What I Have Been Up to Lately: Meet Chef Michael (moi)

We got a new neighbour last year November. One of the members of the household is a professional chef. He agreed to teach me how to cook intercontinental meals. We have done some classes in December. I have augmented my learning with some books and YouTube. 

Result. I have been cooking all kinds of new things these days.

On Christmas day I cooked Spaghetti Bolognese. 

A week before that my teacher had taught me how to cook both Spaghetti Bolognese and Chinese Fried Rice.

When my mother-in-law, sister-in-law and brother-in-law visited us three days after Christmas, I cooked them a special meal. It was not something they were used to but they praised me and did some takeaway for my sake.

I have been grilling chicken and gizzards this new year than I have done all the previous years of my life combined. 

I even now cook rice differently. My spaghetti and noodles are now like what you see in their adverts and packaging. 

I have more spices than anyone I know: Yaji, Chili Pepper, Jollof Rice Spice, Ground Ginger, Onion Powder, Stock Mix, Pepper Soup Spice, Ground Tumeric, Cayenne Pepper, Curry Power, Ground Nutmeg, Thyme Leaves, Rosemary Leaves, Meat Tenderizer, Black Pepper, Whole Oregano, Bay Leaves, Sazon Everything Mix, Oyster Sauce, Dark Soy Sauce, Light Soy Sauce, Ground Crazy Fish, Ground Cameroon Pepper and Ground Red Pepper.

I now know the difference between Olive Oil, Canola Oil, Sesame Oil and the Vegetable Oil I have always known. Especially the huge price difference. Come see me shout when someone touches my Olive Oil in a way I do not approve.

I have also been baking more. I sold close to $800 worth of Ethereum at $580/Ethereum to buy a very expensive LG gas cooker that has temperature dial, timer and a broiler. The next day, Ethereum started its meteoric rise. Now it is at over $1,200/Ethereum. Talk about bad timing. Now I sweat the cooker like it's its fault.

I baked mince pie.

I made chin chin.

I am now the latest convert to stir frying. I have chopped more carrots, more celery, more onions and more garlic than I have ever before the last one month. You would think I am practicing for a competition.

I have been reading so much now and learning a lot about the world of cooking that it's like I am entering a whole new planet. Just yesterday I bought suya spice from a suya seller in my neighbourhood. I read the bestseller by Samin Nosrat, Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat: Mastering the Elements of Good Cooking and it has been very eye opening. I now season meat long before I cook or grill them. I boil water till its steaming furiously before putting in rice or spag or any main food. I play with temperature settings masterfully when using the oven and when stir frying.

I guess if the Excel and Power BI world comes to an end, I will be welcomed to the culinary world. I guess I can then rebrand as UrBizEdge Cuisine. :)

What do you think about my chances?