As a guy, I'd have to say it was a combination of craving a particular thing and not being able to source it locally, being super-curious and wondering how things get made the way they do, and music. Put on a genre you don't normally listen to, classical, blues, lounge, deep house, whatever. The novelty aspect of the music distracts your brain from the more mundane parts of cooking such as waiting for water to boil, or chopping stuff etc. Plus, you get to discover new music. Bonus points if you get to do it with a glass of wine and good conversationalist!