For years – and I really mean years – I had this thought in the back of my mind:
“One day, I’ll enroll in cooking school.”

But every single time, the same doubts showed up.

It’s going to take so much time.
It’s a big time investment.
Can I really allow myself to do this right now?

I work in marketing, in a completely different field. So if I wanted to follow my passion for cooking, it would have to be in the evenings. And let’s be honest: after a full working day, signing up for 4-hour cooking lessons once a week sounds… intense.

And yet, the love for cooking and baking never stopped.

Starting 2026 With One Clear Goal

At the beginning of 2026, I made a promise to myself:
Do more of what you truly love.

And one thing was clear. Cooking school had to stop being “one day” and become now.

So in January, I enrolled at PCVO Limburg in Maasmechelen. The course runs until June, one evening per week, 4 hours per lesson. Because it’s an evening trajectory, the full path takes longer — but honestly? I’m not in a rush. I want to enjoy every step.

We’re a small group, and most people joined for the same reason I did: pure passion. Not necessarily to change careers, but because cooking makes us happy.

From Theory to a 4-Course Menu Every Week

The first lesson was theory. Important, of course. Foundations matter.

But from the second lesson on… we entered the kitchen.

And not just any kitchen. A big, professional one.

Every week, we prepare a completely new four-course menu. Starter, main, dessert — sometimes things I’ve never made before, sometimes techniques I’ve only seen on TV.

What I love most?
We learn by doing.

The teacher is constantly moving around, helping, correcting, explaining, demonstrating. You’re never left alone — but you’re also not spoon-fed. You actually cook. And when everything is ready, we sit down together and enjoy the dishes we made.

Yes. That’s definitely a bonus. 😉

My Honest Confession: I Felt Overwhelmed

Let me tell you something.

The first time we walked into that professional kitchen, I froze.

Everyone immediately started grabbing ingredients, moving around, prepping. And I just stood there thinking:

• Am I allowed to take things?
  
• Where do I find what I need?
  
• Shouldn’t we go through the recipe step by step together first?
  

It felt overwhelming. For a moment, I questioned myself.

But the teacher helped me through the first steps. And honestly? It didn’t take long before I started to feel at home. Once your hands start moving, the stress disappears.

Now, I truly love being there.

More Than Cooking: A Mental Reset

There’s something else I didn’t expect.

The past months have had some challenging personal moments. Times where I felt nervous and mentally busy.

But once I step into that kitchen, everything else disappears.

I focus on cutting, seasoning, plating. I chat with the other students. I laugh. I taste. I adjust.

And for four hours, my mind is completely present.

It feels like therapy — but with knives and saucepans.

What Happens After June?

This is only the first module, which ends in June. In theory, the second module starts in September.

Will I continue?

I think so.

And who knows… maybe in a few years I’ll even go for the official chef certificate. I’m not making big declarations yet — but I’m allowing myself to dream a little. 😊

Cooking at School, Baking at Home

Of course, Lo’ Cook ‘n Bake doesn’t stop.

I still cook and bake at home every week. I’ve set a small personal goal:
Try something new every single week, besides what I prepare at school.

The difference now?
I incorporate everything I learn — knife skills, sauces, plating techniques, flavor balance, timing.

I can already see the growth.

If you’ve been thinking about doing something that lights you up — but you keep postponing it because of time, fear, or practicality — maybe this is your sign.

Sometimes investing time in what you love doesn’t take energy away.

It gives it back.

And for me, enrolling in cooking school in 2026 was exactly that. 💛