I wonder if other people have as strong of food memories as I do? I actually started thinking about typing this when my cousin in Runcorn mentioned chips. Not potato chips from a bag but real, authentic, wrapped in newspaper and fresh from the fryer with salt and vinegar chips on a cold night in the UK.
From childhood, we have always had such rich experiences in our family when it comes to food. I remember how exciting the news would fall on us if we were actually going out to dinner. I can recall dinner tables at restaurants for which I do not even know the names because I was too young. One had wooden paddles on which the pizzas were served. I can hear my dad telling us girls now, "Don't fill up your bellies on soda." I remember how fun it was to go to the salad bar during a big night out at Steak and Ale or the thrill of a birthday dinner at The Magic Time Machine. I remember the taste and bland-colored plateful of my standard dish at a neighborhood mexican food restaurant next to the grocery store in Midland -- a creamy, sauce-covered enchilada with shredded iceberg lettuce while some guy sang "La Bamba" and we all chimed in.
The best were the really wild things though. Like escargot made by our parents. The butter we lapped up with bread! Or when the asian restaurant would call us for a giant crab dinner, and the melt-in-your-mouth oysters that preceded it.
I fondly recall the hors d'oeuvres my dad would prepare before we went out many nights. They ranged from broiled blue cheese stuffed mushroom caps to simple but still mouth-watering in memory sardines and crackers.
I hope my kids enjoy the ride with food as much as I do. It is one of the most varied and fun things that spice up daily life. I was sitting at a fancy ladies' lunch the other day and one of these extremely thin women said the new trend was "CR" or calorie reduction. It made me sad. I'd much rather go with this: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6423961
6 comments:
Oh yes, I remember those fabulous pizzas at Zino's (?) in Cincinnati. I think the soda warning was spoken more at that restaurant than any other. And Steak and Ale was the best! Especially the salad bar.
Zeno's was the spot! It was there we first tried 'desert' pizza with pineapple and other fruits. Remember?
For the escargots appetizers,until you were old enough to try the real thing, we would make little ersatz ones for you out of chicken.
Anna ate a real one at 5yrs old and loved it.
Nice post Steph.
I'm confident the twins will be connoisseurs. With the exposure, phutt! How could they not be?
As an Irish Bostonian, I can safely say we don't have all of these fun food experiences as bland is the common word in describing our food. With that said, bland and warm food are comforts of my heart. Nothing beats warm Irish beef stew with some white rolls and hard-to-spread cold butter on a blustry day after being a football game. A twice baked stuffed potato makes me feel loved too.
I have experienced the saltiness and have a fondness of escargot and such...just don't tell my grandmother. It is generational thing! ;)
Reguards and now hungry,
Regan
Am wondering (after reading this posting again) if any of you remember coming for meals at our houses and eating the FRESH vegetables that uncle Noel grew...Potatoes,beetroot,carrots,onions,beans,peas..you name it he grew it...Damsons (remember Bev?) Broccoli oh,so fresh and steamed immediately it was picked and rhubarb...once you have tasted FRESH no other is good enough...maybe you Girls don't remember as good as your Mom and Pop...but who can beat the chips with loads of salt and vinegar on them?? mmmmm
Oh, yes, Auntie Norma, we all remember your garden. I remember it was a little walk down the alley to a big plot of land and you had peas or beans trellaced and all kinds of veggies growing. It was beautiful and magical to me. It was like Mr. McGregor's garden from the Peter Rabbit tales.
I also remember making homemade mint sauce (again, vinegar, yum)in your kitchen.
Stephanie! it's lovely to know that you still have THAT memory,I am so pleased that you remember those happy but too far apart days...I am proud of all of you and although we don't see you now,at least I keep up to date via all your lovely pictures...don't mean to sound maudlin but I love you lots and am proud of you all..xx
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