The Way I Cook Now

(aka the TikTok that made people go “wait, WHAT are you doing??”)

So the other day I posted a video where I basically just... made dinner. No big plan. No recipe. Just vibes. And I guess it hit, because the comments were full of people saying things like:
“I’ve never seen someone cook like this.”
“This is exactly how I want to cook.”
“You’re making me rethink my entire kitchen.”

Which, honestly? Same.

Because this is the way I cook now. And it took me a while to get here.

Let me explain.

I used to think cooking meant following instructions. Pick a recipe, go shopping, measure everything, and pray it turns out okay. And it worked. Sort of. But it never felt... like mine.

Then, I flipped the script.

I started cooking from a different order of operations:

1. What do I want it to taste like?

2. What technique makes sense for that flavor?

3. What do I already have that can get me there?

And that’s what Pantry Chef is.
It’s not minimalist. It’s not maximalist.
It’s just... yours.

Here’s how that looked in the video.

I wanted something that tasted warm, deep, and a little funky. Umami forward. Comforting but not boring.

So I grabbed shio koji. (Yes, I always have it. No, it’s not weird once you try it.)

I saw I had leeks, a shriveled jalapeño, some rice, a few other things. But I wasn’t thinking what can I make with these ingredients—I was thinking how do I bring out the flavor I’m craving?

And then it was just:
Toast this. Wilt that. Deglaze. Layer. Adjust.

There’s no recipe, but there is logic. Flavor logic. Which is something no one teaches you, because we’ve been trained to believe recipes are gospel.

I’m here to say: they’re not. You are.

So if you watched that video and felt like something clicked, this is your sign.

Trust your tastebuds.
Cook with what you’ve got.
Stock your pantry with intention (more on that soon).
And start with flavor, not fear.

This is the way I cook now. And it’s the most fun I’ve had in the kitchen in a long, long time.

Welcome to the Pantry Chef life. You’re gonna love it here.

Subscribe + share if you’re feeling it. The Pantry Chef is free for just a few more weeks—then we’re leveling up.