Why cooking matters to men more than you think

In 2022, celebrity chef Ajay Chopra’s first cookbook, The Big Daddy Chef, brought back the discussion on making daddies take over the kitchen and letting the children and the wife enjoy the time and food. And in his words, the book was to inspire men, especially fathers, to experiment with their culinary skills. But there also exists a stratum of men in India who love to cook and find therapy, meditation, and peace in it. As per society, cooking might be a chore to fill the stomach, but for some men, it is beyond the calculation of hunger and satiation.
"Cooking isn’t a chore—it’s a choice. It's a way to care for myself and for the people I love. It’s strength, sensitivity, and self-expression—all on one plate," says Aditya Kumar, a Noida-based teacher.

For Shray Kapoor, a customer success manager based in Noida, it is like therapy. He says, "After work, the kitchen is my place to find joy and power too. It is the place where I get to choose and cook what I want to eat and how it should taste. As it's your choice, no one can interfere."
From pav bhaji to dosa, he loves making it all at home. "It is also a matter of hygiene and satisfaction, where you feel that home-cooked food is any day better than ordering in," adds Shray, who is also concerned over his fitness and works out regularly.

For Neel Sharma, a Bengaluru-based marketing expert and brand consultant, cooking is an art, and his kitchen is a canvas, where he spreads flavours and spices as his strokes that refine his art of cooking. "The process of cooking is like a creative exercise and not just a simple and mundane task to fill the stomach. Cooking provides me with the same freedom as a blank canvas offers a painter or a wellness session through soulful movement. Through the careful preparation of every meal to achieve both nutrition and flavor while creating Instagram-worthy visuals, I celebrate life's simple yet profound moments by converting everyday stress into a playful blend of spice and serenity," he elaborates, whose interaction with cooking started at an early age to help his mother and later became a quiet jugalbandi between him and the kitchen, which served as a bridge to the art of flavour and transformation.

Aditya, who is also a content creator by passion and is known for popularizing Bihari cuisine on Instagram, finds cooking as one of the most underrated ways men can reconnect with themselves and the world around them. "Balancing work and cooking has actually helped me stay more organized and mindful in general. It’s one of those things I look forward to every day. Whether I’m trying out something new or just making a simple dal-chawal, the joy is the same. Cooking nourishes more than just the body—it really feeds the soul," shares Aditya, who prepares all his meals on a daily basis.
He also considers cooking as a therapy and meditation. "Cooking helps me manage stress. It’s my version of meditation. I make it a point to cook almost every day. Some people go to the gym or meditate—I cook," he adds.

Vaibhav Dhariwal, Assistant Vice President - Data Analytics, who started the 'Make Breakfast with Me' series on Instagram, feels that cooking is his way of unwinding from daily stress. He affirms, "It helps me slow down, focus, and express creativity. Experimenting with flavors, recreating dishes from my travels, and sharing my creations, especially through my Make Breakfast with Me series, bring me joy and balance. The process itself is meditative, turning a daily task into something exciting and fulfilling."

Vaibhav draws inspiration from his wide-ranging travels. He adds, "My travels have played a big role in shaping my cooking—I love drawing inspiration from the flavors I’ve discovered along the way, recreating dishes I’ve tasted, and translating those experiences into my recipes. Whether I’m developing new dishes or crafting a menu, cooking is both comforting and exciting. It allows me to connect with nostalgia, explore new ideas, and create something special through food."

Nihar Desai’s culinary journey began at 17, in a hostel room with nothing more than an electric kettle, whipping up Maggi and chai. But when he looks back, the roots of his love for cooking trace even further—to his childhood, watching his mother and grandmother effortlessly craft delicious meals.
"I always dreamt of becoming a chef," Nihar shares, "but life led me to filmmaking. Today, cooking is how I nourish myself, explore the diverse regional cuisines of India, and share that journey through my Instagram page." Alongside documenting his meals, he also collaborates with brands for food shoots.
For Nihar, cooking is more than a task—it's therapy. “It’s a process where I lose myself completely, immersed in aromas, catching even the sound of the tadka. I get lost in the magic of flavors. It’s a beautiful escape from the everyday, and it continues to fascinate me, day after day.”
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