Get Your Guy Off the Sofa And Into the Kitchen

by Gourmand and hostess Califia Suntree

Who doesn’t fantasize about having a personal chef? Cooking often seems like just another chore, especially when the burden falls more on one partner. But what if making a meal were a way to get you talking, laughing, and enjoying each other after a grueling day?

It can happen—if you divvy up the labor. To take the guesswork out of job-sharing, we’ve divided the kitchen into domains and designed this menu for two chefs: one on prep, and one at the stove. Our plan is easy, equitable, and set up for sharing the kitchen seamlessly, with no squabbling.

As for dish duty, you’re on your own.

[STOVE COOK puts on a large pot of salted water to boil, pours wine, and sets the table, while PREP COOK starts the ragout.]

Spring-Vegetable Ragout on Papardelle with Mint Pesto
1/2 lemon
10 baby artichokes
1 shallot
1/4 pound young carrots (about 3 or 4), well scrubbed
1/4 pound fresh morel mushrooms, cleaned
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup frozen peas
1/2 pound papardelle or fettucine

1. Fill a medium bowl with very cold water and the juice of half a lemon. Cut the top third, stems, and any tough bits off each artichoke. Snap off all but the innermost yellow-green leaves and slice artichokes in half. Scoop out any fuzzy purple choke. Immediately put the cleaned artichoke in water.