Cooking has become one of the biggest trends in the social media, especially as the coronavirus pandemic presses on, people have settled into routines that involve a lot more home cooking. It is a wonderful activity for creativity, where cooking enthusiasts create their own recipes that win the admiration of society. While women have traditionally been the predominant food shoppers and preparers, some evidence suggests this is beginning to shift, with men taking an increasing role.
Men have been trying to outshine women in their own game, on their turf or territory - the kitchen. Cooking was never a man's forte, but in today's day and age, men are getting better at it. They have skillfully mastered the art of preparing mouth-watering dishes and are being voted as better cooks.
So, what is the story of men’s passion for cooking? is it a hobby or a lifestyle? Chef Muhammad Bin Ali (29 years old) says, “I started my cooking hobby when I was studying in another country. I used to eat from restaurants and for several times I got food poisoning.” So, I decided to learn cooking, and from here my passion began to explore this wonderful field.” He added that cooking requires patience before skill.
Muhammad Ali did not receive any cooking courses, as he prepares the most delicious recipes with his own ingredients. He said I learned everything by self-teaching and did many experiments to reach this level. Nothing is impossible if you have passion.
Muhammad says, at first, I faced a lot of difficulty and pressure from the community because they did not accept my profession, as it was rare for an Omani man to work as a chef. Despite that, I continued with passion and love until today I became a successful person in society. Nowadays, there are a lot of men in this profession and social media made it easier for society to accept the idea. “The sociality of cooking is not only about leisure but also a way for men to maintain relationships and assume domestic responsibility”, he assured.
Another successful Omani chef is Hussam Al Jabri who is a content creator on social media platforms, and his recipes are easy and all followers can prepare and enjoy. Chef Hussam Al-Jabri says, "My journey with cooking began when I start working away from home, so I had to learn cooking for myself through YouTube, as I do not like to eat from restaurants." He added that cooking requires a lot of passion and love of experimentation. From his point of view, the chef must receive the necessary education or assistance from an experienced chef to master his work. This is what made Chef Hussam Al-Jabri take advice from some experienced chefs in this field.
As for the most important challenges he faced, he said, "Making content on social media is very stressful, as I do the cooking, shooting, preparation, and montage on my own, and this is not easy as some followers think. However, if we look at its results, it is worth the effort." Diversity in Omani cuisine has helped this successful chef to come up with new recipes, as he said, "I was encouraged by the diversity and excellence of authentic Omani dishes, as it was my beginning to develop my own recipes. I combined Omani recipes with recipes from other countries and produced new dishes with a delicious taste."
Muhammad and Hussam, who work in this field, do not believe that a man's being a chef gives a negative image on their manhood, if they love and master their work. Cooking is an art and an honorable profession. the field in this profession is always wide for innovation and development, and there is nothing to be ashamed of working as a chef.
They believe that cooking is related to skill, passion, and the love of trying something new every time. They say that catering is better for men than women due to the long working hours and the constant pressure for orders that require great effort and patience. This is not a disparagement for the female chef crew, but rather to motivate us all to get engaged in this business as a professional national chef team.
When there is passion, everything becomes entertaining, no matter how difficult it is. Learning requires patience, several attempts, and never to surrender. The love of cooking among men has become an art, a way of life, and a good opportunity to compete and be creative. As they assure us that there are no limits to the energies of the Omani youth, as they are always looking for new ways and existing fields to make a successful touch.
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
