The cook, the chef, and psychologist
One day a cook cooked an amazing meal for a chef.
“Gosh,” exclaimed the chef, “this is very good, can I have the recipe?”
The cook flattered by the compliment happily agreed and transcribed the recipe very accurately. Sometime later, the cook visited the chef’s restaurant and ordered the same dish that they had cooked for the chef.
“Gosh,” exclaimed the cook, “this is nothing like my recipe – the chef has changed everything!”
“Ah,” said the psychologist (who was sharing the meal with the cook), “when it comes to food most people think they know better. They want to do things their own way. This is why your recipe is different, the chef wants to make it his own. Indeed, if he wanted to call it his own, he would be wise to make a few changes…”
The chef, the cook, and the psychologist
One day a chef cooked an amazing meal for a cook.
“Gosh,” exclaimed the cook, “this is very good, can I have the recipe?” The chef was reluctant to give away the secrets of a dish he had worked very hard to develop but could see that the cook appreciated the quality of the recipe, and so agreed.
Sometime later the cook, made the recipe for a psychologist. The psychologist knew of the recipe having enjoyed it at the chef’s restaurant.
“Gosh,” exclaimed the psychologist, “this is exactly the same as the chef’s recipe!”
“Yes,” replied the cook, “I followed the recipe precisely.”
“That’s interesting,” said the psychologist, “there are those that want to make every recipe their own – and there are those who want to follow a recipe to the letter.”
The psychologist paused to consider the paradox. “Perhaps we can divide people who cook into groups. One group believes they can cook as well as anybody and want to make recipes their own, and another who can cook, but either lacks confidence or reveres the knowledge and culinary wisdom of an affirmed cooking expert and prefers to replicate the recipe precisely.”
“Ah,” said the cook, “so, everybody must cook; some observe the sanctity of recipes others do not. Whatever, group you are in – you still start with a recipe. Perhaps this is why the food industry, media and online communities are burgeoning with recipes and food ideas.”