Fans of DS9 will fondly recall that Capt. Benjamin Sisko, son of restauranteur Joseph Sisko, proprieter of Sisko’s Creole Kitchen, was raised to be a chef before his illustrious career in Starfleet and as a Bajorian demigod. Between those events, however, we would frequently see him cooking for friends and family.
Similarly, in SNW, we see Captain Christpher Pike cooking in his suspiciously well-equipped quarters, often serving intimate dinners, friendly gatherings, and diplomats alike with culinary delights and delicacies from across the (known) galaxy.
Between the two, who would you rather be served by? Whose cuisine would win out? Which of these legendary captains would best the other in a competition if you had to choose?
Edit: for the sake of discussion, let’s assume that both Pike and Sisko are cooking with real ingredients, nothing replicated/synthesized.
Let us know in the comments below!
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I’d have to say Sisko is likely the better cook. As far as we know he has more years of culinary experience. Moreover, even though his background is Creole cuisine, he likely has access to more recipes from other species not known or allied with during Pike’s tenure in Starfleet.
On the other hand, Pike seems to recreate and even improve upon foreign dishes quite skillfully. If Pike had the knowledge and access to ingredients available during the DS9 era, it is likely he could masterfully prepare dishes with possibly less effort than Sisko. (Maybe?)
Put them on an episode of Chopped with Neelix and (Sisko’s dad, Singing Klingon Chef, [insert culinary challenger here]). I would totally watch it.
Oh, now you’ve got me thinking about “better cook” vs “better host”….
See, I think Sisko would probably be the better cook, but being invited to dinner by Pike might be the more enjoyable evening. Sisko’s menu was always pretty limited, whereas Pike’s is widely varied. While both like to involve their guests in the cookery, Pike makes his dinner parties a more relaxed affair, whereas Sisko’s tended to be more serious affairs— although that could simply be a matter of circumstance beyond his control.
Joe Sisko would be a riot, as he was always fun, but Neelix? His culinary success-to-puke ratio does not inspire confidence. The singing Klingon chef from the Klingon restaurant of DS9’s promenade definitely gets an honorable mention!
honorable mention!
🤣
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And your commeeeeent!
Today is a good day to fry.
Pike loves it, but he has no natural instinct for it and has to compensate by using fancy equipment and techniques. It’s performative for him, and it’s part of his captain persona - see the pristine apron he makes sure you notice. His food wins for presentation, but is rarely any better than what the mess hall would whip up.
Sisko was born into a family of natural chefs, and he couldn’t be bothered with the frooferah of plating and fussy atmospherics. He chops his vegetables big and messy, because he knows exactly how to cook and season them so they disintegrate deliciously when they hit your tongue.
Sisko’s restaurant is the place all the locals go and dream about when they leave. Pike’s is the pricey tourist restaurant that charges a ton and though everything looks great you leave underwhelmed, thinking you could probably do just as good in your own kitchen.
brutal read…
I don’t know if I’d be quite so harsh on Pike, but you’re probably right.
I don’t think the canon supports this analysis but god if it isn’t fun anyway.
Do they replicate the ingredients then cook them?
IIRC, Sisko preferred freshly-grown ingredients and even got very upset with Cassidy when she burned some of his peppers that took him months to grow. At his father’s restaurant, he and Jake were also tasked with cleaning buckets of fresh clams when they visited.
As for Pike, I can’t say. mid-23rd century food synthesizers weren’t nearly as advanced as mid-late-24th century replicators, so I wouldn’t be surprised if he also preferred the real thing to synthesized foodstuffs.
for the sake of discussion, let’s assume that both Pike and Sisko are cooking with real ingredients, nothing replicated/synthesized.
Either would be better than the slop Riker served up and claimed were omelettes.
But I think I’ll have to say The Sisko takes it.
'Owan eggs (served scrambled), which Worf loved, btw. I forgive him since he was experimenting with something he’d never tried before.
“A cook is only as good as his ingredients.”
— Cmdr. William Riker, 2365
Not saying his cooking would be better, but I would likely prefer Sisko’s. Cajun food is my favorite type. The combination of French techniques with South American flavors and spices is just the best.
Cajun food
*Creole, not Cajun. there’s an important difference
You’re correct, but it’s pretty close and I think I would still enjoy it.
yeah, they’re both awesome!
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