The Secret to Better Food and More Joy in the Kitchen

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Coach Prime showed the way.

“If you look good, you feel good. If you feel good, you play good. If you play good, they pay good.” -Deon Sanders.

If you’re unfamiliar with this quote, it was made by NFL hall of fame player and current head coach of the University of Colorado football team, and it’s one of the best things I’ve heard anyone say. The point is pretty straightforward, but like so many gems of advice I’ve heard, I didn’t apply it until long after I listened to the quote. The advice just sat in my head until two brain cells that had otherwise been disconnected finally decided to seek each other out.

“I really want a proper apron.”

I had said this to myself for years. I had even requested aprons as gifts from my family. They obliged, and while the two I received were lovely and treasured items, neither was quite what I was looking for.

Outdoor Chef Life's Taku Kondo, one of my favorite wild food content creators, wore a great example of the kind of apron I was looking for: a robust, cross-back number that really helped him look the part of the professionally trained chef he was. He sold versions of his apron, but those had his logo on them, and I didn’t want to wear someone else’s logo on my apron.

After much searching, I found a company that sold the style of apron I was looking for. They also offered customization for said apron, which I gladly paid extra for. The result was nothing short of magical!

Look good, feel good.

My family and I are obsessed with Queer Eye. I’m hella late to this party, but part of the reason why I love this show so much is the transformative power the Fab 5 has on people’s lives. The way that JVN, Tan, and Jeremiah (we like his aesthetic more than Bobby), in particular, awaken people’s ability to feel great about themselves through their appearance and the appearance of their space is such a wonderful reminder of what Coach Prime talked about in his quote.

Donning my new apron instantly transformed how I felt about my cooking. The confidence and pride I had in the things I was doing in the kitchen climbed to heights I had no idea I could feel. In that moment, and ever since, I’ve felt supremely secure in my craft, to the point that Gordon Ramsey could step into my kitchen, and I wouldn’t sweat.

It’s crucial to validate yourself for what you love to do and permit yourself to be great at something on your own terms. Do I think I’m a great cook? I wouldn’t go that far, but I’m getting there, and even if I never achieve that standard, I am enjoying the journey so much more with the proper equipment.

My wife and I have enjoyed watching The Bear. It’s one of the best-written and best-acted shows I think we’ve ever seen. So imagine the smile on my face as I watched this show and saw the characters in their chef attire with the same style of apron I had just purchased. The universe was winking at me, saying, " That’s right, Jonathan. Do your thang!”

My apron

In my mind, a quality chef-style apron has three key characteristics: 1) it should be a cross-back style instead of an around-the-neck style; 2) it should tie in the front instead of the back; 3) the apron material should be robust, bordering on “heavy-duty.”

Most aprons have a loop around the top you put your head through so the apron hangs around your neck. I find this style uncomfortable as my movements in the kitchen often involve lifting heavy food items and digging through my freezer. I’m an energetic cook, and the pressure of the around-the-neck apron loop was bothersome. The cross-back style apron eliminated this issue and was much more comfortable. This style of apron takes a little longer to put on, but only by a few seconds, and is well worth the time, in my opinion.

Aprons that tie in the back are one of those things in life where, once you’ve tried the alternative, you wonder why the former is even a thing. I suppose tying an apron in front can limit access to pockets (it does on my apron to the point that I never use my lower pockets), but the sacrifice is well worth the convenience. I get the same feeling of power and authority when I tie my apron that I got when tying my Dobok for Taekwondo. Ready to kick ass!

Finally, and probably most importantly, my professional style apron has a robust feel. I don’t worry about the material not holding up to the rigors of my cooking. The fabric can take what I dish out without being altered or degraded. And that’s an essential characteristic of any equipment: dependability. What makes good clothing transformative is the peace of mind you get from wearing something reliable, safe, and quality. To be entirely candid, I’m afraid to wash my new apron because I love the feel of the fabric so much.

What this apron has done for me is made me believe in myself as a serious home cook. I’ve been committed to improving in the kitchen for twenty-years almost.

Wait…holy shit! I’d never taken the time to calculate how long it’s been since I decided to teach myself how to cook well until now!

See what this apron has me doing!

Much like cousin Richie’s transformation in season two of The Bear, wearing this apron legitized me in my own mind. Tying this apron is like stepping into a power suit. It feels right, and good, and capable, and strong, and wise. And I know it’s not the apron itself, but what it represents and what I expect of myself when I put it on.

I’m telling you, you have to get one of these!

Now, back to the kitchen to continue working on the last part of Deon Sanders’ quote. I do this because I love it, but I’m also trying to get paid for this love!

Here’s where to go if you want to help with that last part:

CONSIDER THIS

Best. Apron. Ever!

This is my apron. I love it. You read why. If you want to step up your kitchen game, an apron like this is a gateway to next-level cooking. Trust me.

NEW ON YOUTUBE!

One wish in Trump’s America

All I want for the next four years is for the average white person not to be so gullible. Next, I want more average white people to grow a pair. I tackle the first of these wishes in the latest video on the YouTube channel, where I chronicle my run-in with someone who weaponized Trump’s racist trope against my practice of hunting.

Seriously, I can’t believe white folks are so easily manipulated by rich white folks in power. But that’s a lie; such a thing is very believable because of how this country functions. Since John Punch, the white masses have been duped into believing that they terrorize Black people, they’ll have a shot at power and wealth.

As you can see in the comments, the neighbor of a friend whose property I hunt on fell for this trick, and I spent considerable time helping her return to reality. Check out the video to see how it turned out.

It’s going to be a long and painful four years (at least), y’all. I guess I should just add it to my reparations tab.

Thanks for reading!

-Jonathan