How many AudiogoNers are amateur chefs?

Hi Slipknot
I do!

So do several of my friends. We all enjoy cooking. I'm just tidying things up waiting for a few folks to show up. We all bring a dish/appetizer and wine or whatever. It's a meal and a friendly contest of sorts. I've gone to a couple of culinary week-end things but mostly learn by just banging aroung the kitchen and reading a little. If you're going to eat it might as well be good!

Cheers
I remain,

Having just drained my home's equity into a new kitchen, I have shocked my wife by telling her I want to learn how to cook more than hot dogs and steak, so at some point soon I'll be an amateur chef as well.

I can burn toast and boil water with da best of 'em !!! : )

I know one guy that posts here and is a professional chef. He must be DAMN good too as i've seen the multiple sets of mega-dollar speakers that he has : ) Sean
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Cooking is one of my "supplemental" hobbies since I'm not out-goer prefering home-made food and research nice recipies.
I don't realy spend time shaping food as shown on some food network channels but realy created my own bible of tasty food techniques and keep it as a family standard.
I'm very gourmet oriented and skeptical visiting unknown dining or lunch places. I can smell how much salt is in my meal. You can certainly imagin my point of view for the McDolald's or Burger King...
I do not have a super-large menu to offer but to my tastes and so my spose's ones are good enough.

As a bachelor, it's either learn to cook, or starve! I have done alot of cooking, and enjoy it immensely. I even have friends that invite me over for dinner, just so I can cook the meal. They provide the ingredients and the fine French Bordeaux, and I do the cooking. I think it is a nice way to share the experience. If I opened a restaurant, I'd probably hate to cook then. I think it has something to do with enjoying the experience, and not having to do it for income.