Top Chef and family food ties
Mar. 3, 2011 6:24 am
Updated: Mar. 5, 2011 5:50 am
It's Thursday so I have to comment on Top Chef, my guilty pleasure. Last night's episode was all about a subject we all know, foods we grew up with, family food traditions. This subject really hit home for me. It wasn't that we had any super-special
family recipes (although I'd put my mom's apple pie in any contest). Family food is about remembering. It is real, it is comfort, it is memories, it touches our soul in ways that few other things can do.
On Saturday I leave to go and spend some time with my parents. I am trying to do that every few months. It involves a seven hour drive but that's nothing compared to the pleasure we get from each other's company. My dad is 83 and my mom is 78. I am lucky
because they are still alive and active except that my mom's health is been an issue this year because of COPD. They love and are very involved in food and cooking. When I had my last restaurant my dad's favorite thing when he would come to see me was standing
by the line and watching me whip out the food. That made me nervous and so I made him my "food prep executive" on his visits. He really got a kick out being part of the team in a busy restaurant.
On this visit I plan to make them some meals, that goes without saying. I'm also planning on bringing my ice cream maker and making my mom and dad some of my mocha heath bar ice cream, his favorite. Most importantly we will sit and visit and share meals and
laugh and love. That is what family and food is all about.
