Letters from the Dorm: How learning to cook at uni has made me into an Instagram foodie, and strengthened my friendships
Cooking gives a student a unique opportunity to strengthen his relationship with friends and show that he cares about them
A meal should taste AND look good. Before I left Hong Kong to study in Britain, I could just about make a bowl of instant noodles and boil an egg. My mum is an excellent cook, so I never bothered to learn to make a proper dish. That all changed when I came to Britain, because I soon realised that I had to learn to cook in order to survive on something other than noodles. I started to browse YouTube for tips on how to cook better, and I began hanging out more in the kitchen and experimenting with new recipes.
Before I knew it, cooking was no longer a survival skill – it had become one of my hobbies. Now, I cook every single day and post my dishes on Instagram – check them out on @abielcooks.
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One of the things I love about cooking is its creativity. I get to try out different types of ingredients and create different dishes. Not to mention perfecting the art of food plating – or food presentation – which impresses my friends. This way, I can introduce flavours that work well together, and present them in a unique style.
I believe visual appeal is just as important as the taste, too. Making food look their best is no easy task, and there are many ways of doing it.
Another thing I love about food is the pleasure it brings, both to myself and to others. After spending 30 minutes in the kitchen, I am in a much calmer and happier mood than being a couch potato and watching Netflix. It also gives me an opportunity to strengthen my relationship with my friends and show that I care about them.
As much as I appreciate the above-mentioned benefits, it was actually the praise I received that got me going as a “chef”. Hearing things like “This is amazing!” motivated me to keep improving and simply made my day every time.
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After I started making proper dishes, I invited my friends from uni and my flatmates for “eat and chill” sessions.
I even organised a weekly “food gathering” with my neighbours.
Food is just like music – it brings people together. Next time before you think of ordering takeaways and dining out, think of what magic and wonders you could have created in your kitchen.