“Dad’s Own Cookbook” is based on his observations of male friends who were watching him to cook.
“The look of astonishment on their faces of what I doing made me feel sad because what I was doing is not that complicated,” said Sloan, who has two sons.
“The book emerged because so many men didn’t know how to cook.”
Sloan’s cookbook was recently reissued after it was first published more than 10 years ago. There has been a surge in interest in food in the past decade but it has not necessarily translated into more home cooking.
The 50-year-old, self-taught chef, who is also the author of several detective novels, insists that there are still ways for families to spend more time together around the dinner table.
Q: What inspired to become a chef?
A: “I came to New York to be actor. Like a lot of actors, I had to find a job. I just started working with a caterer doing prep work. Two weeks later I was doing prep work and working for (comedian) Bill Cosby. That was kind of fun. Then I worked with him for a year. I learned a lot of stuff and stole a lot of stuff. Then I started my own catering business.”
Q: What have been the reactions to your book?
A: “It still fills the need that people have of an introductory cookbook. It has a sense of humour and it doesn’t leave anything to the imagination. It also has a bunch of recipes that people like to eat.”
Q: Any tips to bring healthier eating in children’s diets?
A: “There is a recipe there (in the book) for wild rice with fresh grapes. It’s one kind of way to get kids to eat something they never had before. Wild rice is very nutritious, wonderful in flavour and incredibly easy to cook. Maybe it’s a strategy for a dad to get kids to eat something they may not want to undertake.
Q: What have you cooked for your own father?
A: “Once I became pretty good in the kitchen. Everyone wanted me to cook. When I would visit, I would definitely barbecue. There was a little bit of a competition. My mom didn’t want to relinquish being the main cook in our house. She would invariably make something to impress me, my wife and my kids.”
Q: Have your children cooked for you on Father’s Day?
A: “They made the Mother’s Day breakfast for me which was nice of them. One year they made a Father’s Day dinner and they made some meatloaf. That worked out better and I could have a Father’s Day beer.”