My son really loves cooking...

FatVonD

cyclingyorkie wrote: »

And yes she did Food Technology GCSE - and she loved it! School doesn't offer it at A Level - not enough demand they said -( they were wrong!! But they will run A Level IT for 3 people!)

Same at my son's school, in fact they aren't even offering it as a GCSE due to lack of demand.

Victory, my DS is the same, from a very early age he was fascinated with all the food programmes on TV (and gutted when we downgraded our package and he lost a couple.)

As well as letting him choose something special he wants to cook I also let him help out with cooking the regular stuff we would be having anyway. Last night I directed him in cooking Thai green curry/noodles from the comfort of my armchair and he loves to cook a roast dinner

One thing they like him to do on his catering course (1 day a week, he's in year 10) is to take photos of the stuff he's cooked so he can showcase his work, maybe you can get your DS to start doing that?

FatVonD

Forgot to say, I was looking at the sort of college courses he could go on to and one (that I soooooo couldn't afford) was a cordon bleu one that said that a lot of their students went on to cook in ski resorts in their gap year and that was something I'd really never considered (working in publishing myself I'd already considered the food critic/food writer angle!) I'm sure being a chalet girl/boy is very poorly paid but what a great life experience to have under your belt!

Lara44

Have you checked the courses available at your local adult education college? At our there's a special set of cookery classes for parents and children together.

daska

DS1 is the same. I went searching last year and drew almost a complete blank. But I found a website for a chef who will come and teach you how to cook a meal, you can discuss your menu and what techniques you would like include beforehand and devise something which really suits the need. Unfortunately he's in staffs so nowhere near us but I still have the link, it might be worth looking for something similar. I keep meaning to have another search, thank you for prompting me.

System

I have to say my 22 year old son loves cooking and is very good at creating something out of nothing. Unfortunately, he didnt get his skill from me he just got on with it.

I'm sure all your son needs is encouragement, a few good cookery books and the ingredients. The rest will come naturally.

Fen1

Do you have any really good delicatessens near you? Would it be possible for you to speak to the owner and get him to give your son an hour's tasting? Deli owners are usually passionate about what they sell and are very knowledgable foodies.

Do you have a patch of garden for him, even a window box for herbs? Lots of cooks and chefs are keen gardeners and have an appreciation for what they have nurtured. If nothing else, a herb box will teach your son about flavour combinations, the drying process and how that changes flavour, and herbs are fast growing!

fluffnutter

What style is he interested in? If he's serious about cookery, then becoming au fait with the classics is probably a good idea. For a cheap way to learn, why not buy a cookbook of classic recipes (I expect they'll be French) and suggest he works his way through, practising and perfecting all the techniques.

You'll probably end up eating some weird meals, but he'll be learning something useful

victory

Thank you for all the replies, he is often in charge of making lunch on his own or with armchair assisted help and often peels, chops, cooks not so much a roast but more thai, noodles, chilli con carne,lasagna,cottage pie, pulses, soups,chicken, gammon spanish tapas dishes, paella, belly pork with crackling,

etc and herbs and spices, he knows all them and is very good and knowing what goes with what.

We have all the TV shows on and he always sits and watches hairy bikers, Jamie, Heston, loves them all as soon as Heston is over he plans what to cook:D


pinkteapot he always goes and get the Sainsburys leaflets to try out and if there is an ad on the tele for M&S he asks me how to cook it, could we cook it cheaper etc.

shebag he tries lots of different things, he is always first to try them in the supermarkets if it is free:rotfl::rotfl: he loves all sorts.

We go to the library and get the cook books, I have loads from the charity shops and car boot sales and our neighbour lent hers to him as well as google and the supermarket free leaflets we have loads of recipes to try out.:D

FATVOND Thank you very much for the suggestion to take photos, I had never thought of that, he is great at presentation so it would be helpful for his future to take photos and show them to people, thanks for that.

LARA44 Yes I have and they only seem to do the fairy cake making ones or the muffins or the icing decoration together ones not so much the food cooking savoury ones at all.

daska Thanks for the link

FEN1 In the garden we grow all sorts of herbs, tomatoes, cherry ones, lettuce, cucumber, strawberries, all sorts of berries, not now but in the spring summer time we have plenty of add ons for his meal creations.

fluff Thank you yes that is a good idea and writing his menus down also, he is a tweaker, he sees things around him and feels they would go together so combines them, sometimes it is not so good:rotfl: other times it is lovely, he is happy with his disasters though it makes him want to perfect it the next time and be more dedicated to it so I am happy for him:D

elantan

It's great when a child finds passion in something i would echo what others have said ... But to also add a bit more when / if he feels he is interested

Why not get him involved in growing the veg? Let him also understand the process of how the food gets to the kitchen so that he can make what he wants

I just know with my son he loved/ loves cooking but as he has gotten older whilst he still loves it and cooks every day ( has his own place now) he also is passionate about growing his ingredients ... He knows they are organic he knows what has been involved in growing ... He saves money as well which is always a bonus

Good luck and i hope his passion grows and grows

elantan

Sorry hadnt seen fen 1's reply