Tonight one of my girlfriend, Charlotte's classmates and friends' mom was in town. Her Grandmother made the trip from Scranton, Pennsylvania as well. The friend invited us, as well as about 10 others to dinner.
What I saw at dinner was nothing new to me. In fact it seems that I see it regularly. Even so it made me stop and think.
Our friends' Grandma and I hit it off, chatting about anything and everything, after all, she was Italian. My Gramma is Italian, Charlotte's Grandma is Italian. Between it all, we get some GREAT Italian dinners! What I noticed was that this little old lady spent about 2 hours caring for the food as only Italian grandmothers can seem to do. To watch her work in the kitched was so much like watching my Gramma, as well as Charlotte's. She would take a taste of the sauce, then a bite of the pasta only to shake her head, telling herself, "not quite yet". She prepared "appetizers" that were a meal in themselves- just like our Grandmas.
This made me stop and just think about the events and activities that our 3 grandmas could sit and talk about. All three of parents who came over from Italy. All three great cooks! All three short little ladies, and lastly all 3 beautiful people who have passed on family traits and traditions that can hopefully be honored by us young punks.
Seeing this Grandma made me love mine even more somehow. I missed her, and was reminded at just how much she means to me. Lucky enough, I'll get to see her in a week or two...something not everyone can say. Hopefully she'll have some great pie made up for me too!!!
5 comments:
There is a lot of culture in food. I have often thought it would be fun to teach a course someday "The Sociology of Food". Have you ever seen the show about the chef that travels around the world sampling outrageous food from all different cultures? You would dig it.
I think you're talking about "No Reservations with Anthony Bourdain" I dont watch it enough, I get so hooked on Dirty Jobs and whatever else is on Discovery. I don't get over to Food Network all that often.
Good post Josh!
Jason, I think you are talking about Andrew Zimmern, Bizarre Foods.
There is something spiritual about food, conducted in the right manner. Breaking bread with someone over their cultural food and wrinkling up the nose and
saying, "Eww, I don't like this!" is a sin. I have been blessed to live in a lot of areas. I have been fortunate to work around people that eat different foods.
Yesterday is a great example. I had chicken (Tom Kha Gai) in yellow curry. This is a Thai food. For dinner, I had Pho, Vietnamese chicken soup. I have learned to love both.
I think seeing the Imago Dei in others includes embracing what they eat.
Monty-
I wish for one enormous plate of Chicken Katsu almost weekly.
I tried really hard not to do that (reject the cultural food) with the seaweed wraps! The picture reminds me of taste. I also remember eating the other food up the mountain with you...I can't think of what its called now- very authentic place wherever it was.
Josh,
I thought that you did very well experiencing the cultural aspects of Hawaii.
What bothers me a lot is people coming from the Mainland, church people, and refusing to try things. One does not have to like the food, but respect the culture enough to try it (unless there are food allergies).
I think you are referring to Teshimas Japanese Restaurant. Hmmm, wish I could go there for lunch!
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