In 2001, Sandy Sharkey submitted a National Day Calendar celebration. It was celebrated yesterday but I’m sure if you celebrated it tonight, it would be fine. Yesterday was National Men Make Dinner Day. Why she created this day is unknown. Maybe she was tired of doing all the cooking.
For centuries, there has been the debate about who are the better cooks, men or women. While the answer is subjective, various competitions and food experts all over the world have put their vote on the – men! Men seem to dominate the cooking shows as well. Yes, we had Julia Child, Martha Stewart, Paula Deen, and Ree Drummond. But, we have Emeril Lagassee, Gordon Ramsey, Anthony Bordain, Guy Fieri, Bobby Flay, Mario Batali, and Buddy Valastro (technically, a baker). And, according to toptenchefs.com, eight of the top 10 chefs in American are men.
Don’t get mad at me, ladies. I only report the statistics, I don’t fabricate them.
It is historical (not hysterical) that men have found prominent places in the kitchen “since the 14th century actually. A French chef, by the name of Guillaume Tirel, was the head chef from 1326 to Phillip VI.”1 There were probably a lot more men who have cooked through the years that never got their names in the history books.
Now, the rules established for this special day are interesting as well as humorous.
- Men must agree to participate in the day without coercion or the promise of a reward.
- The man must choose a published recipe by himself, and it can’t be from his partner’s cookbooks.
- The main meal must be composed of at least four ingredients and require more than just a fork to cook.
- The man has to shop for all the ingredients needed.
- The man must organize all the ingredients on the counter without his partner’s help.
- The man can listen to music while cooking but must be at least 30 feet away from
the TV remote. - The man must follow the recipe carefully.
- The man must clean as he cooks.
- The man has to set the table, serve the beverages, and light the candles.
- The man has to serve their spouse and other family members.
- The man has to clean up after dinner and return to the table to receive feedback on his cooking performance. At this point, the TV remote is returned to him.
There are a few no-nos for observing this day.
- No chewing gum.
- No barbecued food.
- No sandwiches.
- No reheating dinner from the night before.
- No cotton candy.
- No take-out pizza.2
Gentlemen, if you are from a particular generation that views this as the emasculation of men, I would suggest you check your Neanderthal way of thinking and consider that our Savior cooked.
John 21:4, 9 says, “But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus … (9) As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.” Jesus fixed the meal for the guys who were fishing! When they got to shore, breakfast was served!
Guys, it wouldn’t kill us to learn to cook! It’s a skill we might need someday. If nothing else, it’s a nice gesture of love to our spouse to say, “Go relax and let me do the cooking – AND the dishes!” While you’re doing this, think about how one day in the kingdom, the Lord will host His great banquet on Mt. Zion for the faithful remnant.
Isaiah 25:6 says, “And in this mountain shall the LORD of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined.”
1https://tastessence.com/are-men-better-at-cooking-than-women
2https://www.holidayscalendar.com/event/national-men-make-dinner-day/
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