Food Features

Untitled Document It was something everyone had in common. We’d gathered last summer for a conference on “Food Memories.” Everyone was interested in preserving and promoting local foods and their traditions against the onslaught of industrial agriculture and mass-produced prefab food, but our backgrounds were diverse. There were wealthy people for whom promoting sustainable food […]

Untitled Document After years of ignominious obscurity, the University of Illinois football team was going to the 1984 Rose Bowl! For my husband, Peter, and me, the timing was perfect. Neither of us had ever been a big football fan. During our tenure at the university’s Champaign-Urbana campus, we hadn’t gone to a single game. […]

Untitled Document There are two times when those who celebrate Christmas open their presents: Christmas Eve and Christmas morning. Well, not exactly. Christmas gift-giving customs vary around the world, and many of them aren’t even on Christmas Eve or Day, which is kind of nice, separating the spiritual and religious aspects at least somewhat from […]

Untitled Document ’Tis the season to celebrate. In days gone by, exotic specialties from far away were eagerly anticipated once-a-year treats and highlights of holiday meals. Children were thrilled to get a single orange in their Christmas stockings. Wooden barrels packed with oysters layered carefully with ice were shipped by rail to the Midwest for […]

Untitled Document Scenario No. 1: It’s 4 p.m. on a Saturday. You’re standing in an incredibly long checkout line with your contribution to the Secret Santa gift exchange at tonight’s Christmas party, and you’ve just remembered that you’re supposed to bring an appetizer as well. You’re already running behind: You still have to battle the […]

Untitled Document “The heavenly aroma still hung in the house. But it was gone, all gone! No turkey! No turkey sandwiches! No turkey salad! No turkey gravy! Turkey hash! Turkey à la king! Or gallons of turkey soup! Gone, all gone!” — Ralphie Parker, A Christmas Story When the Bumpuses’ dogs sneaked in and dragged […]

Untitled Document Thanksgiving has really crept up on me this year. Partly it’s because of the weather; I can’t ever remember a year when we haven’t had a hard freeze by Halloween. Just a couple of days ago, I opened the windows in our family room. Several times lately I’ve even turned on the air […]

Untitled Document “I’m a restaurant’s best friend and worst enemy,” my daughter, Ashley, said recently. I knew exactly what she meant; I could say the same about myself. We’re both aware of the stress and amount of work involved in the restaurant business and so are empathetic toward staff in both the kitchen and the […]

Untitled Document “I’m a restaurant’s best friend and worst enemy,” my daughter, Ashley, said recently. I knew exactly what she meant; I could say the same about myself. We’re both aware of the stress and amount of work involved in the restaurant business and so are empathetic toward staff in both the kitchen and the […]