Understand that, as a man, we men will never believe that knowing how to cook food is ever unnecessary. Sure there are sacrifices we make like getting the poster bikini model which has no clue how to even enter a kitchen (ans. to how to enter a kitchen: with two feet and sleeves rolled up ready to get your hands wet), or the girl who owns a Ferrari dealership who has no idea how to make eggs, but if we can have it, someone to cook for us forever and ever, then we'll def take it.
Sure, you women may frown upon seeing some men still living with their mothers at an old age, but truth be told, it's probably a situation where the mother knows how to cook her ass off; and there's always good food in the fridge. Yes,there's probably a percentage of lazy dudes who have no other choice then to live with their mom, especially here in NYC where rent isn't cheap, but can you blame them for not really wanting to live alone or with their girl friends who, in 2012, can barely cook anything besides hot pockets?
I've been living by myself since college and once I moved to NYC did my cooking regimen steadily decline. The main reason for this is because in NYC there isn't really any reason to have a ton of food at home to cook. Why? Because unless you're a millionaire already or have a live in Cook (which for most people is their mother/father) you're working day in and day out, and when you leave work you're out doing more networking, hanging with co-workers, doing happy hour; taking a salsa lesson or yoga class. That's just the way New York City living is. Hell, I lived in TX for literally half of my life and I remember there ALWAYS being food in the house, left overs etc; and I took it for granted. Now if I buy food or milk for the house I usually forget its even there and before I know it a week or two passes and I end up throwing it out because it went bad.
I even used to buy meat and chicken at Costco in bulk and freeze it so it would last more than a month; I'd thaw it out and cook it. Then I started working like crazy and 1 month turned into 3 months and it would get Freezer Burn.
So for those of you thinking that Cooking food is amazing and fun, we need to be friends asap and you need to start inviting me over to your house on my days to try your food. Until that happens though here's some reasons I came up with on why Knowing how to cook isn't necessary....
1. Food Poisoning
Little did I know it when I would finally get around to thawing out some of the meats I'd have in the freezer for over 4 months at times, though I don't really have any evidence this was the main reason, but, I was getting more upset stomach situations. Almost like mild food poisoning if there's a term that ever existed. The meat was also not as tender or fresh (obviously). Then I got to a point where I started really thinking about how much emphasis I had on putting very quality and healthy and fresh foods into my body. There wasn't much. I'd eat very greasy horribly prepared foods at diners that were all about poor quality, late night. I was also eating tons of sugar (empty calories from cakes and deserts and high carb donuts or non wheat bagels).
At one point I was a huge advocate of exercise but what I put inside my body wasn't adding up to the great feeling I was getting from exercising. So about last year as I went on a huge ordering out binge (I had no choice, as in my line of work right now you're always on location).
It's not about how good of a deal I can get on food. All I care now is that it's fresh and won't get me sick, EVER. And I'm willing pay what ever it costs to make sure I get the most organic products. I don't think we realize this until it's usually too late but ANYTHING we put into our bodies had an effect on how we will feel the next day, even the next year. My advice is to leave to the pros. Every healthy spot I eat at has a high turn over rate so all their produce is super fresh.
2. The beautiful women of today don't Cook
I was talking with my mom yesterday and asked her what she was up to. She then goes to explain how she'd made this and that dish the night before and had been preparing to make x and y dish that day and something else the next day. Yes my mom is retired now and living in Puerto Rico but don't think that's the only reason she's able to be like that now. Oh contraire; from when I was born and she was working 10 hour shifts as a nurse 6 or sometimes 7 days a week my mom still found ways to cook. Both her and my Dad were skilled magicians in the kitchen. Perhaps in those times they were raised every girl learned how to cook. Blame it on feminism or blame it on the changing of the times. If you ask me it's that women don't really see it as important anymore.
I always kid with my female friends that I'm going to find a woman to stay at home and cook for me every day. That notion to them sounds very chauvinistic and one track minded. And yes, most really beautiful girls have no idea how to cook, and if there are Maxim Magazine type models who love cooking want to refute what I'm saying please contact me asap for a dinner date at your place (I'm a busy man so book it fast).
Living in NYC and seeing how it's actually cheaper to eat out then to buy food here (I say that because the food will go bad when you buy it in bulk therefore losing your investment as opposed to buying one meal and getting what you pay for) I can't really see any reason why people should cook.
3. Cooking is considered Work
Young people really don't look at cooking as an amazing hobby. If you're in your 20's or early 30's and living in NYC I don't see you getting home from your 10 hour a day corporate job to hurry into your kitchen and come up with something amazing for your roommates (who are either asleep or still at work themselves) to savor on. And here in this day and age time is money and Cash is King. Sure if you're on a dating site looking to meet girls and you're an amazing chef then set up your dates with offering to cook for them. But even that has a hidden agenda, as in most guys are hoping they get at least a blow job for their efforts. You're usually too tired and a can of soup will suffice as you rush to get some shut eye as you have to be up early to do it all over again.
4. Fresh is fresh
In all my crusading to find the best and best freshest places in NYC to eat, that won't break my pocketbook, the evidence I've found is unanimous to say that I'm actually saving money by consuming high quality fresh food once a day. I basically only eat one main meal a day, snacking the rest of day. As my diet becomes more and more Spartan I'm realizing how much I can actually get on through out the day with out having to eat a lot.
By no means am I starving myself; it's saying things like "I know I can eat those m&m's right now OR just drink water and wait 2 more hours until I get out of work to get in a good meal at my go to spot Sanfords. Sanfords is probably the freshest diner in Queens. Yes, it's in my neighborhood and though it's a bit pricey by 24/7 diner standards it's still worth every penny. People don't really consider it a diner because it doesn't look like one; but in my book any restaurant open 24/7 is a diner. Plus most of the 24 hour super markets around my area when I get out of work have the worst quality. I'm happy to throw my money at Sanfords knowing that what I get is organic and healthily prepared.
5. Spartan diet
That I barely cook in my kitchen (except for the smoothies I make 5 days a week) I take where I choose to eat and what I choose to put in my body very seriously. It's been going on for about a year now and, along with my strict yoga regimen, I've been starting to see some amazing results (that's for another post). This wasn't anything I could have ever foresaw. And who knows, if my work schedule ever changes I may go back to cooking every day in my kitchen. No telling if that will happen anytime soon but if it does you'll def be seeing me at the farmers market every weekend. Sure NYC is busy and concrete but one thing I cant' get enough about this place is the options NYC gives you. To eat horrible shitty fast food or to seek out the gourmet quality healthy food.
Sure, women may have stopped learning how to cook but when living in a place like NYC who needs a stay at home cook. The options are infinite here.
