Why Cooking is a good idea for Designers?

Advantages of having a super- cook mom -

1. You get endless variety of delicacies on the menu every time you sit for a meal.
2. You don't need to experiment with cooking, as you don’t even realize that it is a necessity until your mom is out for a trip. 

The same happened with me a few months back. Our mythological books talk about devi Annapurna. Apart from being the world to us, moms are definitely that devi, for sure! Thus, the whole idea of trying my hand on cooking started with my mom planning a short trip out of town for a week. Well, quite frankly, even though I always had this feeling that I would do justice to this 'art', I was quite scared of trying it in the beginning. But very soon I realized the magic and 'Design' behind the art of cooking. I realized why it is called an art. I realized the importance of 'details' required to be applied (just like any other design) to get the perfect result.

Months after my initial trials, last night, while preparing vegetable pulao the idea of charting out these 'details' came to my mind.

Cutting/Chopping

Like any other design process, the earliest stage is 'preparing the resources'. And for the same, one needs to be precise and fluent with the tools. In this case - knife and other cutting instruments - play the lead role.
During that epic moment when you hold the knife for the first time in your life - it all seems easy. But the actual problem begins here only - 'holding' the knife correctly is an art in itself. Well, it took me more than a couple of trials to get closer to the right technique. (Yes, I am still figuring out how it works!) 


Things you learn  
1.Analysis of the science behind the design of knife.
2.Textural study of vegetables - as each vegetable needs a different angle.
3.Visualizing the aesthetics behind cutting - for eg. You have to judge and choose whether the so called potato-fries-type-cut is ok for making curry potato or not.

Adding the spices
Spices are the integral part of cooking process in India. And I must admit, it is the trickiest and one of the best kept secrets too. From Daadi-Nani to Maa, you ask anyone about the quantities of spices and the answer would be, "andaaze se". Actually, it is the wisdom that they have earned during all those year when they were learning this art. Its like asking a painter the quantity of colors he has put in while preparing a masterpiece. 


Things you learn
1.Elements like Proportions. With each and every trial, you get closer to what it needs to be like.
2.The aromatic sense of cooking - suddenly you realize that you have this ability to smell and tell what seem to be good and what not.
3.Cultural and agricultural appreciation of our country - Its awesome to research a bit about all the spices that you have put in, it will connect you with what you are making.

Veg Pulao 

Mixing it all together
Now this is another tricky part. This heading actually has two meanings - mixing of the already cut veggies and masalas AND mixing all the work together... yes, TOGETHER!
Dealing with the first, one needs to be super precise about mixing technique as this stage can either make or break you 'design' apart! 
One needs to be THERE while mixing, each and every second. Consider as if you are blending two separate layers of design together.  A good blend will mold out the final product well.
While looking at the second perception, you need to be good with your management skills. It is all about time and project management. Unlike other design problems, cooking doesn't give you the privilege of trials. Every single step here is the final step. You can’t keep strolling around while the water is boiling in vessel. 

Pao- Bhaji

Things you learn
1.Time management - no one can teach you this like cooking does.
2.Innovation - mixing spices? Done your study? Try out what you can add.


Patience
At last, when all is prepared, it’s the time to ‘cook’, literally. This is the time which if spent less wouldn’t bring in the taste and if overdone would spoil the whole design. This phase is like meditation, one need to forget every other thing in the world and concentrate on the design. One needs to be super patient with the veggies and spices while they do-the-dance together. Just be a silent spectator and keep your eyes and nose open as the moment the ‘chemicals’ start reacting, you will know that its done!

Things you learn
1.As the topic says – patience!
2.Self-analysis – you realize your mistakes and you note down where do you need improvement during this stage.
3.Overall, any design – if done with dedication – will give you happiness and cooking is one of such forms of art/design. I find cooking as a stress buster and a practice that a designer must always try to improve him/herself! I hope I am improving!

With some garnishing 

Special thanks to my friend Anuja Khokhani, whose cookery blogs inspired me to take up this art as a challenge. You can check her blog here.