#MenWhoCook: How lockdown has made men channel their inner chefs

It took a lockdown for most men to spice things up. In the kitchen, that is! Talking of his kitchen debut, Bangalore resident, Ashwin Nair, says, “It was all very situational for me. We paid the cook and told her not to come for a month. We also decided against using food delivery services to avoid any risks. My wife, who is working from home, has a packed schedule every day, whereas I, being in the travel domain, have a lot of free time. So, that’s how I got into and busy in the kitchen.” Like Ashwin, many Indian kitchens are seeing a rush of testosterone-fuelled activity and culinary creativity in this lockdown period.

Kitchen kings
In the first few days of the lockdown, Mumbai-based 29-year-old Nikunj Kak was nothing like the kitchen pro he is today. “I felt completely handicapped without my cook. It came to a point where I just had to start cooking to survive. I started watching online cooking videos. I’d also call up my mum to help me with recipes,” he says.

As for Ashwin, he’s clearly enjoying his stint on this turf, and putting out his culinary exploits on a YouTube channel. “Since I am not a professional cook, I make small mistakes that I don’t edit out as they lend some humour,” he laughs.

Men go the whole hog
Perceptions like the kitchen is a woman’s domain and men should stay out of it are passé, says Ashwin. Immanuel Leon Francis, a bachelor from Chennai, says, “During this lockdown, I’m dabbling in Italian, American and Indian cuisines. I’d never thought I’d be able to make ice cream this delicious one day. At this rate, I’ll have my own fast food joint soon!”

Cooking post lockdown?
“Yes, I am definitely going to continue cooking. Why would I give up a skill that I managed to get a hang of with much difficulty?” asks Nikunj. Immanuel says he won’t shun an opportunity to put his apron on. Whereas, Rohan Sen, who lives with his friends in Delhi, says, “Cooking has come in handy for feeding myself and my flatmates. But after the lockdown is lifted, I don’t think I want to continue doing it unless one of my flatmates steps up to the plate and manages the entire kitchen function.”

Kitchen bloopers
“The other day, while cooking, I directly put freshly washed onions into hot oil. And you know what happens when hot oil gets mixed with water!” laughs Nikunj.

Cooking Blues
“My fingers are usually well manicured. But now, with the amount of cooking that I do, they sport quite a few tiny burns and nicks,” rues Immanuel.