“When life gives you buttery cheesy cornbread just say yes and.”
I've always been of performer in life. I love to get a good laugh from friends or coworkers. I'm probably borderline obnoxious but whatever, you can ignore me. To channel some of my energy, I recently completed my first set of improv classes and I am hooked. Everyone should take improv. It helps remove fear, it has made me a better listener and collaborator at work, and it's just plain old fun. I am doing my training at BATS here in San Francisco. My teacher, Rebecca, was a complete hoot and an amazing instructor. I just signed up for a second round and I am excited to start my weekly silliness. Every summer BATS has a potluck in Golden Gate Park and for this year's I brought spicy cheesy jalapeño cheddar cornbread. I used Ina Garten's recipe which you can find here.
While the required precision of baking is the least like improv, cooking in general is a lot like it. Here some improv rules you can embrace in your own cooking and entertaining.
Make Mistakes
In improv they tell you to go out there and make mistakes. It helps you be fearless and to try all kinds of crazy things. Sometimes it doesn't work and sometimes it's gold. A lot of my friends have told me that cooking intimidates them. I tell them if they resign themselves to the reality that it isn't always going to come out perfect hopefully they can jump in fearlessly and see what happens when shit hits the pan. One summer I was grilling lamb kabobs and accidentally "salted" them with sugar before grilling. They ended up coming out as these sweet and savory glazed cubes of deliciousness. See. Gold.
Make Your Partner Look Good
In improv, you want to accept your partner's offer, build on it and help create the world to keep the story going (not compete with it or "block" his/her offer). Sometimes a simple slow build helps make the scene really great. Like if someone says, "boy it's hot in here" don't block his/her offer by saying "really? I'm freezing." And don't feel the need to build too fast, "yeah this earthquake is really something too." Add slowly with something like "I know, woo, I'm really sweating under these lights." Now we know it's hot, one of us is sweating, and apparently we have bright lights. The scene is starting to marinate and get good. Anything is possible. Whenever I got invited to a dinner party I always wanted to show off my own cooking skills by bringing something delicious to show the guests that I too am a great cook. Kind of a dick move, right? I've grown up since then. Instead, I'll volunteer to bring flowers for the table to help add to the host's scene and make their evening shine even brighter.
Establish the Relationship
One tactic for improv is to try and establish the relationship to your partner. This helps us understand how we should treat one another. The more you cook the more you'll understand what flavors have long standing relationships. Basil and tomatoes. Lamb and rosemary. Coffee and chocolate. Garlic, white wine, and shallots (look that's half a recipe already). Over time you will be able to look in the pantry or fridge and without planning or a recipe to go off of be able to whip up something delicious because you will know which items have good relationships.
Who knew cooking and improv would have so much in common.
If you are feeling inspired let's play a little improv game in the comments section. Let's play Three Things. In this improv game I'll shout out a topic you have to quickly give me three things that answer it - don't think too hard just go with whatever comes to mind.
Ok you ready?
Deep breath.
Three things you would NEVER want to serve at a dinner party....
(put your three things in the comments below).