The secret of good cooking is, first, having a love of it… If you’re convinced that cooking is drudgery, you’re never going to be good at it, and you might as well warm up something frozen.
James BeardRead
There is absolutely no substitute for the best. Good food cannot be made of inferior ingredients masked with high flavor. It is true thrift to use the best ingredients available and to waste nothing.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Quality in food relies on using the best ingredients without compromise.
In this quote, James Beard emphasizes the importance of using high-quality ingredients in cooking, as no amount of seasoning can compensate for inferior products. He advocates for a philosophy of thriftiness that focuses on the quality of materials and encourages not wasting food, implying that the foundation of great cuisine lies in respectful and thoughtful use of the best available resources.
Themes
FoodQualityIngredientsCookingThrift
In practice
Example use cases
A chef might use this quote to promote a pop-up restaurant focused on organic and local ingredients.
More from James Beard
All quotes →Good bread is the most fundamentally satisfying of all foods; and good bread with fresh butter, the greatest of feasts.
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Food is our common ground, a universal experience.
James BeardRead
A gourmet who thinks of calories is like a tart who looks at her watch.
James BeardRead
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