I am very honestly and sincerely not sure. I grew up an orphan and with only the riches of the world around me, but anytime I was with a family before the Cuthbert's took me in, I was expected to cook and make sure the other kids were all fed, and at the orphanage, we just ate what they gave us. I've learned a lot more from Marilla - one of my guardians - because I like to be useful to her and help her around the kitchen. She's thankfully much more forward-thinking than others around me. I do know some boys that know how to cook! Gilbert, and Bash, one of our very closest friends and family. I believe that they're both self-taught, Bash's wife was one of the very best cooks I've ever had the pleasure of knowing.