Cooking is one of the secondary professions and can be learned by anyone on top of any other professions they have. It allows users to cook the meat and other items from the enemies they kill or from fishing. Cooked food will restore user health, and if it is eaten for 15 seconds or more, it will boost their stats as well. I recommend that everyone pick up cooking and keep their skills up as they grow. A good cook can keep their well fed bonus on at all times. Later in the game, you will be able to bestow powerful effects from your food. A good cook can actually make a lot of money off the auction house for high level cooked goods. It's also just plain fun to make a campfire and cook for your group.
Every man dies, but few truly live. Live your life to its fullest, every day as if it were your last.