My Most Memorable Meals: Not What I Imagined
And some that should be forgotten.
Based on my age, the internet tells me I’ve eaten over 60,000 meals. I can do this math easily because I don’t miss many meals. That’s a hugely fortunate life in a country where 47 million people are food insecure.
Most were enjoyable. Some were barely food. A few stand out for their beauty.
My first introduction to tapas. My brother introduced me to this magical way of eating. This was heaven for someone like me, who always wants to try the most tastes possible.
I never got to eat at my wedding reception. As we left, my best friend presented me with a stack of containers, filled with all the food from the reception for us to eat later. I remember some of the food, and all of the kindness, since I’m not used to people feeding me.
In both New York City and Italy, the most random places yield stunning meals. How do they do that?
My first chapter of living in the Washington, DC area got me hooked on Ethiopian food.
Paletas in Mexico – maximum joy, obtained with my criminally inept Spanish.
Things I don’t eat anymore:
Squeeze cheese out of the can. This was my snack all through my days of being poor in gradual school. I may have overdone it. Is there really any cheese in there?
Ramen noodles. I have hit my lifetime allotment.
Grocery store bread – gluten sensitivity has come for me.
Things I still love to eat:
Apples from a farm. The fall is a season of high holy days, for me, as different strains of apples come out.
Donuts from a local bakery. Saving my gluten allotment for this!
Rice, with an egg for protein, plus butter and cheese. When I don’t know what to eat, this is my go-to. Or, popcorn. That can be dinner, right?
How about you? What meals do you remember? What would you rather forget? What’s your go-to?
Image above via Pexels.
The surprise dessert I’m loving now. I don’t even like biscotti, and these minis from Trader Joe’s are a delight.
1967, college overseas program in Germany, on our way from home stay in Hamburg to academic stay in Munich, we had four days in (mostly west) Berlin. We took a bus trip to the imperial hunting “cottage” in Potsdam, where I had venison ragout for lunch. In my memory it’s unmatchable. During the home stay, my mother made Hungarian goulash from a Dr. Oetker spice mix. It was my favorite comfort food. But never again will I choose her Himmel und Erde, a mix of apples, potatoes, and blood sausage. Nor do I have fond memories of my mother’s deep-dish pizza made with Bisquik and hamburger. Nor her canned asparagus or Harvard beets.
I grew up in Michigan the daughter of a Texan and Arizonian. I am unable to process any kind of sugar, but have no issues with gluten or dairy products. So I don't eat dessert. Tacos, enchiladas, tostadas were regular items on our menu. We ate spaghetti with home made sauce. Corned beef, cabbage, potatoes, fried chicken and mashed potatoes. I thought everybody ate cheese on cauliflower and white sauce with blue cheese on broccoli. Occasionally we celebrated around a Japanese Teppanyaki table, several Mexican restaurants or a steak restaurant. Birthdays tended to be special and the choice of the celebrator. Joining my husband's family for Thanksgiving was truly a joyful experience. Good food and fun.
times. Macaroni and cheese of all kinds are probably my favorite food. Hard to avoid salty snack foods. I'm grateful for all the food available to our family. We never lacked for all kinds and varieties of good quality food.