How do TV cooks stay so clean whilst cooking?

Marianne72 said:

And why, after all this hard work, am I not smiling, and most things never taste wonderful as apparently they do for every TV cook? 

I think there is a psychological element in this where the effort you put into the food loads it with a duty or return - ie you worked damn hard on it and it better taste awesome but it just tastes nice.

If someone else made it for you then there is also a psychological element of emotion since they took the time and effort to make it for you and that makes it taste better in different ways in the pleasure centre of your brain.

Marianne72 said:

Even if I had an evening gown, as does Nigella, to cook in, it would be covered in flour, eggs and detritus by the time I'd finished.

I wonder how many takes, session chefs and cleanup sessions are involved in these scenes. They want it to look effortless and perfect because it helps sell the series, the books that follow and the celebrity status of the cook. A lie if you will, but one the public want.

All that said, with practice comes less likelihood of making a mess. You learn how to throw the flour in a way not to get it everywhere, how to crack an egg and not have it dripping snotty mess all the way to th bin, how to put in just enough effort to chop the onion using only the wrist action etc - and as these skills grow you make less mess.

My advice is to embrace the chaos as every error is a lesson that you grow from. That and if you are cooking then make your partner agree to clean up and do the dishes as their part of the deal ...

Marianne72 said:

And why, after all this hard work, am I not smiling, and most things never taste wonderful as apparently they do for every TV cook? 

I think there is a psychological element in this where the effort you put into the food loads it with a duty or return - ie you worked damn hard on it and it better taste awesome but it just tastes nice.

If someone else made it for you then there is also a psychological element of emotion since they took the time and effort to make it for you and that makes it taste better in different ways in the pleasure centre of your brain.

Marianne72 said:

Even if I had an evening gown, as does Nigella, to cook in, it would be covered in flour, eggs and detritus by the time I'd finished.

I wonder how many takes, session chefs and cleanup sessions are involved in these scenes. They want it to look effortless and perfect because it helps sell the series, the books that follow and the celebrity status of the cook. A lie if you will, but one the public want.

All that said, with practice comes less likelihood of making a mess. You learn how to throw the flour in a way not to get it everywhere, how to crack an egg and not have it dripping snotty mess all the way to th bin, how to put in just enough effort to chop the onion using only the wrist action etc - and as these skills grow you make less mess.

My advice is to embrace the chaos as every error is a lesson that you grow from. That and if you are cooking then make your partner agree to clean up and do the dishes as their part of the deal ...