Gourmet Cooking in Retirement
We know a few people who have taken up gourmet cooking in retirement. And why not? You go out to an expensive restaurant and have a wonderful dinner with expert preparation, perfect spicing and exquisite presentation and then, you start to think: could I do this? Quite often we have enjoyed a very tasty meal and tried to figure out what spice or herb were we tasting and how were they able to get the crust on the meat without burning it? We plead guilty to going home many times and trying to duplicate the meal that we had and, quite often, have come very close to it. We enjoy cooking and we enjoy entertaining, but it hasn’t inspired us to sharpen our culinary skills in a formal way. We do know some people who have taken their kitchen game up a notch and they’re enjoying everything about it.
There are many courses online and any search on YouTube will yield many instructive videos to help you prepare almost anything you can think of. The Food Network has an incredible assortment of shows and contests that are sure to inspire you if you’re short of ideas. While some shows might not exactly fit the “gourmet” description, you will find no shortage of interesting recipes and techniques that will provide you with some motivation to expand your adventures in the kitchen because gourmet cooking in retirement can be an adventure that will provide you with a great sense of fulfillment and a lot of fun in your journey to becoming a first class chef.
Gourmet Cooking in Retirement Can Be Tremendously Satisfying
Obviously, there are some incredible culinary schools that provide training and degrees in all phases of cooking and meal preparation. We live in the Hudson Valley in New York and have access to one of the best in the world. The Culinary Institute in Hyde Park offers degree programs and private instruction that will fit almost any need. Even better, they have a few restaurants on campus that serve as a training ground for their students and the meals we have enjoyed there are worthy of almost any restaurant that we’ve been to. They offer a number of tasting nights that help fund their institution and offer training opportunities for their students. Everything we’ve attended there has been wonderful so, if you’re in the vicinity of one of their schools that are located throughout the country, stop in and experience the future of cooking in America. Or, check out your local area to see if there are any culinary institutions. It’s a growing field and many community colleges have programs that are quite good.
Gourmet cooking in retirement is a great hobby because it provides opportunities for learning new things and offers great opportunities to make new friends. Do you know how many of our friends share a common love of food? A great meal is enhanced through the conversation that is enjoyed while you experience new flavors and applaud the efforts of the “chef” of the evening. Add some great wine or other adult beverages and you’ll be hard pressed to come up with a better experience.
Gourmet cooking in retirement can also cut down on your dining expenses. You can even customize your food preparation so that you can adhere to a budget that might actually save you money. The one thing we learned on some of our trips abroad is that food is never wasted, especially in the poorer countries. Every part of an animal is used whether it’s the main cut of meat or other parts that go into making a stock. It is definitely not something that I want to learn more about, but it does paint a different picture of gourmet cooking. The best restaurants feature a chef (or an assistant) showing up in the kitchen early each morning to make stocks for soups or sauces. While you do not have to down to this level of preparation if you take up cooking as a hobby, you will be surprised that the best meals do not have to cost a fortune.
Gourmet cooking in retirement is a wonderful way to expand your horizons. Learning the secrets of a top chef is a skill that you will enjoy acquiring and it will get you to want to learn more. It may even inspire you to visit a country that has a cuisine that you particularly like. There are many travel companies that specialize in culinary tours, and it can be a lot of fun if you go with a group of friends. Almost all the cruises that go to other countries will provide an opportunity for an excursion that is focused on food. That is one of the great pleasures of visiting a different country. You’ll be surprised at how many of your fellow travelers have taken up gourmet cooking in retirement.
Whether you travel or not, I’m sure there are certain foods from other countries that intrigue you to the point where you’re asking that question we’ve all asked: I wonder if I can make that? From Mexican to Chinese and from French to Italian, there are some dishes that we all savor in a special way. A wonderful meal is one of life’s great treasures and being able to cook that meal is a skill you might enjoy acquiring. So, what are you waiting for? Take up gourmet cooking in retirement. It’s time to Enjoy Retired Life!
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