towards a system of pattern-enhanced cooking in the inclusively creative city

Taichi Isaku “Researcher and Pattern Writer on Creativity and Cooking” Graduate Student at Keio University Co-Founder of CoCooking co ltd. Co-Leader of Slow Food Youth Network Tokyo

The Production of dishes:Towards a System of Pattern-Enhanced Cooking in the Inclusively Creative City Taichi Isaku, Keio University


Objectives: Explore the application of Christopher Alexander’s theories into the field of COOKING. Look at the principles laid in “The Production of Houses” to prospect a system of cooking for the Inclusively Creative City enhanced by the pattern language philosophy.

Towards a pattern-enhanced system of food and COOKING for the Inclusively Creative City


CoCooking= Collaborative + Cooking People of different backgrounds cook together, regardless of their cooking abilities to enhance team creativity.


C. Alexander: The Production of Houses (1985) One of Alexander’s books where he puts his theories into practice through a house building project with families in Mexico. He describes his theories through what he calls the “Seven Principles”


Principle of.. 1. The Architect Builder 2. The Builder's Yard 3. The Collective Design of Common Land 4. The Layout of Individual Houses 5. Step by Step Construction 6. Cost Control 7. The Human Rhythm of the Process


The Seven Principles of Production of Dishes: 1. The Kitchen Captain 2. The CoCooking Space 3. The Collective Design of Menus 4. The Layout of Individual Dishes 5. Step by Step Cooking 6. Sustainability and Cost Control 7. The Human Rhythm of the Process


1. The Principle of The Kitchen Captain The leader persona in the process of CoCooking


Kitchen Captain = Chef + Workshop Facilitator The Kitchen Captain must lead a process of collaborative cooking not only by providing cooking support but also by generating ideas among the participants


APL for becoming a better Kitchen Captain


Supple Recipe When planning for a CoCooking, if you use a recipe, then the inquiry aspect of the cooking will be lost, but without a recipe, you are worried that things will get chaotic and uncontrollable. When building plans, you can prepare a recipe, but only use it as a guideline to set the direction, and be flexible to incorporate coincidences. This way you can prevent chaos and induce creativity at the same time.


The Principle of the CoCooking Space CoCooking Space = Sustainable Kitchen + Workshop Space Reinventing the Kitchen

Taichi Isaku “Researcher and Pattern Writer on Creativity and Cooking”

Graduate Student at Keio University Co-Founder of CoCooking co ltd. Co-Leader of Slow Food Youth Network Tokyo

The CoCooking Space is a place where new food culture nurtures: You "go to cook" there


Example of a CoCooking Space in Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi, Japan:


Exapmle of CoCooking Space (2) Kitchen in the Student Built Campus @Keio University SFC


The CoCooking Space becomes a network of local kitchens around the globe: each space should be representative of the local culture and biodiversity


3. The principle of the Collective Design of Menus Each CoCooking begins with a group decision on what to cook: Not just deciding on a recipe, but the recipe itself must be designed dynamically


Creative CoCooking Patterns: A Pattern Language for Creative Collaborative Cooking A language of 40 patterns which drives a creative cocooking session with hints for menu design and improvised cooking.


Example of patterns for improvised menu design: Hint of the Season, Pre-Cooking Checkup, Potluck of Ingredients, Mystery Ingredient, Dish Mash-up, Treasury of Spices.


4. The principle of the Layout of Individual Dishes The Cooking Language is an Ingredient-based Idea Generation Tool


5 Limits of the Recipe: 1. Rigid Contexts - Recipes imply sufficient ingredients and supplies. 2. Variables - The measurements/times will change depending on the kitchen and ingredients used. 3. Variations - changing the portion, changing/adding/omitting an ingredient baking the dish instead of frying it, etc. 4. Tacit Knowledge - Knowledge that are between the lines and to overcome accidents are up to the chef’s experience. 5. Knowledge Beyond Recipes -How to open the fridge, see what's inside, and then image what can be cooked from it? The knowledge that recipes offer are very rigid, and it is up to the knowledge and experience of the cook to apply it to other dishes.


The Cooking Language is a tool for improvised cooking: I have some eggs in the fridge what can I cook using these ingredients? The Cooking Language generates ideas on what and how to cook


Example of the Cooking Language: Egg Sauce: You can use the eggs as a sauce, just as you would put on jam or butter on bread Taste Mitigator: cooking a spicy dish or a dish with a strong taste, you can add an egg to make the taste mild.


Uses of the Cooking Language: BEFORE cooking: As a source for ideas on what to cook WHILE cooking: As a tool to help make cooking decisions AFTER cooking: As a tool to understand and analyze dishes


Exploring new media for patterns: Using food printers to razor imprint patterns onto actual food items: The food item appeals to the chef how it wants to be cooked


Cooking Culture Language: A tool for discovering and enforcing Ethnical cooking aspects


Format for the Cooking Culture Language: What = The aspect of cuisine it is describing Why = Historical/Cultural background+reasoning How = Examples, dishes, applications


The Principle of Step by Step Cooking The secret to Improvised Cooking…


C. Alexander: The Oregon Experiment (1975) One of Alexander’s books (earlier than PoH) Describing the experimental approach to campus community planning at the University of Oregon. He describes 6 principles for lively architecture: among them the Principle of Piecemeal Growth and the Principle of Diagnosis and Repair.


A chain reaction of D&R by patterns drives a process of piecemeal growth for dishes


Generative Cooking Patterns: A Pattern Language for piecemeal cooking


6. The Principle of Sustainability and Cost Control Serious Food Loss Issues in Japan Only produces 39% of its net calorie needs (Worst among the G7 countries) However, Japanese people waste 1/3 of the food they produce Disco Soup


Monthly Children’s Cafeteria - Kids eat for free/very small price - Children of all groups are invited - Way to control produce stock at CoCooking Spaces.


The system of cooking in the Regenerative city must not only be fun + creative, but also have sustainability and ethics embedded into its system


7. The Principle of The Human Rhythm of the Process Cooking should not be an automatic or mechanical process of following already set directions. It must be a human process that has room for spirit, humor, and emotion that create a personal relationship with the food items we put in our mouths.


Every CoCooking should be full of: 1. Ideas 2. Communication 3. Stories


Summary: Seven Principles for the Production of Dishes It creates new.. Jobs: Kitchen Captain Places: CoCooking Space Systems: Menu Workshops Processes: Piecemeal Cooking Tools: Cooking Language Environments: Sustainability Hearts: Human Rhythm
