WE ALL EAT 



Hi Y’all. I really don't know what got into me this month but as we embark on the holiday season, I  must admit, sadly , I am feeling a bit  less  celebratory and  more disconnected than usual.The world seems too punitive, way too cruel and inhuman. Is it me, or does everyone just  seem so confrontational?  Now  I am not really a Kum Ba Ya kinda guy but jeez, can’t  we all just stop being so snippy? We are all human, breathe, love our children and most importantly, eat. Food, my friends, is magical. It connects us as part of the human family, makes strangers friends and transcends both language and cultural differences. It has been a kind of social superglue bonding us humans together since the dawn of time. In fact , sharing food is hardwired into our DNA, with communal hearths being discovered in the Middle East dating back at least 300,000 years.  While pooling of resources was originally necessary for survival, at some point , the sharing of food became a bit more social.You can almost imagine our ancestors sitting by  the fire passing around the Pterodactyl legs , retelling stories of the latest Mastodon hunt. In  fact , food has always been instrumental in telling our story, particularly with Holiday fare .Recreating grandma's side dish from that  old stained recipe card, creates a window to the past , back to a time  when carbs didn’t matter and  brings old  memories back to  life. Food brings joy and comfort to our lives as well as a sense of belonging.  So in that tradition , for the holidays, my friends,  I encourage you to help change the current  narrative of selfish disregard and to quote the great Otis Redding “ Try A Little Tenderness “. Share a bite , reconnect with someone , anyone , ask questions and find out something about them you didn’t know . Or don’t. After all, we are all in this together . Well, maybe, I am a little Kum Ba Ya. The holidays always always do it to me, but don’t worry, pretty soon I'll be back to my old crotchety self.  Now at the risk of making my wife right ( god forbid) who says “food  is my answer for everything “, she may not be so wrong. And since I seem to be giving out advice , if you are concerned with over indulging this holiday season let me leave you with this quote from Erma Bombeck who famously said “ I often  think of those  people who opted to skip dessert on The Titanic”. Now for those of you that tuned in looking for holiday recommendations for food or wine  (or are just turned off by my emotional sap) drop me an email , I would be glad to help.

       

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