Most of our do-it-yourself parents like telling us that the best way to learn how to cook is by getting in the kitchen and doing it. It is saddening to hear some men wrongly assume that cooking is a woman’s job. They forget that some of the best chefs in the world are men.

Here are a few tips that will guide you while you embark on your cooking adventures.• Make sure you are working in a clean kitchen environment: This is so important in that you seriously do not want to cook and serve food in an unclean kitchen. Clean up your kitchen first, use clean dishes, and wipe your board table after cutting vegetables or greens on it. Always have a dustbin or a poubelle (French), to dispose off waste.• Carefully plan on what you are going to do in the kitchen: While learning how to cook, you will understand why it’s such a fun activity. From the measurements, to the time it’s ready for serving, you need to plan. Make the appropriate measurements for all the ingredients. Regularly check, stir and taste when necessary. Avoid over snaking on the food you are preparing, as you will have no appetite left to ravish what you’ve worked so hard to cook.• Be adventurous with your cooking: Try out new recipes and the various cooking styles. Do not shy away from watching cooking programmes on TV or the internet, reading recipes in newspapers and magazines, as there is a lot to learn from these sources of information. When you cook something, call friends over to experience the taste of your food. Great cooks are only as good as the praises that come from those who eat their food.