I say: If you don't know how to cook I'm sure you have at least one friend who knows how to cook. Well call that friend and say 'Can I come next time and can I bring some food and can I come an hour or two hours ahead and watch you and help you?'
It turns out that understanding the British public is not rocket science. The British appreciate honesty and they also have a bonkers off-the-wall sense of humour like me.