What is it we enjoy so much about watching other people cook?

WHAT do you do, or have you done, for a living? Is it an interesting subject? And is it interesting enough for people to ask you to hold sessions at which you demonstrate your prowess?

I’ve got mates who are accountants and, while I’m sure most people who’d agree that accountancy is a necessary profession, it’s not one that stirs the blood of non-accountants.

I’m sure that when accountants get together at their special accountancy convention away-day weekends, they all get very animated about net present value and corporation tax but most of us would be left cold, even after helping ourselves to the free sparkling wine and canapes.

So could you imagine, when seeking a little entertainment, going to a demonstration of cash flow forecasting? No, neither could I.

But people love to see certain jobs being demonstrated. Thousands have been mesmerised at the Sunderland Glass museum while watching experts blowing into molten glass to make round things. Many more have been to Beamish to see how things were done in the bad old days.

The BBC even used to show a potter making clay things on a wheel when there were unscheduled gaps in the broadcasting. And, of course, there are the myriad cookery programmes on TV which occupy the lives of so many of us.

Why do people love watching others cooking?

I originally assumed that it was because they wanted to learn how to expand their own culinary repertoire. But when you realise that, as a percentage of the population, fewer people than ever cook in this country today, that can’t be the main reason.

I’ve wondered if, like pornography, it’s a remote form of gratification based on the idea that if they can’t get it, they’ll watch others doing it but I personally know many who watch cookery programmes – including my mother – so I sincerely hope it’s not that.

Is it that people subconsciously wish that they can do what is one of the most of the important things in life – prepare food to keep us alive and improve our quality of that life – even though they can’t, and won’t?

Whatever the reason, I’ve known for years that when we’ve held cookery demonstrations at our restaurants, we’ve never had a problem filling the available places. And I’ve always used the opportunity as a shameless attempt to promote our business.

So, on the basis that any publicity is good publicity, I’ve agreed to do some cookery demonstrations in the Czech Republic this weekend.

In fact, at the very time you’re reading this, I could be demonstrating to bemused Czechs at the Love Food Festival, in Havlickuv Brod, on the basis that my presence could encourage visitors to the show to then visit the North-East of England and, possibly, Oldfields in Durham It’s a long shot but somebody’s got to do it.

I’ll let you know how it went next week.