Cooking vs Baking

Photo by Angèle Kamp for Unsplash

Here’s an odd question I got in a job interview: “Do you prefer cooking or baking?”

I love both. (I’m looking at you, lasagna!)

The follow-up question: “As a content marketing professional, do you consider yourself more of a cook or more of a baker?”

Ah. I got that.

Cooks are typically improvisational, tossing things into a pot in various combinations and seasoning to taste. On the other hand, bakers need a bit more discipline. If you add the ingredients in the wrong proportions or the wrong order, or the oven is at the wrong temperature, you can end up with a hot mess. Literally.

There’s a point where the two preparation styles converge, and not only when the menu calls for lasagna.

You need a certain amount of discipline and guidance in cooking, especially if you’re trying to re-create a specific dish or capture a unique flavor profile. And bakers can improvise successfully, as long as they deploy the right combinations of yeast, baking soda, baking powder, oven temperature, and time.

I’ve referred to food preparation as a metaphor — or a simile — in the past, comparing my writing process to soup or to salad. Take your pick.

Still, when a friend asked for kid-friendly soup recipes, I was at a loss. I don’t have recipes for soup. I have favorite ingredients and some semblance of a process. That could be the start of another blog post.

Meanwhile, if you’re hungry for great B2B content, please get in touch. I’d be only too happy to serve up a tasteful campaign that’s made to order.