Putting on the Ritz?

So the other day, I had someone tell me that whenever she bakes anything, she cannot help but put on a pair of high heels and a strand or two of pearls. Right... Now don't get me wrong. I am a resolute believer in the “to each, their own” philosophy of life. But high heels and pearls? For banana bread? Really?

Of course, when I reacted in such a manner, the young lady insisted that I should try it. “Your baked goods will just taste better,” she said. And though I have absolutely no intention of donning a pair of stilettos the next time I bake biscuits, the young lady's insistence upon wearing only the finest of bakery footwear did leave me with a few questions. Can the taste of your food truly be dependent upon the clothes you wear? Will looking good for your food, make your food look good for you? Is this young lady mentally unbalanced, and should I run away?

Well, I suppose that one could argue that looking your best does make a person feel better about himself/herself and result in a more positive outlook on life, in general (which may also influence how we perceive our foods to taste). But I think the opposite could also be true. If a person is uncomfortable attempting to balance atop a tight pair of high heels while simultaneously having a set of heavy earrings stretch out her lobes like Play Doh, that same person may think all food tastes better because it's the only sense that isn't being strained by the uncomfortable burdens of fashion.

And with that, the only conclusion that I can reach is to say what I always say - “to each, their own.” If you feel like dressing up to bake a batch of brownies, go right ahead. I'll be sticking with my jeans and t-shirt, though.