Hub - Cooking Makes You Happy and Smart!
Cooking Makes You Happy and Smart! Cooking is more than just preparing food by Chef Tom Voigt. #25/0038.
Cooking Makes You Happy and Smart!
Cooking is more than just preparing food—it’s a skill that sharpens the mind, fosters creativity, and strengthens social bonds. Those who cook must concentrate, experiment, and understand the delicate interplay of temperatures and cooking times. This is why experts suggest that cooking enhances intelligence and cognitive abilities.
But cooking isn’t just about being smart—it nurtures empathy too. Preparing meals means caring for others, prioritizing well-being, and embracing social responsibility. Cooking fosters sensitivity and strengthens human connections.
Cooking Classes & Nutritional Science in Schools
Imagine a world where cooking and nutrition were standard subjects in every school. As students peel, chop, slice, and wash pots, they develop valuable coordination skills while engaging in a meaningful, hands-on task. Cooking is inherently unisex—everyone benefits, and it could help dismantle outdated gender roles that once kept men and women out of the kitchen.
A structured approach to food education could also transform modern society’s relationship with food. In a world plagued by fast food culture, rising obesity, and heart disease, nutritional science in schools could be a game-changer. Some subjects could be reduced to make space for this essential life skill—because eating well is a fundamental pillar of health and longevity.
Cooking Brings People Together
From ancient times, humans have gathered around food to bond, celebrate, and share experiences. Breaking bread is a universal symbol of unity, a reminder that eating together fosters brotherhood and connection.
Cooking also brings balance to life. It enhances technical, medical, scientific, and artistic skills by training patience, precision, and creativity. It’s no surprise that many successful individuals take pleasure in cooking at home. Standing at the stove, they can disconnect from work pressures and engage their senses in a mindful activity.
Cooking, when done with joy rather than stress, can become a meditative ritual—a Zen moment in daily life. It’s an art that nourishes not just the body but the mind and soul.
So let’s rethink our priorities. Let’s embrace cooking as an essential skill, an education that leads to a healthier, happier, and smarter society.
Tom Voigt
Private Chef Tom Voigt is an internationally trained chef with a rich culinary background. He holds both an Austrian Chefs and Gastronomic Diploma and a diploma from the TFBS of Tourism in Tyrol, Austria. Raised in a German-Italian household, Tom’s passion for cooking ignited early in life, as he spent his childhood in his family's Italian restaurant in Germany. By the age of 12, he was already running the chef de partie station, balancing his culinary responsibilities with studying economics. Tom’s classical French and Austrian training forms the foundation of his cooking, but his approach is deeply influenced by his Mediterranean roots. He specializes in Mediterranean cuisine, placing a strong emphasis on the use of top-quality ingredients and allowing them to shine in every dish. Tom’s career spans decades of culinary exploration across the globe. His love for travel has taken him through Asia, the USA, and Africa, both as a chef and a backpacker. These experiences have deeply enriched his culinary style, blending traditional techniques with global flavors. His time working in top-tier international restaurants in Valencia, Spain, and at prestigious winter resorts in Switzerland and France has further honed his expertise. Before entering the yachting world, Tom served as Executive Head Chef for one of Germany’s largest tour and festival catering companies, where he crafted meals for legendary artists such as Carlos Santana, Neil Young, Pavarotti, The Rolling Stones, and many more. This unique experience taught him how to cater to a wide range of preferences while maintaining the highest standards of quality and presentation. Fluent in four languages—German, Italian, English, and Spanish—Tom easily adapts to diverse cultures and clients, offering a personalized culinary journey tailored to each guest’s tastes. His empathetic nature ensures that he listens carefully to the preferences of his clients, crafting dishes that not only meet but exceed their expectations. As Tom puts it, "Hospitality is not just a job—it’s a passion. When food stirs emotions, it becomes Art."