I didn't see it if anyone replied to my question. Is not knowing how to cook a generational thing? I'm an Xer, and everyone from my generation knows and likes to cook. It's not as if it's hard. Nobody in this strip seems to know how to cook, and is worried about money all the time. Cooking saves time and money. Heck, I'd buy Marten and Faye a slow cooker if they don't really want to learn. Slow cookers are great. Put the ingredients in, turn it on, and when they get home there'd be food.
I saw your question, and was wondering the same thing. I'm not sure if it's a generational thing (Gen X here as well), or if it's more of a narrative thing... or maybe both? Doesn't anybody do potlucks any more, even if they don't call them that?
I'm 21. Most people I know can cook, but several can't/don't, such as my older brother and my (ex)landlady's daughter. Everyone I've ever lived with has been able to cook, and it was required to take home ec (cooking, sewing, and we used washers and dryers and stuff) for everyone in grade six (11-12 years old) in my district (or maybe in my province). My best friend and previous roommate's mother can't/couldn't cook, but she can, thankfully.
On the other hand, while I can cook and appreciate it being cheaper, I much prefer going out. I can't afford to more than once a week (and even that is a stretch), but I like it better. When I do cook, I prefer to do batch cooking (soups and pasta sauce other freezables) and to make ingredients (dressings, refried beans, veggie patties) over making real meals, so my partner makes most of the our dinners.
I imagine part of the bias in QC is because it's more interesting to draw people at new places, and also if they're going to a restaurant, it is usually for an occasion, which usually means it's plot-relevant, which means dinner/whatever meal gets shown more than it does at home. I think the only one who has been shown as unable to cook is Faye, and that's less because she can't make tasty food and more because she starts fires and stuff. Dora roasts her own coffee beans with an apparently special formula, so I imagine she can cook fairly well. Marten doesn't seem any more or less inclined than anyone else, it's never been demonstrated that he
can't cook.
Then for this strip specifically, he was hung over, tired, and somewhat confused. I wouldn't really feel like making myself breakfast either.