“Faith” – George Michael
Who doesn’t know this classic? You can’t help but tap your foot when that beat kicks in. And if you’re new here, yes, you can click the link under the title and groove while we cook up today’s story.
Today, we’re talking about something every cook, chef, or kitchen dreamer needs: faith in your own cooking skills. Not blind confidence or ego. I’m talking about that quiet belief that says, “I can do this.” It is all about how to gain confidence in cooking.
A lot of people tell me, “Yohan, I love food but I’m terrible at cooking.” And I always say, “No, you’re not. You just don’t trust yourself yet.” Most people already have the skills and they just need to tune out the fear of messing up.
Step One: My Own Leap of Faith
When I started culinary school, I was nineteen. Considered the “old guy” in a room full of sixteen-year-olds who already knew their way around a kitchen. They’d been peeling potatoes, chopping onions, and washing dishes in real restaurants. They’d chosen this path early. Me? I had none of that. I came from a completely different background. I’d never worked in a kitchen, had never eaten in a fancy restaurant. Fast food, sure, but linen tablecloths? Not my world back then. (Don’t feel bad, I made up for it later, trust me.)
So, there I was, the oldest student with the least experience. Even my class mentor didn’t think I’d make it through the first year. That actually fueled me. I made a quiet promise to myself: I’ll prove him wrong.
And I did. Years later, I ran into him again. I told him I passed all my exams with flying colors, I was mentioned in books, culinary magazines and much more. after my school period. Of course I thanked him for the unintentional motivation, and yes, I might’ve enjoyed rubbing it in just a little bit. That moment taught me something I never forgot: sometimes faith is built not from praise, but from doubt.
From “Burned Water” to Belief
When I say I started from scratch, I mean it. I once burned a pot of water when I was young, this was before I entered culinary school though. (But don’t ask how I did it. It’s a special talent.) But little by little, I learned. Cooking, like confidence, comes one dish at a time. In professional kitchens, no one holds your hand, you’re handed a recipe, a cutting board, and a “good luck.” You fail, you learn, you repeat. And eventually, that faith carried me far into Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurants, culinary magazines, top 10 lists and my own cookbook (and more books to come!). But here’s the thing: none of that matters without that first spark of belief. That faith.
How to Gain Confidence in Cooking
Cooking teaches you more than how to follow a recipe. It teaches patience, humility, and courage. The kind that grows quietly while you’re stirring sauce or plating something for the fifth time because it didn’t look right the first four.
Here are my three golden rules for building confidence in the kitchen and in life:
- Don’t be afraid to try.
Experiment with new flavors, mess up boldly, laugh loudly. Like Bob Ross said, “happy little accidents.” - When it goes wrong, reset.
Don’t panic. Go back to basics. Try again but differently. Repeating the same mistake is just déjà vu with extra dishes. - Celebrate your wins.
When something finally works, for example the perfect sear, the balanced sauce or a perfect fluffy dessert. Give yourself credit. Pride isn’t arrogance when it’s earned.
Building confidence in the kitchen often comes back to mastering the basics first, something I break down in my post on basic cooking tips for beginners.
You’ve Already Got It
Here’s the secret most people miss: you already have confidence. You just don’t recognize it.
Think about the last time you tried a new recipe, maybe from a box, maybe from a blog, maybe from a cooking show. You followed the steps, trusted the process, and it worked. That’s faith in action. That’s you proving you can cook, even when you didn’t think you could.
So, the next time something flops, your dough doesn’t rise, your sauce splits, your meat overcooks, don’t toss your apron. Laugh, take a breath, and tell yourself, “I gotta have faith.” Then do it again. But better. Maybe even play “Faith” by George Michael in the background to keep reminding you, You CAN this!
Until Next Time
Cooking, like life, is a long recipe with no perfect version, just a lot of delicious experiments. Some turn out amazing, some… not so much. But every one of them teaches you something. Sometimes how to gain confidence in cooking and sometimes about how to improve your own recipes.
So, keep dancing in your kitchen, keep believing in your own flavor, and be proud of those culinary faux pas, they’re the steppingstones to greatness.
Because in the kitchen (and beyond), the real secret ingredient isn’t salt, butter, or spice, it’s faith.
Until next time,
Yohan
