Things I Learnt Hosting Cooking Workshops for People from All Over the World
In 2013, I had just moved to South Korea with no specific goals. However, the universe has a way of connecting the dots, and soon many people started asking me about cooking events and if I could teach cooking. I started doing these events and taught people from all over the world - Japanese, Korean, Canadian, people from various ethnicities. In the process, I learned a lot about myself.
Here are the things I learned while teaching people:
1. Relationships with Ingredients
Every ingredient has a different significance for different people based on their cultural background. I grew up thinking that everyone had the same relationship with spices. However, even something as basic as salt can have different meanings in different parts of the world. For example, in Korea, one restaurant I visited didn't even use salt and instead used soy sauce. Coming from an Indian Punjabi background, onions are extremely important in my cooking, but there are people who never use onion, garlic, or ginger in their cuisine. It was a realization for me that not everyone has the same relationship with food. There are many people who don't use red chili powder, and this used to be shocking for my naive mind. Now, I have a better understanding of people and their food through these experiences.
2. To be Empathetic
I had to learn to understand and empathize with people from different cultures. I grew up in a particular place with no exposure to a lot of different people but
Making friends with expats, and teaching people from different backgrounds made me realize things can be very different for them. What may seem simple for me can be a completely different experience for them. Now, I can empathize with people from different cultures. For example, there were people whose moms didn't cook for them, which was something alien to me as I can't imagine my life without home cooked food, but now I understand that people's lives can be different.
3. To simplify things as much as possible
I recently wrote my first recipe book, and it went through many reviewers who said it was efficient and beginner-friendly. I learned that everything has to be simplified so that even someone who is completely new to cooking can understand. I remember a time when someone asked me what a pinch of salt is, and it made me realize that even the smallest details need to be explained clearly as a pinch can be very respective to the quantity of the food. This ability to simplify things is something I learned from my grandfather. I even had a spice event where I tried to make a 9-year-old girl of one of the attendees understand spices, and I was able to convey the information in an easy-to-understand way. It's not easy, but it's something I've learned to do.
4. Food Styling
Earlier , I didn’t pay much attention to the presentation of the food. Then I read that we eat with all five of our senses and so I learned the importance of food styling and presentation. I realized how much of an impact the presentation of food has on people's perception. I noticed when someone didn't put effort into the presentation, and it made me understand the importance of making food visually appealing. We incorporated this even during our event and our clients really appreciated this addition. You could also peruse our instagram page for more food styling content.
5. Cultures
Taking care of different cultures. I learned that the perception of spice can vary greatly among people. Some may find a dish too bland, while others may want more customization in terms of spice level.
I learned to interact with people from different cultures and understand different accents. I have become more adept at understanding and communicating with people from various cultural backgrounds, and I have even moved towards developing a more neutral accent myself.
6. Nutrition
Over the years I have learned a lot about nutrition, spices, and food in general. I have read many books, watched numerous videos, and tried countless recipes. I have developed a treasure trove of knowledge about ingredients and spices. If people have any nutrition based questions I’ll most likely have the answer. While I do not claim to have more knowledge about nutrition than a doctor I have delved deep into understanding the ingredients we use in cooking and their nutritional value. To share my knowledge with my I have also recently launched a recipe book.
7. Developing Recipes
When I started, I was fairly new to creating interesting flavors and recipes. Over the years, I have expanded my repertoire and created new and unique recipes. When my mom and sister tried these recipes, they were amazed. I never wanted to feel stagnant by teaching the same five recipes throughout my life. Creating new recipes adds appeal and flow to my work and helps me grow as a person. I am constantly researching and evolving, rather than staying frozen in one place.
8. Connection to My Culture
I learned to respect my family, my mother, my grandmother, and my roots. Living outside of India and meeting people from all over the world has made me appreciate the food I grew up eating and feel a sense of closeness to my roots. In every event, I talk about my parents and grandparents, and I feel grateful for the story of my life. Your story is your power, and I can teach people because of the experiences and the people in my life.
I feel a strong connection to my culture, especially being part of a small Punjabi community where food and dancing hold great significance. Although I may not embody all the typical aspects of being Indian, such as attending weddings or gossiping, I deeply love the food and dance. When people from all over the world join me in making dishes like butter chicken and sweet lassi, it fills me with pride. Dancing to Punjabi music and sharing it with others brings me a sense of accomplishment. People enjoy Bollywood music so much, and it makes me feel connected to my culture, even if they don't understand the language.
At Kitty Party, we promise memorable moments full of joy with your team and valuable learnings that you will savor for a lifetime. Book your remote team building event or Christmas Party with us now!