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Roselyne Sachiti Features Editor—
It is said that the best way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. For ages, some women the world over have tried every trick to become the best cooks, spice their relationships and keep their man from straying into a world unknown. From old recipe books, to those put up in magazines, following recipes to the last point has kept many kitchens extremely busy even world renowned chefs and bakers like Gordon Ramsey and Buddy Valestro would grin with envy.

In some cases, some women have cooked, meals laced with love portions all in an effort to keep the love of their lives around. With the emerging trend of Whatsapp groups focusing on cooking, many Zimbabwean women seem to have found the answer they have been looking for.

The Whatsapp cooking groups have become a virtual meeting place where women from all walks of life share cooking ideas. The groups are not confined to Zimbabweans living in the country but also cross the borders into countries like South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Australia, New Zealand just to name a few.

In the cooking groups, professional and amateur chefs also share ideas on cooking. The cooking groups have become a place where women ask for ideas on how to present their food. To some, the whatsapp cooking groups are just a place to show off their skill while enjoying their cooking hobby.

Some women can be members of as many as 10 cooking groups all in an effort to get as many cooking ideas as they can. The groups are distinctly named and anyone can join. Some of the group titles include Cooking and baking 5, Cooking Baking and Share, Virtuous Cooks and Bakers, Cooking and Baking 4, Cooking Group, Zim Cake Decorators, Zim Cooks just to name a few.

In short, the groups have also brought fine dining into the homes of many.

The groups operate in this manner.

A member joins through an invite link or is added by an administrator of the group.

Once this happens, rules are laid and they mean business.

The rules are clear and include

◆ Strictly cooking and baking posts

◆ No chain messages

◆ Members are free to advertise anything to do with culinary

◆ No vulgar posts

◆ Everyone must participate , comment in a more polite way, to terraces or you will be removed.

◆ There are also master chefs monthly tasks and vote for top 10 plates which will make it to the group icon for that week.

◆ No jokes please

◆ Respect one another and always abide by the rules or else you will leave the administrators with no choice but remove you.

◆ Do not post and pass on food you have not prepared as yours

◆ Every Friday “kanzuru inofamba” (administrator) to remove all those who are in the terraces.

In the groups, members prepare a meal, or bake a cake and post pictures.

Other members give feedback based on presentation skills, choice of meal, and general outcome of the meal.

“For example, one may overcook peas and green beans which then turn brown. When that person posts their picture, we critique the food and tell them how they could have cooked their greens so that they don’t become brown,” says Evis who is a member of one of the cooking groups.

She says when serving food, plating is important and can make or break your meal especially if one wants to post in a group.

“It is important to use a white plate as this brings out the colour of your food well. Other colours like reds, limes, black, blue can easily drown the colour of your food, making it look so dull.

“The food served in a while plate always comes out best,” she said.

She has been a member of the group for three months and says her cooking skills have greatly improved as she now knows how to prepare different kinds of meats, vegetables, make bread among others.

“My bread and cakes always flopped each time I tried to bake. I did not know why and unknowingly repeated the same mistakes each time.

“When I joined the group, I asked other members on why my cakes where a flop. They asked which ingredients I used, oven heat level among other things.

“I discovered that I was putting too much baking powder in my cake mixture and also not preheating my oven well enough,” she said.

In the groups innovation is at its best and members will do anything to come out with the most creative dish.

Sadza can be shaped into a pumpkin when serving.

Samantha has been a member of four cooking groups and posts her plates every Saturday.

“I go to work during the week and have no time to cook. On Saturday’s my whole day is dedicated to cooking and posting pictures of my food in the four groups. It has become more of an addiction,” she said.

She said before she became a member of the cooking groups, she could not bake.

“Now I can make any cake for as long as I have a recipe. I just ask for other members to help,” she said.

Mary Moyo of Kuwadzana said she would cry when other group members criticised plates she posted on the cooking groups.

“One person told me my plate was ridiculous. I had prepared rice, potato salad and grilled chicken. I thought I had done my best and cried. But this helped me improve as their advice made me realise some things I had overlooked,” she added.

She also said women in the group also give each other advice on what a balanced diet should entail and often critique plates.

“The whatsapp groups have brought fine dining homes. I always surprise my family with restaurant quality dishes I prepare,” she said.