Finding Your Motivation
Your motivation to cook better comes from within. You’re not doing it to meet someone else’s expectations. You’re doing it because you’re ready to grab the bull by the horns – or in this case, to grab the knife and pan by the handles.
But there’s a couple of things you need to ask yourself when you step into your kitchen:
- Are you channeling your strengths as a learner AND confronting your challenges head on?
- Or are you giving in to your weaknesses, and instead opting for the “quick and easy”
The essence of the Northwest Method is to help you discover your authentic kitchen identity. To remind you that your instinct to learn kitchen skills is real and powerful.
Let’s begin by setting up your learning space and mindset…
As we conclude Day 1 of the Kitchen Confidence Crash Course we want you to do a reflective exercise. Something to help you understand your relationship with your kitchen better, and to identify your strengths and gaps. We’d like for you to take a few minutes and answer yes or no to the following statements:
- I love my knife, it’s always sharp, and it’s out on a magnet or butcher block—NOT in a drawer.
- I love my pots and pans and know which ones to use to get the best results.
- I trust my cooking instincts and flavouring decisions.
- I’m persistent and don’t throw in the towel after an initial failure.
- My cutting board is gorgeous, made out of wood, bigger than 12” x 16”, and out on the counter at all times.
- I know exactly where my peeler and other key tools are.
- I know where the paprika is, and more importantly, I know how long it’s been there.
- I’m ready to take a serious leap towards better cooking.
You may not be able to answer yes to all these things yet. But wouldn’t it be exciting if you could? But let’s stop there for now.
Talk soon.

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Co-Founder and Co-Curator, Northwest Culinary Academy of Vancouver and The Northwest Method
P.S. Fundamentals 101 is available now. If you want to get in on the ground floor and change the way you perform in the kitchen, join us.