Cooking for Geeks, 2nd Edition

Introduction

YOU MIGHT BE A GEEK AND NOT EVEN KNOW IT. Are you curious about how the world works and enjoy figuring out why something ticks? If so, you’re probably a geek, the type of person who would rather be handed a box full of tools, kitchen stuff, or bicycle parts and be let loose to play than be told what to do. Geeks can be found in all walks of life, from politics to sports and, yes, technology too. Even if you don’t identify with my definition of geek—smart and curious—taking those qualities into the kitchen will allow you to discover amazing new things.

The kitchen can be a fun, interesting, and sometimes challenging place. My first culinary memories are of my dad, a physicist, teaching me how to make pancakes. When I was growing up, my family used food as a way to connect, grilling burgers for Sunday Football and feasting on turkey during Thanksgiving. When I left for college, I discovered how little I knew. (I think I know even less now!) My parents had taken time to cook with me and we’d eat together, but I’d never learned to cook chicken or sauté vegetables.

My first real challenge in learning to cook was making a good home-cooked dinner like the ones I’d grown up with. I was a culinary novice geek, not sure where to start but curious and open-minded. I eventually succeeded and now consider myself a good home cook, but could have done with fewer strange dishes in ...