In many cultures, gender roles have changed over the past few decades. Women are pursuing career goals, which leaves them less time for traditional responsibilities. Couples are therefore sharing household responsibilities, including cooking. As a result, many men not only feel able to prepare meals themselves, but also take it for granted.
Various cooking shows, tons of online recipes and exciting courses are much more accessible today than they used to be. This allows anyone to learn to cook and practice regularly – regardless of gender stereotypes. The increasing health awareness in society has also ensured that many people are developing an increased interest in creating healthy meals for single or family households.
The gender distribution of professional chefs
Traditionally, the restaurant industry has always been a male-dominated industry, especially in higher positions, such as head chef or sous chef. However, significant changes have been observed in recent years. More and more women are completing training programs and gaining visibility on television shows, increasing awareness of female talent in the kitchen.
Successful female chefs such as Dominique Crenn and Alice Waters serve as inspiring role models. In addition to them, there are many well-known celebrity chefs who have a great influence on the culinary world. Gordon Ramsay is famous for his television shows and restaurants, while Alain Ducasse is known for his multiple Michelin star awards.
Wolfgang Puck has achieved international fame with his innovative cuisine, and Thomas Keller is known for his excellent restaurants “The French Laundry” and “Per Se“. Heston Blumenthal, a pioneer of molecular gastronomy, runs the renowned “The Fat Duck“. Marco Pierre White is a British celebrity chef who is also a mentor to many other chefs, and Daniel Boulud is known for his French cuisine and his numerous restaurants in the USA.
Cooking as an exciting journey of discovery
To take a significant step forward in the art of cooking, it is important to engage not only with new techniques, but also with sophisticated culinary concepts and creative flavors. One way to do this is to focus on the application of molecular cooking techniques.
You can start experimenting with different gelling agents such as agar-agar or gelatin to create creative textures and presentations. Imagine preparing a classic dish like Caprese, but with a twist: instead of fresh tomatoes, you use a gelled tomato sphere that releases an intense tomato flavor when cut.
Imagine preparing a sous-vide beef fillet with a marinade of garlic-infused oil, fresh herbs and award-winning balsamic vinegar, while simultaneously cooking vegetables like carrots and parsnips in an aniseed broth. This combination makes it possible to perfectly match the flavors of the individual components and make the dish as a whole a true culinary experience.
Unforgettable experiences for your guests
The final presentation of the dishes is not just about arranging the food attractively, but also about playing with colors, textures and heights to create a visual experience that is in no way inferior to the taste. Get to grips with plating techniques and combine edible flowers, sauces and different powder substances for decorative highlights.
In addition, it would be advisable to deepen your knowledge of wine in order to create a harmonious connection between food and drinks. Learn which wines complement the different flavors of your favorite dishes and how to bring them together symbiotically to create an all-round successful culinary experience.
Cooking: Start with simple dishes | Sophisticated meals without problems | Inspiration and experience – all articles at a glance.