The Taste of Home

While we were sitting around our empty dinner plates, with the remnants of my dad's culinary wizardry before us (along with some mighty-fine tofu), my parents made these rather redundant observations:

Dad: "I guess I really like food."
Mom: "I think we all do."

Hmm, really? Anyone who explores our house should come to that conclusion immediately. Amid the horrendous clutter and mess of the kitchen, there lies a treasure trove of deliciousness: things purchased, things made, and things waiting to be made.

Coming in the door on Monday night, I was soon rifling through the contents of my fridge and pantry - not because I felt remotely hungry, but because the abundance was impossible to resist. It gets a little gross and excessive at times and returning to the nest, I feel the strain of a too-full and too-messy cooking area. But that strain has all the counter-balance of feasting.


The foodness I miss:

- Having organizational control over the cupboards, fridge, and counter-space of my kitchen and all the foods that nestle there. Mission Immediate: Convert my family to organics, destroy all plastic containers, and cut our hoard of food in half.

- Organic produce, vegan goods, and gluten-free options in every supermarket; specialty stores within easy walking-distance. London grocers suck.

- Nuba, The Red Sea Cafe, Khai Thai, Maurya's lunch buffet, The Granville Island Market, cheap sushi, soy gelato, and The Sweet Cherubim Bakery.


The foodness I love returning to:

- Ontario strawberries

- Ontario asparagus

- A kitchen that lacks only a rice cooker. Stainless steel pans, copper-bottomed pots, Henckel knives, a salad spinner, a steel-lined electric kettle, a pizza stone, an intense blender, a classic Cuisinart, an immersion blender, a stand alone mixer, an espresso machine, a waffle iron, a deep fryer, a bread maker, and a dehydrator and sprouting set to fuel my every raw-food fantasy. And of course, the food, the food, the overwhelming food.

- A compost pile.

- Ben Thanhs, Barakat, The Covent Garden Market, El Ranchero, SUNFEST!! (this weekend!), Wonder Sushi, The Tea Haus and Everything Tea, perfect onion bhaji, and the forbidden temptation of Tony's panzerotti. The proximity of Toronto's tasty places too (Fresh, I thought of you with every disappointing Naam venture).

- A father that procures everything I can eat to make up for the things I can't.

- Brothers to influence me into risky Indian food ventures.

- A mother that provides a decanter of wine to wash it all down.


"This might not be quite ripe," my dad says, passing me the first of our garden's raspberries as I finish my spell checking. It tastes good to be home.