In the kitchen

I knew there was a reason I liked Christopher Walken (besides his acting talent, that is):

Q: I understand you're a great cook. Do you tend to take care of dinner at home with your wife?
A: I do. You know, it seems to me that a lot of men do the cooking. I'm not a terrific cook, but I'm good at buying things. If you buy really good stuff, and you don't overcook it—if you cook simply, good fish and good vegetables and things, it's healthier. I don't know why people eat so badly. I could eat pasta all the time, but it really is fattening. And I love ice cream, but I can't do that. There was a time, until I was in my mid-forties, when I could eat a whole pizza—and really, no effect.

Q: A whole pizza?
A: Oh, sure. I could eat really anything I wanted, and I stayed thin. But then there comes a time where it all kind of backs up on you.

When I was married, I was the main cook in the family, too. Walken is right about the secret of cooking. Just buy the best stuff and cook it simply. (That's also one of the lessons in "Kitchen Confidential," chef Anthony Bourdain's wonderful memoir.) And pizza is, yes, the food of the gods. There are more men in the kitchen than you might think. They just don't want to admit it.