I Have a Kitchen Workout Buddy — Do You?

You’ve all seen them at the gym — spandex-clad men and women cheering on their sweaty mates to press the extra ten pounds, do that extra set, go that extra mile.  Their scientific name is workout buddy-oso and their function is to encourage you to take risks, push your comfort zone, and help you realize your full potential.

I have a Kitchen Workout Buddy and his name is Josh. I like spending time in the kitchen every day because I enjoy the endorphin rush of making something out nothing, the pleasure of eating, and making sure the wife has something to look forward to at the end of the day. A Kitchen Workout Buddy (KWB) fulfills a different need in your kitchen regimen. I wouldn’t want to live with one, but a few times a month, a KWB keeps you on your toes.

A KWB knows there are only 1095 meals in a year and helps ensure you make every single one count. A KWB isn’t satisfied with just dinner, s/he wants a seven course meal. A KWB gives you a reason to spend a weekend afternoon in the kitchen to celebrate a Farmer’s Market Bounty. A KWB is your drill sergeant, pushing you to outdo yourself in the kitchen, expand your repertoire, and attempt that complicated meal you’ve never had an excuse to make. And a good KWB doesn’t mind that the final meal is full of mistakes — because in a sense that is what stretching is all about. They conjure up words like crisp and nicely browned instead of burnt, interesting consistency replaces tough or rubbery, complex bouquet instead of woah nelly too much paprika!

So how do you find a Kitchen Workout Buddy? Start by looking for people that enjoy the simple pleasures of a fine meal and make every opportunity for food a celebration. Together you will make miracles and mistakes, explode your tastebuds, push new gastronimical boundaries, and your stomach will be one happy organ.