We all have heard that expression that trust takes a lifetime to build, and an instant to shatter. Often the examples we give are hypothetical or happened to a friend of a friend. If that’s you, I have another example for you to use.
I’m thinking about expanding my cooking repertoire. For the last few years I have developed a style based on YouTube videos, feel, and trial and error. But that only gets you so far, and I felt I had plateaued. So I borrowed two French cookbooks from the library, and decided to start working through them.
By work through, I don’t mean starting at Aardvark Stew and going down the list, I mean starting with the classics, and nothing sings French cuisine than Onion Soup. I had two books, picked one, and read the recipe.
I was appalled.
Without knowing anything about French Onion soup, I can still tell you that it requires:
- More than one onion
- Said onions need to be cooked for more than 10 minutes
- The onions should not be strained from the broth before serving
I consulted 3 Michelin Star Chef, ChatGPT, and they were equally shocked.
No soup was made that night, and the book has promptly been returned to the library, never to be opened again.