What does it mean to be a good cook? Sure, there’s the technical stuff: the knife skills, the timing, the intuitive moment when you know a chicken breast is cooked through but not yet dry. Beyond that ...

While your friends are financing their "smart" kitchens, you could be mastering the same techniques that help professional chefs create magic with nothing but a beat-up pan and sharp knife.

There’s a primal magic to cooking with fire. It’s a sensory experience—the hiss of fat hitting hot grills, the irresistible smell of smoke and char, the simple rhythm of meal. Across Australia and New ...