Understanding the meaning of
BIG YUM
I know that cooking is an artform, an outlet for self expression, a medium to hold one's love as a gift for someone else. I knew these things but I didn't understand them really until I met Katya.
When she speaks about cooking there's an energy that alters her movements, it ignites a passiong in her voice, and it floods her eyes with an excitement I rarely see in other people.
When it came down to my own cooking, I was content with knowing a few basic meals that I enjoyed and had little to no interest in pushing my culinary envelope.
Maybe I Should Push the Envelope
Katya’s passion for cooking is infectious, apparently. I’ve found myself looking for new recipes to introduce into my repertoire. Not only this, but I’ve found that I try to put love into every dish I make. Whether the love is going to Katya or to myself, its a sweet sentiment and I really like doing it. From eating literal fucking flowers in my hibiscus tacos to pressing tofu and rolling up taquitos for the week. Katya’s passion for cooking has changed my perspective on the art.
The Cinematography
For years now I’ve tried looking for meaningful moments I can capture. My eyes wander when I’m outside as they look for an angle, a naturally occuring composition, or a fleeting frame. I had never, however, applied this filter of viewing the world to cooking. That is until, I met Katya. Very early on in our relationship Katya unintentionally showed me the photographic potential in cooking. More specifically, in the way SHE cooks—lets be honest here folks who is doing it as well as she is??
I quickly became obsessed with capturing her hands. First, they’re beautiful and I love her fingers which is kind of weird to say I guess?? but they’re beautiful. Second, I wanted to highlight the main tool we use when cooking…our hands. Her hands hold onions together as she dices; they risk it all when she places taquitos into a pan sizzling with oil; they open up a myriad of spices—most of which I had no idea existed before her; they grab a glass of guava juice or tea before they go right back to grating ginger, garlic, lemons.
She creates these delightful meals. Her ingredients are the different colors in her palette. Her knives, measuring cups, pots, pans, wooden spoon, etc. are the tools that transfer the color onto canvas. She pauses, stepping back to look at the art. What’s missing? What could improve the flavor profile? Where is that ever elusive umami?! She’s an artist plain and simple. I feel fortunate enough to witness her create, to study her approach to the plethora of dishes in her repertoire, and most importantly I am the luckiest person on this planet becuase I get to enjoy her food. I finally understand the concept of BIG YUM. Please enjoy the gallery below of the beauty in the way Katya cooks.
