Cooking is a form of art. It is my form of relaxation and relieving stress. Creating dishes with spices or food items that you do not normally see in a dish. Mixing different textures and temperatures. Exploring new flavors and putting your own twist to dishes that already exist. My family’s favorite dish is rice and my special chicken. Beginning with taking out the pans, turning on the stove, and adding the oil, waiting to hear the oil sizzle. Indicating to me that it is ready. Adding the onions, garlic, and all the other spices together, smelling all the flavors combine into one. The steam warms up the kitchen creating a warm welcoming environment. The sweet and tender smell lingers underneath the doorways advising that the food is almost ready. Creating the tummy to rumble as it awaits the final call that the food is ready. The stove turns off and there is a final taste. A sprinkle of salt to accentuate the neighboring flavors. One plate that not only brings flavors together but brings my family together. Once the food is ready to be served, my family gathers around the table. Each bite is savored. We usually put our phones away and talk about our highs and lows. Dedicating that time to each other. Waiting for everyone to finish their plate of food so no one eats alone. On some days, we spend hours even after eating, sharing our favorite memories and talking about our different interests. Laughs upon laughs are distributed throughout the table as the day comes to the end. Ending the night with joy and welcoming the dreams that come. I look forward to this part of the day due to our busy schedules. We may be doing our own things but once the food is ready, we all come together as a family.
4 thoughts on “Melanie Gonzalez – Food Memory”
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Hi Melanie,
I really liked that you started by stating how cooking makes you feel because not everyone enjoys cooking. I also really like how you included the ingredients which really shows each step in making the dish. The ending of your food memory was great because it shows that even though everyone is busy, you are able to make time and be together.
I can connect to your food memory because just like you, I also have a rule in my family that whenever we are eating, there are no phones allowed at the table.
Some questions that I have about your food memory is why did you state that it is a special chicken? Is there anything about it that makes it a special chicken?
Hey Melanie,
I enjoyed reading your food memory it was very relatable. One of the signature dishes in my household is also rice with a traditional chicken. I liked how you mentioned the steam warming up the kitchen creating that welcoming smell. Whenever I come back from a long day outside, the strong cooking aroma in the kitchen also makes the house feel very welcoming. I can relate to this food memory because in my family we also may not leave the table until everyone finishes eating.
Questions I have regarding your food memory is are food gatherings at your table like this often? Do you like the rules put in place at the table?
Hi Melanie,
I enjoyed reading your food memory because I found myself relating to it in a lot of aspects. Like your family, my family enjoys sitting together when its time to eat to make sure no one eats alone. We also like to put our phones away to give each other our undivided attention and reflect on our hectic days. Although I may not find the art of cooking therapeutic, I find myself enjoying the act of doing the dishes afterwards. I enjoyed your description of the dish and listing of ingredients because it helped me paint a better picture in my head of the memory you were re telling. A question that I have is, does your family have any other special traditions that revolve around food?
Hey Melanie, I really liked how you captured the beauty of sitting down with your family together to eat. I definitely liked your word choice in mentioning that the food not only brought flavors together, but it brings family together to create a loving environment. I have a very big family and we never not eat always eat together and I think it is a very simple yet beautiful thing as a family. Is there a specific day in which something Unique or Big happened? If so, Have you learned anything from this unique even?