Earlier this week I began to contemplate a post which in my mind I had titled How Do You Cope? This sprung from my own reflection about how I was wading through life without a Grandma in Fargo to ask about recipe details. I found that I cope & grieve by telling stories, spending time with friends and family, and cooking.
Sunday I made a chicken enchiladas with home made sauce. The sauce took most of the morning to make, roasting peppers on the grill, removing their skin and blending with spices. The whole dinner took several hours to prepare and was quickly consumed by Gregg, Austen & Ryan (our/his boys) and some good friends of ours who joined us for dinner and carving pumpkins.
Today I ran across a great article on the New York Times about Thomas Keller head chef at some of the best restaurants in the country. Instead of focusing on the restaurants or a particular recipe – the article talked about how the chef had reconnected with his father later in life, and how he cooked him his last meal before he died barbecued chicken and strawberry shortcake.
Finally, the article talks honestly about how the loss of his father changed Mr. Keller, and how his employees, patrons, fiancé, and friends appreciate the evolution.
The parallels between some of the narratives that have been, and are currently being written in this family captivated me. I am fascinated by how my Grandfather’s death changed my Grandmother, how I associate her so much with cooking, and how – her death will change all of us.
Some questions to consider: How have you coped? What are you cooking? Do you have food memories? What changes have you seen in yourself or others? Do you fear this change?
Just some thoughts. Here is a link to the NYT article:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/28/dining/28keller.html?pagewanted=1&hp
Love to all.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
On Sunday I could smell someone cooking beef roast. (I thought of it as a message from Mom.) The scent could have been my imagination because roast beef is a childhood memory of Mom cooking roast beef, mashed potatoes and gravy each Sunday. It was always delicious, of course.
Let us know when you make bacon gravy! That's the last thing your dad cooked for Grandma. But then, you probably remember that!
Awesome post! I might have to by the book -- although sounds a little ambitious for me. I'll stick to super pasta skillet, creamed salmon on toast, bacon gravy, or maybe even some chips and cheese ;)
Nice post, Hans. I don't cook. I find my solace and connection to the world in the garden. But, I love what cooking means to you. It is very similar to what it means to Bill.
I am working on another post about Theone and her impact on my (and our) life. It takes me awhile for it to form in my head and heart.
Again, Hans, keep posting. I love it.
Post a Comment