It's About More Than Food

Growing up, money was pretty tight in my family. As a result, my mother’s go-to meals were basic, cheap, and pretty predictable: rice and chicken; meatballs with beef gravy and mashed potatoes; spaghetti; Kraft Mac n Cheese; hotdogs served on split-top buns. Every other Thursday night—which was my father’s payday—my parents would go shopping for groceries. My siblings and I would wait in anticipation because our parents always “splurged” on bringing home a feast from KFC for dinner on those Thursday nights. Oh, how digging into the Colonel’s bucket was such a mouth-watering treat for us!

There were other reliable occasions on which my parents splurged on providing us with fancier fare: Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Goodness, how we loved the holidays! It’s when we could count on being served moist oven-roasted turkey; creamy mashed potatoes; glazed carrots; rich homemade, savory gravy; tart cranberry sauce; Mom’s wonderful homemade stuffing; made-from-scratch pumpkin and/or apple pies; and homemade Jacquet River rolls (it’s an eastern Canada thing). No matter how poor we were, my mother always worked hard to make the holidays special and memorable for us. Aside from all of the fragrant, sumptuous food, Mom always set a beautiful and inviting table. No holds barred: lovely brocade tablecloth; fresh floral centerpieces; thick cloth napkins; heavy Denby stoneware plates and fancy water goblets (they’d been a birthday gift to my mother); and pretty, scrolled silverware. Honestly, the holidays were magically festive celebrations in our lives, and temporarily made us forget that we lived in a cramped, cold, spare, ramshackle duplex—all nine of us!

That’s when I figured out that eating wasn’t merely for physical sustenance, but that meals could be truly savored and enjoyed. I realized that eating could be an EXPERIENCE. A beautifully set table; soft lighting; the dulcet sounds of background music; interesting, wonderful smells wafting in the air; interesting conversation, etc.: all play a role in making eating meals fun, rather than just an act of practicality. Wonderful, fond, and lasting memories have been made over food. My aunts’ and uncles’ wedding receptions at Danny’s Banquet Hall. My 19^th birthday dinner at the Lord Beaverbrook Hotel with my godmother and uncle—when I dared to be adventurous and ate frogs’ legs and escargot for the first time. My own wedding day brunch and then the reception in my in-laws’ backyard that evening. A surprise Mother’s Day brunch at a charming bed & breakfast in St. George, Utah. Our children’s birthdays. So many birthdays! :) One of my favorite anniversary dinners was at the Palisades in Seattle. The view of the flaming sunset and white sailboats in the marina amplified my dining experience tenfold.

So, although I often mindlessly grab food on the go merely to satisfy hunger pangs, going out to nice restaurants is something I enjoy immensely. They’re opportunities to relax. They provide the means by which to experiment with and sample various cuisines: French, Argentinian, Spanish, Indian, Brazilian, etc. I get to appreciate red linen tablecloths; shaking out white cloth napkins on my lap; holding heavy, filigreed silverware in my hands; drinking from tinkling crystal water glasses; uniformed servers ready to tend to my every need; listening to muted background music; and enjoying every last morsel of perfectly seasoned, textured food. Delicious, exquisite food is like a banquet in my mouth. My taste buds enjoy the blending of sweet, tangy, and tart. I enjoy everything about dining out, whether I’m celebrating a birthday, anniversary, Valentine’s Day, or just going out on a date. Some of my happiest memories revolve around special celebratory meals- and my hope is to continue discovering new restaurants, bistros, and diners so that more special experiences can be felt and lovely memories can be made.