Q & A: Judy Joo
What is about cooking that you love so much?
I love to eat. For me, eating is one of the main pleasures of life, I love tasting food, I love ingredients. There’s also a pleasure of giving that I get, I love feeding someone and making them feel good, I find it really satisfying, and to create something and then share it.
You started out watching your Mum cook, who’s a better cook, Mum or you?
Mum’s still the word on certain dishes, she mainly does Korean food. But put me up against her for anything else and I think I’d win. But Korean food, she’s got like 50 years plus on me so she’s like the grand master!
Do you have a favourite meal to cook?
I kind of gravitate to wards Asian food. My taste buds really go for it. Korean soups and stir fries. I love cooking sea food, it’s so fast.
If you could choose anyone to cook for, who would it be?
I think I’d want to cook for Michael Phelps, you know that swimmer? He was like taking down 12 eggs just for breakfast! For me, it’s really sexy when a guy has a big appetite; I’m just like yeah you eat that! I think any athlete that’s got a massive appetite would be really fun, you can cook big boy food, like steaks and burgers and stuff.
Do you like man who can cook?
It’s an extremely good quality. My husband cooked for me on our first date and he definitely found my heart through my stomach. I mean my husband cooked braised scallops with a champagne and grapefruit sauce and I was like ‘Wow.’ I was really touched by that.
What meal would impress you if a man were to cook for you?
Something delicate, maybe something like scallops? Men just generally know how to grill, they’ll just slap a great piece of meat on a plate, and I mean I can’t eat a six pound steak! But if a guy cooks out of his comfort zone, cooking for you rather than for him, if they bother with vegetables, condiments and sauces and not just ketchup, it’s really impressive, definitely the way to swoon. Cook a meal with your date in mind.
Top tips for men in the kitchen?
Cook vegetables, or side dishes, something light. Step away from the red meat; make duck, a great piece of fish or stir fry some prawns. You can still have a great meal but just with something a little bit lighter. I mean, after eating that much food, the last thing you want to do is get busy!
Men need to make more salads. I think it’s a complete waste to buy salad dressing because its so easy to make and it takes like 2 minutes. The classic 3 to 1 ratio, vinaigrette, olive oil and vinegar, then put in a little bit of chopped shallots, mustard maybe some maple syrup, some salt and pepper and you’re good to go.