No Chaser

Food Memory

My family went out last night for my mother's birthday, and when we go out, I often have a question to ask everyone. For this, Brother S calls me, "The Instigator." Last night my question was inspired by a recent post on Bakerina: What is your earliest food memory?

Brother D remembered push-up pops and cream of wheat, and then the banana being pushed through the baby food mill and thinking excitedly, "Mmmm! Banana!" He really did love bananas. Mom remembered family picnics less than fondly, but then she recalled cherry picking: "I was too small to pick the cherries, but I would sit on the ground and eat the ones on the ground." Brother S remembered mom switching from baking bread to buying Oroweat Branola, which sparked a conversation about Grandma's coffee cake and fresh hot bread with butter. Brother S also talked about being teased for his picky eating, something that hasn't completely gone I'm sorry to say; it's tough being him in a family of food fiends.

Mom and Brother D remembered Brother S always leaving the table for the bathroom a few minutes after dinner started. "He never sat still, so it was only when he sat down to eat that he'd realize he needed to go to the bathroom." I had completely forgotten about this. He would sing made-up songs in the bathroom, which was down the hall from the dining room, so we could hear him singing, and we'd all laugh.

Mr. recalled meals with his father and dad bringing home a lot of fish. He remembered one night waking up and hearing noise in the kitchen. When he got there, dad was in his underwear eating a peanut butter and butter sandwich. In a few minutes, Mr. was sitting in his underwear doing the same. Another memory involves dad BBQ-ing and wearing a knife in a scabbard at his waist, so Mr. goes and puts on a plastic holster with a plastic Tarzan knife, and they eat whatever meat was on the grill. I should add that most of his food memories are from times with his father. Eating big steaks while camping. Dad's recipes for "fire cabbage" (raw cabbage and grated raw onion) and "little greasers" (ground beef mixed with ketchup and grated onions, formed into patties, and broiled on bread).

My earliest food memory is a very pleasant one. My parents had a good friend, Koz, who went diving for abalone. We lived in Pasadena, and I remember the kitchen of this house better than any other part of it. It had arched doorways and was a long room, with an eating area and fridge on the right and the stove, oven, sink, and counters on the left. At the end of the kitchen was the door to the backyard. In the evenings, the setting sun would shine in and light up the whole room in warm honey. It was on an evening like this that Koz, his girlfriend Joan, my parents, and I sat around our table, orange fondue pot in the middle, and ate fresh abalone by skewering the raw chunks and dipping them into the hot oil.

Koz loved coming over to eat my mom's chocolate chip cookies . . . with beer, Coors I believe. He insisted that it was the most delicious thing going. My mom uses the Toll House recipe but uses salted butter and salt and always includes walnuts. I finally tried this combo out when I was in my twenties, and damn if it wasn't completely delicious. They're particularly tasty with a stout or porter. Try it, you'll like it!

posted by: NoChaser at March 25, 2005 07:25 | link | comments (3) |

Comments:

#1  25 March 2005 - 07:55

 

Congrats on being the "post of the day"--and after reading your stuff--well deserved---very good writing! Keep it up...

JustMe63

#2  25 March 2005 - 10:01

 

I know a little boy who does the same thing... makes up silly songs while he's on the bathroom! Being southern, we look for reasons to cook and get together. Thus, the origin of family reunions down here. It's just an excuse to get together and eat.

Ladyinthemoon

#3  25 March 2005 - 10:15

 

Your writing is terrific!

spenceronehalf

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