A potted version of cookery-book wisdom runs as follows. First, it's all about Passion. It seems almost obligatory for authors of cookery books to announce how passionate they are about food. Nigel Slater is evangelical on this point. The key principle here is to lose yourself in the experience of cooking and eating.
Total absorption is the prescription.
Experiencing something intensely is about getting your hands dirty, kneading the dough and making a mess. Corporate gurus claim we are moving into the experience economy and a new generation of consumers are not interested in acquiring possessions, but experiences. Status is having kumquats and truffles in your fridge. Forget the political idealism and ambition of the 20th century, just snuggle down with that dreamy recipe for cheesecake. First, a nostalgic back to basics.