Yes.
In my earlier years, my parents owned and both worked in a restaurant. Since the only person available to look after me was my grandmother, who was also a very busy woman, I ended up spending much of my time in the restaurant and—as hazardous as it was—its kitchen. I didn’t exactly learn how to cook, but I did develop interest in the trade, respect for chefs, and inspiration to try out cooking whenever I had the chance. I would probably be working at that restaurant now, but my father sold the place (he did not like being a “Yuppie”) and moved into a different business.
After moving, I gradually lost all interest in cooking. I pretty much went for several years without even thinking about cooking. It wasn’t until I was 11 years old (when I had to choose shop class or home ec.) that my interest in cooking was renewed. I had the boost of past experiences to keep me near the top of the class; however, I was never able to get the passion I should have had for cooking—perhaps due to the fact I was easily influenced by my father.
That same class ran into high school, where it eventually evolved into Food Technology. It was a class that I could both enjoy and feel good about doing well in. The fact that the teacher was less of a teacher and more like a mother made me much more comfortable about the class and cooking.
Despite all this, I have never seriously considered cooking anything more than a hobby. I don’t know why.
