In 1956, newspaper columnist and TV critic Harriet Van Horne wrote, “Cooking is like love. It should be entered into with abandon or not at all.” Indeed, cooking requires a certain amount of commitment — and ideally a healthy dose of enthusiasm — to make the activity fun and the resulting food (at least somewhat) edible.
That said, while people often talk about cooking as if it’s an art form reserved for only the ultra-dedicated, it doesn’t have to be as complicated or highbrow as all that. And although we see plenty of frazzled, panicked chefs on our TVs, especially on the now-ubiquitous competition cooking shows, spending time in the kitchen can be wonderfully relaxing and therapeutic.
Still not convinced? Here are 12 quotes from celebrity chefs that will inspire you to bust out those pots and pans and prepare a meal fit for a king — or maybe just some scrambled eggs, to start.
This is my invariable advice to people: Learn how to cook — try new recipes, learn from your mistakes, be fearless, and above all have fun.Julia Child
Julia Child was one of the original celebrity chefs. She introduced French cuisine to the American public with her cookbooks and TV shows and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2003 for her efforts.
Cooking is like painting or writing a song. Just as there are only so many notes or colors, there are only so many flavors — it's how you combine them that sets you apart.Wolfgang Puck
Wolfgang Puck was born in Austria but found fame and fortune in the U.S. as a chef, restaurateur, and frequent guest judge on popular cooking shows such as Top Chef and MasterChef.
Cooking and baking is both physical and mental therapy.Mary Berry
Mary Berry is one of the most beloved and respected celebrity chefs in the U.K. She has written more than 70 cookbooks and appeared on countless TV shows, including as a judge on the first seven seasons of The Great British Bake Off.
Let your food do the talking; you’ll be surprised at how far you will go in a very short time.Gordon Ramsay
Gordon Ramsay tends to talk just as much as his food does — he’s probably as famous for his extremely colorful language as for his excellent cooking skills. His unique personality, evident passion, and quick wit has made him one of the world’s most recognizable celebrity chefs.
Basic cooking skills are a virtue … the ability to feed yourself and a few others with proficiency should be taught to every young man and woman as a fundamental skill.Anthony Bourdain
Anthony Bourdain transcended his celebrity chef persona, becoming a beloved author and travel documentarian who used food to explore international cultures and the human condition.
Great chefs … give you insight into the world they came from, the world that inspired them. They show that off on their plates.Marco Pierre White
Marco Pierre White was the original rock-star chef of the U.K. restaurant scene, known for his food as well as his enfant terrible reputation. He also trained a slew of other notable chefs, including the aforementioned Gordon Ramsay.
I feel like every human should at least try to bake a loaf of bread, once in their lifetime. Just to see if you can do it.Duff Goldman
Duff Goldman is a celebrity pastry chef whose Food Network show Ace of Cakes led to three cookbooks (so far) and many more TV appearances.
Everyone can cook. If you try. If you put a little love into it.Leah Chase
Leah Chase, known as the “Queen of Creole Cuisine,” was an acclaimed chef, author, and TV personality. In the 1960s, her restaurant, Dooky Chase, served as a gathering place for civil rights activists.
When you can cook is when you can go to a farmers market, buy a bunch of stuff, then go home and make something without looking at a recipe. Now you’re cooking.Tom Colicchio
Tom Colicchio is a five-time James Beard Foundation Award winner and has been the charismatic head judge on Top Chef for more than 20 seasons.
Good cooking is like magic. By making stuff that other people cannot make, by impressing them and sometimes even blowing their minds, makes me feel like a magician. It's a lovely skill to possess.Monica Galetti
After growing up in New Zealand, Samoan-born Monica Galetti became chef proprietor of Mere and senior sous-chef at Le Gavroche, both in London. She’s now a judge on BBC’s MasterChef: The Professionals.
Mastering one recipe is better than mastering too many. Learn something and own it, and you’ll feel so much better about it. You’ll have more confidence if you’ve made it five times, and that confidence adds so much fun to cooking.Tom Douglas
Tom Douglas is an executive chef, restaurateur, and cookbook author who has appeared on Iron Chef America. He also co-hosts the Hot Stove Radio podcast with fellow James Beard Award winner Thierry Rautureau.
Once you understand the foundations of cooking — whatever kind you like, whether it’s French or Italian or Japanese — you really don’t need a cookbook anymore.Thomas Keller
Thomas Keller achieved worldwide culinary fame with his multiple award-winning Napa Valley restaurant, the French Laundry. Both the French Laundry and Per Se, another of Keller’s ventures, hold three Michelin stars — making him the first U.S. chef to simultaneously operate multiple three-star restaurants.
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