyday items. In a cooking school in Tokyo, the number of men attending such classes rose tenfold to almost 3,000 attendees per annum within six years. Recipe books written specially for men have become extremely popular. 

What is Attracting Men towards the Kitchen?

No doubt, the joy of tasting something you have cooked is a strong reason to learn cooking. Others just want to learn cooking because they want to eat. Wives falling ill or job transfers that take men away from their families make cooking a necessity. With time, the equation between women and men has changed, impacting their roles at home. Husbands have taken over the kitchen and see cooking as an expression of love for their wives. Also, the social position of women has improves across the globe. The image of women as “homemakers” has changed to those who lead companies, run for government and manage huge charitable organizations. With women taking on critical tasks in the corporate world, sharing responsibility has found its place at home too. 

Although some men need to cook for necessity, others are having a lot of fun out there. Men approaching retirement expect to spend more time with their families. Cooking is a great way to do this, as it takes team work, is exciting and can be extremely gratifying. Many of the young, dual-income couples enjoy their weekends preparing meals together. 

Cooking abilities are a recent addition to the list of attributes that attract women. In a study conducted by food company PurAsia, 48% of the respondents found men who cook more attractive. Around 23% of the respondents between 18 and 34 years of age replied that they cooked to seduce their partners.

Also, many women have come to believe that men make better cooks. Cooking is gradually emerging as a symbol of masculinity, which men bank upon to appeal to women.