humanity
Humanity topics include pieces on the real lives of chefs, professionals, amateurs, inspiring youth, influencers, and general feel good human stories in the Feast food sphere.
Cathy’s place
What did I just do! Ever since I was little I wanted to own a restaurant. I used to spend hours in my grandmothers kitchen making cakes and cookies, narrating like I was on the cooking channel. I am sure I must have given my family a lot of laughs, but they always encouraged me and my love for all things food. As I grew into my teenage years I did that thing all kids do, I stopped pursuing my uncool hobbies to better fit in with the popular kids. Always complaining when I was forced to help bake cookies for Christmas but secretly glad to have the excuse. I think it hurt my grandma a little when I pulled away from cooking, it was what we bonded over when I was little and watching me deny it felt like I was denying her. I stayed that way, in a holding pattern, for a long time. Until my life tumbled upside down and I finally got the push I needed to move away from my oppressive hometown. It was hard for a few years, working long hours for poor pay, learning what freeway traffic really was, trying to deal with the fallout of old relationships and the struggle of a new city. That really took me away from cooking, it took me away from everything. I was sad and angry and scared. We were so broke we had a roommate in our one bedroom apartment and we spent 9 months without a table or chairs. All of my passions fell off the radar of life for several years, until finally we started to learn how to manage our new life. We got new jobs, a better house, and some furniture. We had time again, and energy to take care of our souls. It started slowly for me, making old recipes from home, a comfort meal here, a batch of cookies there. Things to make the house smell good, flavors that brought me joy. I didn’t experiment much in the early days, just cooking what I knew would be delicious. As we found our footing and worked our way into our dreams I got bolder. Adding my own ingredients to my grandmother’s spaghetti recipes, tasting things I was scared of, using Christmas as a time to experiment on my friends. I never really thought it would go any deeper than that, I figured cooking would always be where I found my peace, something I would pass on to my kids and grandkids, to add a little joy into the world. Then the world spiraled.
By Clementine Brown6 years ago in Feast
Jane and the Cup of Coffee
Jane is a busy college student. Every morning she stops by Mel’s, the little college town diner that also happens to be the closest place to get her morning caffeine fix. She runs through the door, which rings as she opens it, and grabs a cup of coffee. She allows herself to spend no more than two minutes at the diner; she is only there to grab her caffeine fix and get moving. Jane usually requests one or two espresso shots in her order, and she always takes it in a to-go cup. Running to class strictly on schedule, she sips her caffeine through the plastic top.
By Reese Marie6 years ago in Feast
The Sauce of Life
The lights from the old, rusted diner sign flickered obnoxiously in the dark sky, like a beckoning call to those sleepily traveling the lonely highway roads. Had the worn sign not been so annoyingly distracting, I may not have noticed it and pulled off the highway and out of my frustrated state of mind.
By Brittney K6 years ago in Feast
DAD'S DELICIOUS CHICKEN
Nearly twenty years ago I went to my friend's home for a visit. As he opened the front door, I was met with a wonderful aroma that wafted up to my nose “What’s that smell?” I enquired. “Are you cooking or is it the Misses?”. “Oh it’s me” my friend Eddie answered. “Really, what are you cooking, it smells great?” “It’s my Creole Chicken, come on through and I’ll show you how it’s done". So I followed him into his kitchen and sat myself down on top of a tall white stool. “Right Albert, get comfy, I’m going to show you exactly how to cook ‘Creole Chicken’ using my grandma’s secret recipe”. “I’m comfy, but you’ll write down the ingredients for me when you’ve done, if that’s okay, not sure I'll remember” “Well, we’ll see because I don’t tell anyone, not the wife, the kids, family or friends; nobody knows what seasoning goes in; I’ll have to kill you if you find out, I’m only joking. “Oh, I’m glad to hear that! I could sit in the lounge with the kids until you’ve done” I suggested. “No, no it’ll be okay. Albert, you will be the first person on planet earth that I’ve told, let alone shown how to cook it. I don’t know why but I feel led to share it with you, but you have not to tell anyone, not even your misses”. “Okay, I won’t” I answered.
By Albert Andre6 years ago in Feast
Best Salmon Cakes Ever
I grew up in a large single-parent family. My mother cooked a lot of mackerels but never salmon because mackerels were cheaper and could be stretched further in a stew to feed ten children. Therefore, I never had salmon cakes when I was growing up. After the children grew up and left that southern country town, my siblings learned to make salmon cakes, but I never gave it a thought until recently. I heard them talking about how good salmon cakes are.
By Margaret Minnicks6 years ago in Feast
Apocalypse Chow
Back in November 2019, when the coming COVID crisis was in its infancy and hadn't yet impacted the entire world, I manned a booth at a community festival. Across the makeshift aisle from me, a local artist named Jeremy Smith was carving a turkey as onlookers watched in wonder. They weren't hungry, and the turkey wouldn't have provided much sustenance if they were. That's because it was crafted from a pumpkin.
By Kelli Lynn Grey6 years ago in Feast
How my boyfriend tricked me into learning to cook
Quarantine has taught me a lot of things and cooking appears to be one of them. I’m not a chef, I’d like to think I’m a writer but the juries still out on that one. My boyfriend, Christopher, however is a Chef. This is lucky for me because not only does he make me laugh to the point my stomach hurts and teach me to love without fear, but he also keeps me fed and happy. ( I tend to get irritable when hungry. Lol) my lack of cooking skills does not deter him from trying to teach me, and he’s started coming up with even more cunning ways to do so.
By Kaedyn Swinford6 years ago in Feast
Support Your Local Economy
As the UK enters lockdown for the eighth week, the Covid-19 pandemic continues to take its toll on our everyday lives, therefore, it is important we maintain high spirits and support each other and our local communities as much as possible. As non-essential stores remain closed until further notice, there is little we can do to help with this reality. However, for those small local shops and convenience stores that continue to provide us with our essential items and necessities, there are steps put in place to help support their success during this tough time.
By Fay McFarlane6 years ago in Feast
