When you cook with a friend, one of the best benefits is you genuinely learn more about that person. You talk about all kinds of life things, you find out where she keeps her spices, and — this is one of my favorites –what kinds of foods she likes and dislikes.
One of the first questions when you set a cooking date with someone new (take our Compatibility Quiz too in the “How To” section of our site) should be “What foods won’t you eat?” I once cooked with and cooked for a good friend who I thought didn’t like my tomatoes until she finally told me she doesn’t eat uncooked tomatoes at all. Good to know! I recently asked another friend for her aversions and found red peppers, shellfish, and cooked tomatoes are not her favorites. I’ll save my Seafood Stew for another friend.
It’s a little question that will help you have more fun in the kitchen, and genuinely get to know each other better.