If you've been a reader for a while, you'll have noticed that at the top posts that contain recipes, I have a ratings table. For the majority of posts, it looks like this:
In this post, I’ll break down each category, and what each score means.
Definition of Cooking Level
What is Cooking Level? Cooking level really asks "What level of skill and tools does someone need to have to make this?" For me this also correlates to how comfortable a person feels in the kitchen. Some things are so easy to cook a 10 year old could follow, some things are complex and require an advanced cook with special tools to execute. The rankings explained:
Easy
Defined as someone who is new to the kitchen. They didn't grow up helping cook. They are most comfortable ordering takeout, making a grilled cheese, and pasta with jarred sauce. They like eggs, but is learning how to fry them (over easy, sunny-side up, hard, over medium)
Medium
This cook knows the difference between a chop, dice, and julienned. They are comfortable in their home kitchen, and will volunteer to bring something to the potluck. They can host a simple dinner party. For them, managing multiple dishes at once can be challenging, but they are willing to try if the food is really good.
Hard
This is a home cook that pushes what they can do techniquely. They have explored sous vides, pressure cookers, and probably had a sourdough. They plan dinner parties for friends where they cook the majority of the food. Can handle complex multipart recipes or dinner plans. If you ask them, they have an opinion on the best cookbook or why one influencer's recipes aren't up to the hype.
Send Help
This is a home cook that should have cooked professionally, but went to college and has student loans to pay back. They live and breath food. They are the ones that have experiments running, trying different techniques. They will cook salmon 2-3x a week for 4 months to perfect a crispy salmon skin. Often times they try big ambitious dinners or new techniques on a whim and have to dial a friend to come help plan, cook, or eat.
Would Make Again?
This is simple: Would I make this again? As with all home cooking, it’s a consideration of time, money and tastiness.
No
Simple. I would not make this again. Exceptions are made, but it’s not worth the time for me to do it again.
Maybe
This is worth making again for the right person, situation or craving. The perfect example I have for this is the Lane Cake from Alabama. It’s delicious but I would only make it again for the right people.
Yes
This is going to be made again. It hit all the marks.
Would Eat Again?
Sometimes things are worth eating again when someone else cooks it. Sometimes they are worth cooking to eat again. Sometimes they are only worth it when someone very specific made it (in this case my granny's meat loaf.) And sometimes, they are worth eating if the exact right situation comes up like trying the Senate Bean Soup in the Senate Dining Room.
No Simple - I would not eat this dish again.
Maybe In some situations or circumstances, I would eat this again.
Yes I will happily eat this again, maybe even seek it out.
Lives up to the hype?
Does the dish live up the hype?
Some dishes have a die-hard fan base that will go down with the ship defending their favorite meal. Style of Pizza is an example. A connecticut pizza die-hard doesn’t call that focaccia covered in sauce from Detroit ‘pizza.’
Overrated
The dish is overrated vs the hype.
Sorta
Its’ good. Not great. Tasty, but may not live up to the expectations people have set for it. (I’m looking at you Thip Khoa on 14th st)
Absolutely
It lives up to the hype and beyond
(Am considering switching it to Rated - under rated, perfectly rated, overrated)
Underrated
It’s better than I expected!
Perfectly rated
It’s exactly where I thought
Overrated
It doesn’t match expectations.