Ahead of the launch of Iconic™, we sat down with cookbook author, Corre Larkin, to discuss her culinary philosophy, passion for food, and the importance of quality cookware in her day-to-day kitchen routine.
To her 1.5 million Instagram followers, she’s known as Coco, a home cook and content creator who delivers culinary wisdom in a way that’s accessible and flexible. Corre's pared-down approach to cooking combined with her undeniable confidence in the kitchen has led to her popularity as a culinary authority on social media. As we learned during our conversation with her, this all ties back to her core cooking philosophy: “Simple is better.”
This philosophy is rooted in her culinary beginnings in England, where fresh, seasonal ingredients and uncomplicated preparation are paramount. For Corre, it’s all about starting with high-quality ingredients to ensure the best end results, no matter the dish.
“If you take the best ingredients, in season, and do very little to them, the ingredients do all the work for you.”
Her time abroad had a deep, holistic impact on her culinary approach. As we spoke in her kitchen, it was immediately apparent that this influence goes beyond her cooking methodology—it comes to life in the aesthetic of her kitchen, down to the smallest details.
Pulling from the time she spent in European restaurants early in her culinary journey, Corre designed her kitchen to bring the feeling of those spaces into her home, installing floor-to-ceiling subway tiles and antique copper accents.
“I designed this kitchen around the timeless nature of the European kitchens that I learned to cook in,” she explained. “I wanted it to feel like you were either in a French bistro or somewhere in Europe. I wanted it to have an old-world feel, but in a modern-day kitchen.”
Looking around the space, which serves as the backdrop for most of her content, it’s clear that every piece was chosen with intention, from the unique tiled range hood to the antique brass hat rack she converted into a rack that now beautifully stores and displays her collection of antique utensils over the stove.
Throughout our conversation, there’s one word that Corre returns to naturally: quality.
As with the ingredients she uses in her recipes, when it comes to what she cooks them on, Corre prioritizes pieces that offer the highest quality. This, she says, is what ensures you will get the best results from your carefully selected ingredients.
“Using high-quality cookware is so important because it’s going to give you the end result you want,” she noted. ”If you were to go out and spend money on an expensive steak then cook it on a really cheap, tinny pan, it’s not going to get the steak you want. So, high-quality cookware is a non-negotiable for me.”
Kitchen design is a balancing act of aesthetics and functionality to create a space that both looks appealing and accommodates your routine. For someone who cooks every day, striking this balance is important. For Corre, who has turned cooking in her kitchen into a full-time job, it’s essential. So, when she was introduced to the new Iconic air fryer, with its sleek stainless-steel structure, powerful DC motor, and versatile functionality, she clearly saw how it would fit right into her kitchen.
"I want everything in my kitchen to be beautiful and functional, and the Iconic fits the bill."
While the Iconic’s versatility complements Corre’s flexible, approachable cooking style, the finer details of its design, like the PFAS- and BPA-free ceramic-coated cooking surfaces, make it an obvious choice for feeding her family.
“One of the materials I avoid in my cooking is dangerous nonstick, so the PFAS, the Teflon, things like that, but I do love the convenience of nonstick, just not anything that’s going to harm my family,” she clarified.
"Naturally, food plays an important role in Corre’s home. When cooking for her family, the goal is, first and foremost, enjoyment."
“The priority is that everyone will eat it. I think that’s something we all want. No one wants to cook a meal then have the kids push it away,” she said. “So, it’s introducing them to new flavors and maybe new techniques while also having everyone enjoy the meal.”
For Corre, cooking is so much more than simply ensuring her family is fed with dishes they actually enjoy. Through spending quality time making meals with and for her family and introducing them to new cuisines, she hopes to build a legacy of cooking and eating together that will last a lifetime.
"The importance of food in our home is memory,” Corre explained". "So many dishes we cook and so many of the things that my kids ask for, I know they’re going to remember those dishes for the rest of their life. It's a food memory that will be with them forever."
Corre prioritizes her family’s wellness in her cooking, too, ensuring that every dish is not only flavorful, but balanced. It's the quintessential example of her philosophy in practice: using only the best ingredients and preparing them simply. This method allows each ingredient’s natural flavors and nutrients to shine, resulting in a dish that’s nourishing but still feels elevated. This, as we learned, is the basis for everything Corre makes in her kitchen.
“My passion for cooking really stems from the fact that I love to eat well.”
Corre's love of food and trying new cuisines initially sparked her passion for cooking and eventually launched her journey to creating content on social media, which she admits has changed her relationship with cooking dramatically.
“It went from something that I did for fun, hosting family and friends, to something that I now do for a living,” Corre reflected. “That being said, even though I cook every day, I still absolutely love to cook.”
Learn more about Corre and her cooking philosophy in the video below.
Follow Corre for even more cooking content and updates: @cocolarkincooks
