Practise makes perfect

I have often fantasised about being recognised as a great writer or having songs I’ve written be performed on the world stage by someone of note. One of the many things I failed to ponder were the crucial steps between the conception of the idea and the big payday. Crucial steps such as developing my skill set so I had the competency and capability of completing the job, or sharing ideas for input and feedback to deliver better outcomes. These are things I usually didn’t worry about as when I thought about them then the idea would become too difficult and I would quickly find myself moving onto something else with less objections.

What I now realise is that if you enjoy doing something then the challenges in your path are things you are happy to contend with. A hurdle is no longer a brick wall stopping progression but a new obstacle that when defeated provides a better platform to view your passion and progression atop of.

I found this to be the case with cooking over the last five years. In particular with barbecue. As an adolescent and teen, I had a fond interest in cooking. I often made cakes and other simple dishes such as breakfast meals and basic dinners. I took cooking classes in school and did a work experience placement at a local RSL club. It was here that I discovered the entry door into many kitchens is through the service of washing dishes and emptying bins. I didn’t enjoy the experience and disregarded the apprentice chef path as I immaturely believed I was too good to wash dishes.

My love for cooking didn’t reignite till five years ago. A major part of this was due to the discovery of American style bbq – the low and slow style of cooking. Once I went down the charcoal path I was hooked. With the availability of YouTube and bbq forums at my fingertips, I could practise, consult, review and reassess as often as I had the time, daylight and money to do so. I loved the taste of sweet smoky and full of flavour meat so much that I was willing to invest time, money and energy into the practice. What really made me motivated was having friends and family taste this style of cooking which many were still unfamiliar with. By not having to worry about the thought of people making comparisons between my and others bbq, I felt confident in trying. It was painful when cooks went awry and good cuts didn’t turn out the way planned. Thankfully, by learning from others that bad cooks are part of the development process, it made getting back up that much easier to dust myself off and try again. Attaining and continuing this skill has allowed me to make beautiful tasting meals for my family and friends. While it is just a hobby at the moment, by starting down this path I now have some great memories and will hopefully pass on some great skills and recipes to those I love.

PDR