Who doesn’t love delicious food? Well, I’ll admit, that’s not a good question since almost everyone would give a positive answer. But let me ask you this—who doesn’t like preparing delicious food?
This question is more challenging to answer. While we all aspire to cook a masterpiece and become the star of our kitchen, the reality is that it often takes so much time, effort, and talent that many of us give up after repeated failures.
Don’t worry, this is not going to be your next recipe for some dinner ideas. Instead, let’s talk about the transformation of our interest in food. In other words, how do we consume food-related content from various sources?
People have always loved talking about food – remember Julia Child‘s show and all the controversy it created? And many food shows appeared television since then.
The journey of food didn’t stop on TV. The interest of the audience never slowed down, and new formats of food content – on digital platforms and in printed materials – evolved. Famous chefs and Hollywood celebrities soon jumped on the bandwagon.
The Favorite of YouTube Viewers
Cooking videos have become immensely popular online. There is a particular appeal in watching someone skillfully prepare a delicious meal or dessert. It is as if one is sharing the kitchen with a friend, without the subsequent cleanup.
Remarkably, one does not need professional culinary training to participate in this trend. Every day people are setting up cameras in their kitchens and inviting viewers into their culinary world. This authenticity resonates with audiences.
However, while the content can be informal and relaxed, the production quality must be high. Viewers expect to see every detail of the cooking process, from the bubbles in a sauce to the layers of a pastry. Inevitably, a good streaming webcam is essential for those who choose to share their cooking live. It’s really important for showing the bright colors of food, how it looks while cooking, and how it looks when it’s finished. You can also talk live with people watching, who can ask you things or give you ideas.
A good webcam might cost money, but it’s necessary for making good videos. You wouldn’t serve fancy food on cheap plates, right? So don’t show your cooking on a bad video. With the right tools, you can make videos that really grab people’s attention.
Celebrities Write Cookbooks
It’s not surprising to see Hollywood stars being interested in creative activities or even starting a business with their hobbies, but publishing a cookbook could be seen as not a very attractive idea in the variety of opportunities those megastars have. But guess what? More and more TV personalities show their passion for not only enjoying delicious desserts and dishes but also cooking and writing a book to help others be creative in the kitchen, teaching new recipes in a funny way especially when they are written by people who are comedians.
Jesse Tyler Ferguson’s “Food Between Friends” is a great example. Collaborating with close friend and recipe developer Julie Tanous, the “Modern Family” star has created a volume that celebrates friendship as much as food. The book features dishes inspired by Ferguson’s New Mexican heritage and Tanous’s Southern roots.
On the other hand, Stephen Colbert’s “Does This Taste Funny?” is a funny take on the usual celebrity cookbook. This silly book makes fun of cookbooks with recipes like “Stephen Colbert’s Paella for One” and “Pizza Bed.” Instead of making you want to cook, the book is more likely to make you laugh. Both books show a different side of these famous people that we don’t normally see on TV.
Playing and Cooking Virtually
Cooking games for grown-ups have become surprisingly popular lately. They let people play pretend chef without the mess of a real kitchen. “Cooking Simulator VR” puts you in a busy restaurant kitchen, where you have to manage your time, do a bunch of things at once, and not burn everything. It’s like those cooking shows on TV, but way less stressful.
The “Cook, Serve, Delicious!” games are different. Here, you’re the boss of your own restaurant! The game goes fast, so you have to think quickly and plan well to take your tiny restaurant all the way to the top.
These games are fun and although they can’t replace real cooking, they may make you want to try cooking something for real in your own kitchen.
Food is more than just something to kill the hunger. With YouTube channels, cookbooks, and video games, food has turned into a whole new way to entertain ourselves, express ourselves, and play with others. People enjoy food-related activities because it can be fun and engaging on all sorts of levels.
What are you cooking today?
When she’s not traveling, Mary Jo lives in Seattle where she enjoys lingering over a cup of coffee, wandering in a museum, sipping wine at a cafe, and sharing it all with friends and readers. Her most recent travels were to Israel, a Baltic cruise, and Universal Orlando Resort.
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