Unambitious
It’s important to remember that our cooking doesn't always have to be fabulous; it doesn't always have to be perfect, or showcase the latest, most expensive ingredient. Sometimes, a dinner consisting of a simple unambitious plate of spaghetti with a decent red sauce and a nice green salad is good enough. In fact, it is perfect. Perfect for everyday and perfect for company, too.
Not surprisingly, we can sometimes let our ego get the best of us in the kitchen, and it becomes a place where we push and strive and battle as if dinner were some kind of sporting event that one must dominate at all costs. Achievement, excellence, mastery and ambition are highly valued in our culture, but they can sometimes obscure the more subtle treasures like connection, intimacy and fellowship. In reaching for the stars, we can overlook the more humble but incredibly delicious and nourishing offerings right here at our feet.
So if you want to be a great cook and, even more important, a great friend and host, learn to make the best spaghetti Bolognese you can. Or the best chickpea curry or the best grilled cheese sandwich or tossed salad. Go for simple, honest, straightforward food served up to nourish and delight. The idea is not to impress but to put people at ease, to gratify them with something delicious, and to let them know that their company is the most important thing at the table. Everything else is just extra.