Let’s talk about someone for a minute: my dad. He’s a lot of things — and I plan to talk more about that when his 50th rolls around — but for today’s purposes, he’s a chef first. This has been his career for his entire adult life, so he’s pretty legit. If you’re in the mood to listen to my shameless advertisement, he works at Siren Hall in Elk Rapids, Michigan; check it out. Anyway, living with a professional chef has its pros and cons.
PRO: HE MAKES SUCH GOOD FOOD
Obviously I’m biased; people tend to gravitate to their parents’ cooking. But no one compares. Let’s just say that there is only one thing in the world my dad says someone makes better than he does.
CON: HE WORKS LONG HOURS
My dad, like most chefs, goes into work in the early morning to prep for the day, and he doesn’t get home until the evening. That’s a long day for anyone to be on their feet. And I never really got to see him.
PRO: SUCH GOOD FOOD
Yeah, I said this already. But follow him on Instagram and Twitter and just try not to drool.
CON: HE DOESN’T ALWAYS COOK
Because he cooks all day, my dad isn’t always in the mood to cook when he gets home. It’s understandable. But the comment, “Your dad’s a chef? You must eat great food all the time!” isn’t always true.
PRO: I LEARNED FROM THE BEST
Literally everything I know about cooking or operating in the kitchen, I learned from my dad. When he cooks at home, I’m always right there next to him. It’s one thing I miss most about living with my parents.
CON: I COMPARE EVERYONE’S COOKING TO HIS
It doesn’t matter if I’m going to a restaurant or eating at a friend’s house, I compare the food I’m eating to what I know: my dad’s cooking. This is a little intimidating, I’m sure, but I can’t help it. I’ve been to barbecue joints that don’t hold a candle to my dad’s pulled pork. But it is what it is.
PRO: I CAN CALL HIM FOR HELP ON ANYTHING
If I need help making corn on the cob or halving a recipe for pie dough, I know my dad has my back. And he has the answer within seconds because cooking is so second nature to him. See also “Help! My Mom Doesn’t Feed Me Anymore.”
I wouldn’t change my dad for the world. He’s a pretty great guy with a pretty cool job. And I’m glad he imparted his wisdom on me. And though I don’t have the palette he does, I’m staying away from eating french fries every day, which I’m sure he’d be proud of.
