Introduction to...A Foodie who Can't Cook
Hello again everyone!
For those of you who do not know, my name is Jacqueline Mamone, but I just go by my middle name, Rachel. Yes, it has made everything more confusing for my whole life.
Personal image of myself.
Anyway, there are a lot of things that are important to know about me. I am studying public relations. I have an adorable dog named Maggie (see image below), and I am obsessed with Gilmore Girls. Most aspects of my life all come back to one thing though, and that is my love of food.
Personal image. My Pomeranian, Maggie.
I have the strong belief that food can bring people together and bring out the best in them. Some of my favorite childhood memories took place at various family holiday meals. Food has also been one way that I can experience parts of other cultures without traveling far from home. Different dishes serve as different reminders of certain people or moments. The practice of sharing a meal with someone is almost a sacred act to me, and I try to make the most of my time with others when I am dining with them.
Aside from the emotional connection, food can be delicious, right? One of my my favorite dishes is Pad Thai from Thai Delight. If you're located around the OU Norman campus, then you might know what I'm talking about. I also love a good bagel and a cup of coffee, like I mentioned in a previous post. For someone who enjoys food and the process of dining so much though, I am not a great cook.
Personal image. A plate of fried dumplings from Thai Delight restaurant in Norman, OK.
When it comes to making my own cuisine, my skills often fall a little short. Part of this is just a simple lack of know-how. I didn't grow up learning a ton of family recipes, so the foods I prepare now are usually just quick and simple things that I can eat on the go. I am still learning how to pair different flavors and seasonings to create a culinary masterpiece, but I hope that one day I can find my signature dish. So sure, for someone who loves food so much, I don't know a lot about preparing it. I do know though that food has played an important role in various moments of my life, and I love trying it and learning more about it.
Do you love food as much as I do and have restaurant recommendations? Do you love to cook and have some tips? I'd love to hear from you in the comments below.
Hi Rachel!
ReplyDeleteI like your ethnic on meals and being social. Too many people spend their meal time looking at their phone than the people at the dining table. I especially love recipes that families have passed down.
I'm not a particularly good cook, but I've cooked some simple meals for my family, and it was a gratifying experience.
PS: Maggie is absolutely precious!!
Hi Rachel! I also go by my middle name, so I relate to that constant struggle! Your dog is adorable. It's cool that you have such a passion for food and meals! The food habits of different cultures is fascinating to me as well. If you haven't tried Das Boot Camp in Norman, that would be my restaurant recommendation. I can't cook much of anything, so I think it's cool that you're learning so much about it!
ReplyDeleteHi Rachel!
ReplyDeleteI loved your post- I am totally in the same boat of loving food but not knowing a ton of recipes or the ins and outs of cooking. During the week, I try to cook most meals at home, and Pinterest.com has helped me a lot with learning new, easy, fast recipes. One of my favorites that I learned how to make is a pot roast in the crockpot. SO easy and fast, and you don't have to be constantly watching it and working on it. Also, your dog is absolutely precious! It looks like a little fluff ball. I'm looking forward to reading your posts throughout the semester!
Piper
Hi Rachel! I completely understand how you feel. I am also a foodie and do not know how to cook very well. My parents did not cook much as I grew up so I never really learned how. I can make chicken, spaghetti, grilled cheese, ya know, the easy stuff! However, food is the key to my heart. You can ask my boyfriend, it is how he got a first date with me. He cooked me dinner and I fell in love. I recommend finding someone who can cook too, so you can enjoy all of the beautiful cooking at your leisure haha. Also, if you really are a foodie, go to Benvenuti's in Norman on Main street. I actually work there as a server and I am not lying when I say it is some of the best Italian food I have ever had.
ReplyDeleteLindsi
Hi Rachel, nice to meet you!
ReplyDeleteI am also really interested in food, partially because I work in a bakery, but more because, as you've mentioned, I love the way that food brings people together. When I bake, my favorite part of the process is getting to offer my food to other people afterward! Even at work, I often make an effort to make just a few extra of whatever I'm making, just to share with my coworkers.
P.S. Your dog is VERY cute.
Oh, your Maggie is such a cutie, Rachel: I've never seen a Pomeranian that was chocolate-colored like that. So pretty! And I really like the idea of everybody coming up with a signature dish of their own. Everybody has a signature... and we should each have a signature dish too! I think you have inspired me to create a recipe Padlet where people in class could share their favorite recipes; what a great idea! I will try to set that up this weekend. I'm not a great cook myself, but I have a couple of things that I really like making; my latest discovery was this spinach-basil dip. It's even (mostly) healthy! Spinach dip... with basil... oh, now I am getting hungry. That's the dangerous thing about writing about food... it makes you want to eat food too! If only we could magically turn pictures into food, like those dumplings here in your post. Yum!
ReplyDeleteHey Rachel!!
ReplyDeleteUs food lovers have to stick together!! I love food and eating out is one of my favorite things to do with friends, even thought it's not the healthiest thing in the world or budget friendly. I commented on one of your stories and called you Jacqueline, and for that I apologize. I should have read your introduction first.
If you haven't tried Thai Thai's Pad Thai, I HIGHLY recommend it. It is amazing! I love your dog! It's is adorable, although a little small for me! Ha ha!
Like yourself, my cooking skills fall short! I meant to spend the summer working on my cooking skills, but I did not and I'm sad about it. Maybe one day when I have my own house and an awesome kitchen, I'll spend the time to learn!!
Hi Rachel,
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with the loving food so much but not being any good at cooking it. I'm not very adventurous with cooking, I stick to really basic options that are beginner friendly. I'm wanting to venture out but I hate cooking something that I end up not liking. Kind of the same way with ordering food at different places. If I know I like it, I keep ordering the same thing. I need to start getting out of my comfort zone to explore food more! I also adore your pup, she's so cute!
Hi Rachel!
ReplyDeleteI totally relate to loving food, however, not necessarily having the skills to make it myself! I, too, am a sucker for making quick and simple things that I can take on the go! I think it is so awesome that some of your favorite memories come from being around food and sharing it with other people. I have many similar memories like this that I adore so much! Thank you for sharing!
Hi Rachel!
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, Maggie is so adorable! Every time I see a picture of a Pomeranian, I fall in love again. Even though I have never had a dog, I hope I will in the future! I also love to cook, but I am not so great at it either. I am only able to cook well if my sister and I do it together! Hopefully, both of us can get better!
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ReplyDeleteNice to meet you Rachel!! I LOVE Gilmore Girls and find myself rewatching it every year hahah! I also cannot cook to save my life. I wish I could get all fancy and make a great meal, but I rock mac n' cheese and pasta. I have never been to Thai Delight, but I will definitely try it sometime; I am a picky eater, but I do like trying new things before labeling it an "eh, not for me."
DeleteHi Rachel!
ReplyDeleteMaggie is so cute! I have a little Shih-tzu named Sophie! It's really how you describe food as a way f bringing people together and experiencing different cultures. I know in my family, there are those certain foods that we only have on holidays, so I have lots of great memories associated with those foods. Most of which I feel are associated with my aunt's pound cake haha.
Hi Rachel,
ReplyDeleteI'm sad to say that I'm in my last semester at OU and haven't had Pad Thai from Thai Delight yet. Gonna have to check it out one of these days! It's ok that you're not a great cook. I'm not a great cook either. The good news is you can still enjoy food even if you didn't cook it! As far as food recommendation go, you should check out the pretzel bread and queso appetizer at Pub W!
Hi Rachel,
ReplyDeleteMaggie is a fluffball! I actually did a double take when I thought I was looking at a baby bear from a cartoon, which, in terms of cute, is a very good thing.
I totally agree with you about food. I like food itself, but the rituals and the way it can bring people together, the way it marks out a day and a year in formal ways, are so important.
(And Thai Delight is so good.)
Best,
A.M.
Hi Rachel!
ReplyDeleteI also love food and one of my favorite things to do is eat! Growing up, I always had big family dinners on Sunday, so I think that is where my love of eating comes from. My favorite type of food to eat is Tex-Mex. This isn't very surprising since I am from Texas lol. I will do anything for chips and queso, however I might have to try Thai Delight because the pictures of your dumplings looked very tasty!
-Jessica
-Jessica
Rachel,
ReplyDeleteI am also studying Public Relations, always great to connect with a fellow PR student! I also have a Pomeranian and her name is Roxy. I miss her when I am at school! I have never been to Thai Delight, but have heard nothing but the most amazing things about it so I need to put it on my to-try list for sure. Great intro!
Hi Rachel!
ReplyDeleteFirst off, your dog Maggie is so stinking cute omg!!! I love that you are a fellow foodie and share the same aspect of look on food. I truely think food an one of the ways to bridge cultures together and let others know a bit of your culture. I also cannot cook, well rather I am too lazy to cook since the chef in the house is my sister haha. A place I would recommend in Norman is Wingit. It is a cue family owned Korean restaurant that serves amazing wings and soup if you like that. Also you have me craving This Delight's Thai Tea haha. It was nice to read a bit on you.
Hi Rachel,
ReplyDeleteYour dog is so cute. I have never had a small dog, I prefer big dogs, but little dogs look like puppies all the time! I don't eat out much so I can't recommend many places, and definitely not in Norman. But, if you are ever in Lawton, you definitely need to try Mutti's German Restaurant. I love to cook, but I am really the first in my family to really get into it, so I don't have many family recipes either. I definitely recommend allrecipes.com for beginners, people's comments really helped me!
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ReplyDeleteHi Rachel,
ReplyDeleteYour dog is so cute and fluffy! Post more dog pics! Lol
I never thought of myself as good cook either, but for someone who appreciates good food and can discern which spices create which tastes, I think you will see the same metamorphosis I did when I just started cooking. All you've got to do is follow the recipe. It's a lot easier than it seems, and the more you do it, the easier it gets, and then you can start creating your own twists, additions, and even dishes. I was always so afraid of it, and I've definitely burned and ruined my fair share of dishes, but now I can say that I'm actually pretty decent! I made these amazing mushrooms with cilantro, garlic, and vinegar recently, and I was shocked at how well they turned out.
Best of luck to you!
- Cate
Hey there Rachel! Thank you for sharing a little bit of who you are with the class! I have to add to the chain of compliments about your absolutely adorable dog Maggie, because she is just so stinkin' cute! I have a Bishon Frise and a Yorkie who are fluffy and cuddly too, so I totally understand your love of furry creatures. I am a foodie as well, and I look forward to trying some pad thai in the future! I have had it once in Moore before and really enjoyed it. I am more of a baker myself, and sometimes can struggle with savory dishes, but for the most part I love food too! I wish you the best for this semester and your future to come.
ReplyDeleteHello Rachel!
ReplyDeleteI relate to you so much when you say you are a foodie who cant cook. I love food, all different kinds. I love the opportunity to try new foods and flavors I have never had before but I cant cook to save my life. It's a struggle loving food so much and not being able to provide it for yourself. Stay strong.
Hey Rachel!
ReplyDeleteThai Delight is one of my go to restaurants in Norman. Their curry is to die for. I took intro to PR this semester and I think it is a really fun major (I'm an advertising major though. Go Gaylord!). I think what you have to say about food is spot on. Food is one of the few things that can unite anyone.