Simple Gourmet Cooking - cooker

The Journey – Part 1

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So, as part of my decision to start an online cookery course, I took a long, hard look at my kitchen.
It’s all very well having a clean, neat and tidy kitchen, but it’s a whole new ball-game when you want to show it to everyone on the internet! I just know you’re all going to inspect my kitchen when I start putting up pictures and videos. Don’t deny it, you know you will
I took a few photographs and made a few quick videos, and then looked at them as though I was a stranger looking at someone’s kitchen. I didn’t particularly like what I saw.
The cooker was old and worn out; The tiles were discoloured and the grout needed reviving; The worktops also need replacing, but as it’s rented property there’s not much I can do about that. I’ll have to work with what I’ve got. Simple Gourmet Cooking - cooker

The first thing I did was get rid of the old cooker. It was an old model, the kind with large metal plates, that take ages to heat up, and you have no quick control over the temperature like you do with gas.  Unfortunately we don’t have gas here, so I went for the next best thing – a ceramic hob with a separate grill and oven. Almost as much heat control as a gas hob, with the even heat distribution of a fan oven and the ability to grill and roast at the same time.

While the cooker was out, I made the most of the time, giving the tiles a deep clean with industrial strength degreaser, and re-grouted the whole area.
It helps that I’m also a qualified electrician, so I could remove the old cooker and install the new one myself 😉

I’m looking forward to cooking here again!

29 comments

  1. This post inspired me to plan to make my garden much neater and more presentable this year, since that’s what I like to show people. My kitchen is never, ever going to be as clean as yours.

  2. Have you ever read about Julia Child? She started out pretty small and cheap. Turned into a world renowned chef! Good luck on your journey. Thanks for visiting my blog.

  3. this is amazing cooking is my dream and I am very talented at it. I do not believe I have what it takes 100% not because of capability but because of patience and discipline. So I decided to go to school for marketing. I dont regret it but it’s not my calling. eh 4 years and I graduate in 2 months
    I appreciate your follow I hope that one day we can collab
    I definitely appreciate this post
    -Dehjia Thompkins

  4. I too cook in a very small and outdated kitchen. I hate it, but I am able to really work well in it. Like most chefs, you just have to be creative and at least have good cooking equipment.

  5. Thank you chef for following my blog. I love cooking, only now I don’t have a decent camera /smartphone but soon I will be sharing my kitchen too. Looking forward to try some of your recipes too.

  6. If on,y we could all have those kitchens thst look good on TV, but we generally work with whatever space we have and make our passion for food speak for itself. Cheers,H

  7. Thank you for “Liking & Following”! I’m looking forward to following you too in hopes of being “re-inspired” to start cooking again. Best of luck to you!

  8. Well although there’s not much info in your “bio” section, you must live in London! (Or somewhere near there.) I’d never seen such a small stove until my daughter moved there. In fact i was just telling friends about the washing machine she had that turns into the dryer, in the same appliance! Just part of living in a big city, with small flats I guess. So different than life in the U.S. Actually my smallest kitchen was my favorite, so trust me, I’m not judging. Can’t wait to see how your blog evolves!

  9. I was surprised to see I am being followed by a chef! You are welcome to use my recipes but trust you to indicate attribution. Many of my recipes are passed down through generations while others have been adapted from other people’s recipes, some long before the internet was a thing, as the kids say.

    Just out of curiosity, was there something in particular that prompted your visit and follow?

  10. Thank for your follow! My kitchen looks horrible, especially now with having small baby… But we are renting our place and I can’t do anything with very old hob, so in the pictures I try to hide my small messy kitchen and home.
    Good luck with your blog! I will check your blog, because your “about me” page caught my attention and maybe you will get new follower!

  11. It is truly funny how a person working in the Food Service industry looks at their kitchen. Being in the industry for about 18 years and about a year away from the first degree, my all white kitchen most of the time can pass a white glove test, because of sanitation courses.

    Thank you for the few visits and likes on my blog.

  12. Thank you for following our blog and giving us the possibility of reading yours.you idea of cooking in a “normal kitchen”is great :nobody needs big spaces to cook great food.Buon appetito !

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