The Art of Slow Cooking
Food stylist and chef Emma Rosen shares why slowing down in the kitchen is the secret to better cooking, and how the AGA’s exceptional performance allows her to create meals with love.
Emma Rosen, founder of Food Creative, has built an incredible career as a food stylist, event chef, recipe developer and presenter – but it’s when she’s at home, surrounded by seasonal produce and family, that her love of cooking really shines. “Authentic cooking at home brings out my creativity and I love exploring lots of different ingredients from lots of culinary genres,” she says. “If you can grow your own vegetables, you can actually choose what foods you like to eat. Understanding the seasons and how things grow means that you can be in control of your own menus.”
Situated in the lush green countryside of Romsey, near Victoria’s Macedon Ranges, Rosen’s contemporary farmhouse kitchen captures a sense of timeless country charm. With classic Shaker cabinetry, a generous island bench, marble surfaces and elegant brass fixtures, it has a warm, sophisticated atmosphere perfect for long lunches with loved ones.
At the heart of the space is a glossy black AGA eR3 Series electric range cooker with chrome detailing. Originally invented in 1922, the iconic cooker has long been synonymous with British country homes. Renowned for its enduring craftsmanship, ‘always on’ operation and radiant cooking style, the AGA features cast-iron roasting and simmering ovens, a warming oven, integrated infrared grill, state-of-the-art induction hob and generous conventional fan oven, giving Rosen complete flexibility as she cooks.
Today’s menu showcases exactly what the oven is designed to do. “There was lots going on, but I could create it all really seamlessly with the AGA because of all the zones and all the different temperatures well within my control and well within my range of cooking,” she explains. From braising lamb and simmering jus to roasting vegetables and preparing gnocchi, every cooking technique has its own dedicated zone. “Having all the features that an AGA can offer me really makes it such a joy.”
The cast-iron construction is also central to the slow cooking experience. “What that means is the heat is really radiant, it’s really subtle and it doesn’t dry out your food. It means that you can do long, beautiful, slow cooking and the meats, for example, they’ll retain their flavour and also their moisture.” In this way, the AGA naturally complements the way Rosen likes to prepare food. “Paddock-to-plate cooking really connects to the AGA because you’ve got to use a lot of techniques and skills to match the different zones of the product… You want to be watching your food, nurturing the cooking.”
Beyond its exceptional performance, the AGA has become an integral part of the home itself. “If you’ve got an AGA cooker in your kitchen, it really gives heart and soul to your house,” she enthuses. “It’s one of those appliances that are actually with you for your whole lifetime. It sort of becomes part of the family.”
For someone accustomed to the fast pace of commercial kitchens, that sense of permanence perhaps brings Rosen the most satisfaction. “The thing that I love about having an AGA is that it slows me down in the kitchen,” she reflects. “Professionally, I cook at a much, much different pace, but when I’m at home, I want to slow down. I want to enjoy the flavours, the techniques and the whole cooking process and being around in the kitchen – that’s where I want to be.”
