Cooking Together on a First Date?
Cooking with someone you recently met may not seem like a fantastic first date, but appearances can be deceiving.
Obviously, it cannot be the absolute first date. You need to have established a minimal comfort level with that person in order to be in such an intimate environment as a kitchen.
There are several ways in which you can set up your first cooking date, so to speak. The first option is going to his house, bringing all the ingredients and tools you will need, and cooking there. I find this is a great way to really get to know someone, because a kitchen is an intimate place, and you can learn a whole lot from a person just from the setup of his or her kitchen, and from the contents of the fridge!
You can also invite him to your place, and cook for him. Remember that the point of this exercise is not just to cook him a meal, but to do something to which you both contribute! If he has a great way with food and can cook really well, then you may want to involve him as much as possible – and who knows, you may even learn something! If, on the other hand, he is a complete boob in the kitchen and doesn’t know his beef from his veal, then involve him in little tasks that will keep him busy and entertained, and do the majority of the work.
Remember that you are on a date, not on the line in a restaurant, so if you are cooking with wine – a nice risotto or Osso Busso, for example, then make sure you keep a glass of wine or three for you and your date!
Let him talk as much as he wants – guys love talking about themselves – although if he knows what he’s doing, you’re the one that’s going to end up doing the talking!
Cooking with your date is a fantastic way to really get to know someone, and I heartily recommend it. Just make sure to follow the usual safety rules for someone you don’t know very well yet. You may want to invite a non-competing chaperon which won’t get insulted if you kick him or her out is the evening is going well!
