Sunday, March 15, 2009

eating through the holidays

It is well documented that I enjoy eating. I also enjoy preparing food, classic as well as new recipes. As a result, we often celebrate major and minor holidays with our own low key versions of Festive Meals. So far this year we've had hoppin' john for New Years and long life noodles for Chinese New Year. Jambalya for Mardi Gras. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out we have corned beef for St. Patty's Day. Because of crazy work commitments, we had it today.

I love honoring different cultures through food. I think it has to do with tradition combined with ingenuity. Someone had to figure out how to make this incredibly tough piece of meat enjoyable. Or how to take the scraps from the Main House and feed your entire family well enough that they can go back out and work in the fields without collapsing. What do you do when okra is the only vegetable that grows in your area-- and it is slimy and unpalatable? People figured it out, and became known for those dishes. And it seems right to celebrate their talent by attempting to recreate it ourselves.

1 comment:

Unknown said...

I really like the way you explain honoring the cultures and the food. I'd never really put it in those terms before.