In this vlog, Sam Miller confesses a personal, long‑standing habit: he always watches cooking shows while he eats. He lists a range of programs (MasterChef, Great British Menu, Hairy Bikers, Rick Stein, Come Dine with Me) and explains that the visual of professional chefs preparing food triggers his salivation and makes the meal taste better, as if he were eating a chef‑crafted dish. He notes that he has tested eating without the shows and finds it less satisfying. Sam frames the habit as a ritual, acknowledges it may seem odd, and uses the monologue to invite viewers to share their own quirky habits, encouraging a community of openness and celebration.
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I think everyone has that strange little habit that they really don't want to admit in front of people they know. For instance, some people love sniffing a brand new book. Trust me, I completely get it. Some people like biting their nails and secretly spitting them out onto the floor. Ugh. And some people, when they get home from work, like stripping off all their clothes down to their underwear to walk around the house pretty much naked. Makes them feel free. Well, I'm neither admitting or denying any of the above. But I will tell you this: one of my strange habits that I've been doing for a very long time now is watching cooking shows. I love watching cooking shows. I'm talking about MasterChef, Great British Menu, Hairy Bikers, Rick Stein, Come Dine with Me. You name it, if it's a program that's got food in it, I'll probably be watching it. That's not a strange habit, Sam. I watch cooking shows all the time. Yes, well, here's where it gets interesting. I only watch cooking shows while I'm eating. Yes, you heard me. I don't remember how it started and I don't remember when it started, but for some reason I need to be watching a cooking program while I'm eating. It's become a sort of ritual for me. I have the cooking show playing in the background while I'm cooking my food. And as I start looking at all these amazing ingredients prepared by some of the best chefs in the world, my mouth starts salivating. By the time I sit down and start eating, my brain is in another world, a world of flavor. It took me a long time before I even sat down and analyzed why the hell do I do this? And I honestly believe in my brain, food becomes tastier. I'm tricking my brain into thinking I'm eating food prepared by world-class chefs. And I have tested not watching these cooking shows while eating, and it's just not the same. By the way, I know this makes me sound a little strange, and a disclaimer: I can enjoy a meal without needing to watch a cooking program, okay? I can do it, but it's got to be a damn tasty meal. Anyway, I didn't share this with you for any old reason. Oh no, I wanted to share this with you so we could all create a a movement where we can all feel safe to share those strange little habits that I know we all have, but we're sometimes scared to admit to other people. So please, let us unite. Tell me in the comments below what strange habit you have. I would love to know. And then afterwards, join me in celebration, and we shall drink the night away together. Huzzah!
