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Sunday, May 22, 2011

What we need

I just finished watching the first episode of, "The Meaning Of Food", which was on PBS at some point.  Not having a television or cable leads to me not knowing a lot of stuff about "popular culture"--something that doesn't always feel like a loss--and I have no idea when the series originally ran.

It was quite an interesting program and I watched the whole thing even though it was very hard to watch at some points.  There was a lot of emotional upheaval for some of the people who were in the program and their pain was palpable, as was their joy when they were happy.  The process was quite affecting, actually.  It made me realize that there are a few things besides flaming trolls and tilting at every form of power that is not supplied by wind, solar, sun or other natural processes that I care deeply about.  One of them is food and feeding people.

One of the things I've missed most these last nearly twenty years is not being able to have people over for food and drink and conversation.  It's been that long since I've lived in a home in which I could cook the way I like to or enjoy the freedom to ask whomever I want to invite to come, sit and share food, drink and conversation.

I look around my house as I write this and am amazed that after three and a half years I still have not achieved the level of "livingness" that I desire AND I am amazed that I still look forward to getting there.  My kitchen is such that I can actually prepare food at this point.  My downstairs is sheetrocked, largely wired and plumbed and almost suitable for human visitation.  I have oodles of cookbooks, lots of cookware, kitchen gadgets and a genuine love of food--not just the eating of it, but preparing and reading about it, discussing it with other people and learning more about what makes good food great.

I lunch with a good friend from time to time and he always asks where I'd like to go.  I always tell him that I don't care, the food is not the reason I'm having lunch with him.  The food is the excuse to spend time together.  Now, if I can get my kitchen in running order THEN the getting together would be an excuse for doing food!;)

4 comments:

mutzali said...

One thing I learned in my parents' kitchen: cooking is love. Nothing's better than a family get-together when there are too many people in the kitchen.
I'm a pretty good cook and I can put together a nice meal (occasionally a great meal) without opening many cans. But I don't want to open a restaurant. I want to cook for (and with) the ones I love.

democommie said...

Mutzali:

True dat. I like nothing better than having people over to hang out in the kitchen; eating, drinking, laughing and becoming better friends or new friends.

Meatloaf, made with love and eaten with good company is every bit as delicious as the best steak I've ever eaten. The same holds for any sort of home cooking that is done with joy, even if it's an obligation.

The movie, "Like Water For Chocolate" was one I really enjoyed because the cooking was infused with emotion.

Nomi said...

My maternal grandmother was famous for her macaroni and cheese.

There was love in it, and there were her (and others') critiques over how a particular version met her standard...

I miss my Bubbe...

I have faith that we will break bread together some day...

democommie said...

Hi, Nomi:

Yes, we all miss our bubbes or moms or favorite aunts.

And, yes, we will break bread together one of these days.

Cheers!