Brother, this brought tears to my eyes. For real I'm sitting in the laundromat parking lot trying not to bawl like a bitch because this piece just hit.
I was a restaurant cook for many years and what finally drove me out of the industry was, well, it's a fucking industry. An industry built around a community sacrament of food and, so, by extension, restaurants generally speaking are perverting the sacrament. I couldn't do it any longer. My food comes from a place of love and service; my calling is to feed people. It's both my vocation and my avocation; my mission and my muse. Food, for me, is sacred and so the process of bringing food to the table must be done mindfully, joyfully, reverently, gratefully.
I'm glad you were able to discover that while you were inside. I'm so very fucking happy that you brought it home with you and shared it with your people. What. A. Gift. You turned poison into medicine, man. That's Buddha level awesome. God bless ya, man.
I grew up in a post depression world where memories of food scarcity prevailed. WWII made it worse with rationing so years of victory gardens meant canning everything . We fought off the birds in the cherry tree so we had filling for pies later in winter.
Our house had family dropping in every Sunday for dinner and card games all afternoon.
It’s with gratitude that I have prepped by canning reserves for
Last minute invasions of unexpected guests ? I never worried with jars of vegetables and fruit on hand. My basement was stocked.
Decades later I still love to make fruit jam to give away to family and friends (requesting the empty jar
back for a refill).
Your experience, JC, is one every family should practice . Shut off the damn phones and talk to each other over something You all make and share!
The Italians love their foods and their families. The Irish are the same. We always had Sunday dinner together and most evening meals growing up. Well before phones became a problem. Kudos for sharing this ritual with your kin. I plan to set up a like-minded community here in Ireland on land I’ll buy and make eating a sacred ritual again. A collective one.
I tell you, few have a rant like Coleman! I totally agree with the immense sacrament that food is. Yes, turn off your phones, focus on your loved ones nearby and enjoy the blessings of food. I think food may just be the best thing God gave us all: taste, texture, color, crunch, spice and herb, just the sheer wondrous abandon of joyfully eating what has been lovingly prepared. You are a true poet, Coleman. I grew up working class and truly have no "airs" about food, except to enjoy the fresh produce and the meats and grains prepared with love. I would prefer all the food you described, rather than all the Martha Stewarts out there. Nothing wrong with her but I like humble and simple. Keep going, Coleman! You really put power into your words.
.. long overdue - re yer human fuel revolutions & revelations.. the Ohio tales & various ‘voicings / patois’ are off planet blowaway shit.. but you know that. After our rough feral start - my sister finding / feeding us tourist leftovers on Toronto’s Ward’s Island - our Grandma’s ‘prairie Depression era home cookin was 1/2 heavenly & 1/2 non digestible - At 12 was deposited into Farm World & suddenly met Mennonite foods that ‘schmeck’d
You did a what ? 12 or 14 year Phd in Prison Cuisine ? Meanwhile I was getting a Degree in Varsity Basketball - Minor in Football & had topped out at 6’ 3 & 1/2 and 172 lb size 13 hoofs.. yet by then, The Eating of Food was .. ‘a necessary annoyance..’ - Little did I know - becoming a single Parent 1/2 of the time - would change EVERYTHING ! That toddler was same age as I was on the island .. hmm ! Now I was ‘scrounging’ - but for what to feed him ! Learn baby Learn !
An excellent rant. And I hope you are teaching everyone just how one cooks. My parents taught me the basics, enough at least that I don’t burn the water, but I think too many people today haven’t a clue. Their family didn’t teach them for whatever reason, which means they are stuck with the overpriced, pre-created, “food” made with ingredients by Dow Chemical.
Despite the inflation in food costs, I can afford to eat because I can make it from scratch.
wow. ty. u added depth & breadth & visuals to so much for me. i cannot express all & will not attempt it. your perspective & the detail are invaluable. thank you
Holly shit that's funny. I might have to use that one. Of course all credit will go to you.
#2 Every fook_n time ! I mean every time. Your stories get me.
#3 Whatever you do for work i hope it involves writing man. And if for some crazy reason it doesn't, WTF? I can't be the only one who reallly wants to see a "Convict's Cookbook. Recipies and stories around them from both " The inside" and out. That is if you have'nt already written it. But if you have not, Could you? Will you?..... PLEASE,,
Seriously and sincerely... Thank You for filleting yourself in all these stories. And then letting us read 'em.
I come from abundance and still I made sure to build a wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling pantry shelf and, like you, like to stand in front of it in wonder!
Some of our best family times have been in the kitchen. Our adult children still love getting together to make meal, especially paella., my husband's specialty. Lots of laughing and usually a loud family singalong. Good memories and making more with the grands.
Brother, this brought tears to my eyes. For real I'm sitting in the laundromat parking lot trying not to bawl like a bitch because this piece just hit.
I was a restaurant cook for many years and what finally drove me out of the industry was, well, it's a fucking industry. An industry built around a community sacrament of food and, so, by extension, restaurants generally speaking are perverting the sacrament. I couldn't do it any longer. My food comes from a place of love and service; my calling is to feed people. It's both my vocation and my avocation; my mission and my muse. Food, for me, is sacred and so the process of bringing food to the table must be done mindfully, joyfully, reverently, gratefully.
I'm glad you were able to discover that while you were inside. I'm so very fucking happy that you brought it home with you and shared it with your people. What. A. Gift. You turned poison into medicine, man. That's Buddha level awesome. God bless ya, man.
Thank you
Life is food and sharing!
I grew up in a post depression world where memories of food scarcity prevailed. WWII made it worse with rationing so years of victory gardens meant canning everything . We fought off the birds in the cherry tree so we had filling for pies later in winter.
Our house had family dropping in every Sunday for dinner and card games all afternoon.
It’s with gratitude that I have prepped by canning reserves for
Last minute invasions of unexpected guests ? I never worried with jars of vegetables and fruit on hand. My basement was stocked.
Decades later I still love to make fruit jam to give away to family and friends (requesting the empty jar
back for a refill).
Your experience, JC, is one every family should practice . Shut off the damn phones and talk to each other over something You all make and share!
The Italians love their foods and their families. The Irish are the same. We always had Sunday dinner together and most evening meals growing up. Well before phones became a problem. Kudos for sharing this ritual with your kin. I plan to set up a like-minded community here in Ireland on land I’ll buy and make eating a sacred ritual again. A collective one.
That sounds wonderful. Best of luck!
Damn, you're an excellent writer. I think a lot of people will be experiencing food insecurity in the future.
I tell you, few have a rant like Coleman! I totally agree with the immense sacrament that food is. Yes, turn off your phones, focus on your loved ones nearby and enjoy the blessings of food. I think food may just be the best thing God gave us all: taste, texture, color, crunch, spice and herb, just the sheer wondrous abandon of joyfully eating what has been lovingly prepared. You are a true poet, Coleman. I grew up working class and truly have no "airs" about food, except to enjoy the fresh produce and the meats and grains prepared with love. I would prefer all the food you described, rather than all the Martha Stewarts out there. Nothing wrong with her but I like humble and simple. Keep going, Coleman! You really put power into your words.
this was beautiful, I might be crying a little
(I’ve gone soft in my old age, I know)
Just crack up that Rammstein you mentioned and you'll be right as acid rain
blasting my Metallica playlist in 3…2….1
A song from "Reload" starts and we're all disappointed in unison
You say this only because you’ve never heard my 3 beers deep version of “Fuel”.
OHHH...Rammstein!!!! Now they make music!!!
“Your family, your people, is one of the few investments where the return is always greater.” - one of the truest things I’ve ever heard 🙏
.. long overdue - re yer human fuel revolutions & revelations.. the Ohio tales & various ‘voicings / patois’ are off planet blowaway shit.. but you know that. After our rough feral start - my sister finding / feeding us tourist leftovers on Toronto’s Ward’s Island - our Grandma’s ‘prairie Depression era home cookin was 1/2 heavenly & 1/2 non digestible - At 12 was deposited into Farm World & suddenly met Mennonite foods that ‘schmeck’d
You did a what ? 12 or 14 year Phd in Prison Cuisine ? Meanwhile I was getting a Degree in Varsity Basketball - Minor in Football & had topped out at 6’ 3 & 1/2 and 172 lb size 13 hoofs.. yet by then, The Eating of Food was .. ‘a necessary annoyance..’ - Little did I know - becoming a single Parent 1/2 of the time - would change EVERYTHING ! That toddler was same age as I was on the island .. hmm ! Now I was ‘scrounging’ - but for what to feed him ! Learn baby Learn !
An excellent rant. And I hope you are teaching everyone just how one cooks. My parents taught me the basics, enough at least that I don’t burn the water, but I think too many people today haven’t a clue. Their family didn’t teach them for whatever reason, which means they are stuck with the overpriced, pre-created, “food” made with ingredients by Dow Chemical.
Despite the inflation in food costs, I can afford to eat because I can make it from scratch.
Nothing like sharing a meal!!
Thank you!
wow. ty. u added depth & breadth & visuals to so much for me. i cannot express all & will not attempt it. your perspective & the detail are invaluable. thank you
This is a good story. Food focused.
I understand this viewpoint.
To get a God dayum from inside is Right on, a bit of joy from eating a good meal.. It tells the punch you packed into those steaks.
Yes chicken must be brined, it holds the juices well and a piece of chicken can be as good as a steak.
It's the only way, I agree.
Wish I could sit at your table of flavor. But the visual will do. Yum 😋
#1 "My Manicotti make ya Ohmygoddi"
Holly shit that's funny. I might have to use that one. Of course all credit will go to you.
#2 Every fook_n time ! I mean every time. Your stories get me.
#3 Whatever you do for work i hope it involves writing man. And if for some crazy reason it doesn't, WTF? I can't be the only one who reallly wants to see a "Convict's Cookbook. Recipies and stories around them from both " The inside" and out. That is if you have'nt already written it. But if you have not, Could you? Will you?..... PLEASE,,
Seriously and sincerely... Thank You for filleting yourself in all these stories. And then letting us read 'em.
Jonesey
I come from abundance and still I made sure to build a wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling pantry shelf and, like you, like to stand in front of it in wonder!
Do all the cooking for me and my missus. She doesn’t eat all that much so I finish her leftovers. Life is good in old age.
Some of our best family times have been in the kitchen. Our adult children still love getting together to make meal, especially paella., my husband's specialty. Lots of laughing and usually a loud family singalong. Good memories and making more with the grands.
Cheers