It’s that time of the year again, when the festivity of Eid catches on and each household dreams of gastronomic delights, especially of the meaty variety. The concept of cooking at home has assumed a new significance in the present times because, alongside this renewed interest in a variety of foods, there is this real question: who will do the cooking?

With most adults in middle class families, men and women, now working to earn a living, the traditional household models are in transition. The conventional division of labour, with women confined to kitchens, is not relevant anymore.

With this rising demand for professional cooks, the transition is happening on the other side as well, and the cooks are increasingly in short supply. The live-in cooks are fast becoming a thing of the past and are being replaced largely by part-timers. Some khansamaas have honed their skills to perfection and ask for exorbitant salaries that are unaffordable for most.

The younger generation may have been sold to the idea of food apps and dial-a-meal, but the person running the house even today must ensure a steady supply of home-cooked food. She could also do that with the help of the once-a-week cook and stuff the freezer.

Read also: Who’s cooking

With changing times, the demands are changing too. Now there are a million recipes available online, making the whole experience so less tedious than before. There are fast recipes, food instagrammers, food bloggers and what not. It may seem we have come a long way from the age of cooks and khansamaas, but have we really! This is what the Special Report today is all about.