I fear Melbourne is going through a serial cook at home phase. This could be a sign of the economic times or more likely attributed to a recent reality cooking show. I will admit I have been through similar phases myself whereby I've more than felt the need to cook, and when I say cook I mean cook anything and everything. I'm talking about bread, peking duck and making my own fish stock. Warning, never go through my garbage bin because boiled fish eyes never look the other way. As an undiagnosed condition, I made it myself mania can be detrimental to relationships and one's bank balance. You know when you've crossed the line of 'hey let's cook a roast this weekend' to waking up the household at 5am to roast the stock bones before heading off to the market in search of some unknown herb that's only grown off the coast of Cornwall. The cooking fetish can often be associated with an obsession with fresh ingredients. Before you know it you're cornering the local fruit and veggie guy accusing him of holding out on you by having the best stuff out the back for his mates. Yes folks, it's a slippery slide to compulsory dinner party hell. My advice is to step away from the chanterelles and put down the turnip. If you are spending your entire life in your home kitchen you'll miss all the great food on offer by paid, skilled, chefs. I'm at least three years in recovery now and have much more time for other obsessions - that don't involve fish eyes.
