Kitchen Duties, Top Chef, and Teamwork

In our oral conversation class today, the teacher asked us about household chores, wanting to know how chores are divided up in different homes and among different cultures. When it came our turn to talk about how chores are divided in our home, I managed to say, "我们家的杂务平分的。 她做饭。 我吃饭。" (In our home, the chores are divided up evenly. She cooks. I eat.) The teacher and students got a kick out of that one.

In the kitchen, Bethany and I have come to a pretty established routine regarding the division of labor. This is especially the case when cooking up a big meal for guests. Usually, I get the tasks of washing and chopping vegetables, and of washing dishes. Bethany gets the task of cooking and managing stoves and pots and mixes. This has worked out quite well for us. I like chopping vegetables and using knives. And Bethany is gifted at the actual cooking, putting together delicious meals. In the end, we have garlic and green onions that have been minced well, a meal that is delicious, and a kitchen that is clean.

There is really only one tv show that I will watch, fairly consistently, with my wife: Top Chef. I think that this has given us both a glimpse of what it looks like to cook in a professional kitchen, put together great food, and work under time pressure. And, at times, we get to see how different chefs work together and relate while under pressure.

I sense we take some of our cues from what we see on this show, especially when Bethany is managing 2 pots and an oven while I am breaking down a chicken and chopping garlic, ginger, and green onions. We have come to work pretty efficiently and well together. I think we make a pretty good team.