Ode to Food

I love the phrase “You are what you eat.” It conjures up the image of juicy new york steak being transformed into the building blocks of the body. But I view it in a more figurative sense. When food is prepared, a little bit of the soul of the person doing the preparing is added to the batter. Good cooks add parts of themselves to each and every dish they prepare.

It is the unlisted ingredients that make food a global unifier. The care of a nutmeg farmer in Trinidad is included in every glass of holiday eggnog. The influence of our grandmother’s gentle hand is felt every time a pie crust is prepared.

It is this unifying power that drives my love for food. Every bite we take unites us with all of the races and cultures of the world. Every delicious taste reminds us that our fellow man, even though he may be on opposite sides of the globe, is part of us. It unites us with our ancestors, and will be the glue that holds our offspring close to us long after we are gone.

This is why I love food. This is why when I have no other topics to think about, my mind drifts to food.

Happy Holidays, and may you be blessed with the food that you know and love.