Having Phoenix’ed from the ashes a few times, that’s not me isn’t me anymore so imma gonna do something I haven’t. Do what a friend suggests and step outside my comfort zone with no excuses no regrets. 500 words. That’s the length the algorithms and bots like. Hopefully same with you.
Consistency too. Makes you easier to find if you’re always present and engaged. So, 500 words are what you’ll get from me every Wednesday morning. 500 words on the state of the quest of publishing a manuscript I’ve had living like an evergreen in my computer for the last few years.
Timely it is so none the worse for wear.
Food is a path to culture and identity. A connection to deep personal histories that express politics or class or religion, not just sustenance. A way to say who you are and where you came from. Add the life story of the person cooking and you have Home Cookin’— The Stories Behind The Food. A series of personal essays on great home cooks featuring some of their recipes.
My North Korean Dry Cleaner, a Brit that grew up in the rubble of World War 2 London or a little girl in the Cabrini Green Housing Projects. An Afghan refugee and a Greek Yiayia all live here.
My unique perspective comes from 40+ years as a professional chef traveling the world searching for the finest foods and ingredients, collecting the most interesting recipes to inspire my craft and satiate my belly.
Along the way I came to the realization that many of my
favorite meals have been eaten and shared in homes, not restaurants.
Tired of the hottest chef/hippest restaurant syndrome, Home Cookin’ pays homage to the thing that got me interested in cooking in the 1st place— a meal in a neighbor’s home. Food served from the heart resonates on many levels besides delicious, and because food involves all the senses and context reinforces memories, these narratives evoke powerful sentiments.
More conversations than interviews, Home Cookin’ uses the art of listening as the key to achieving its balance. You may prompt, but do not get in the way. If you’re listening they’ll talk. As memories unfold, interviewees inevitably drop their guard and candor commences. Done in this way the storytelling narrative flows with experiences, passions and perspectives of each featured subject. Home Cookin’ tells the stories behind the food while finding the extraordinary in the ordinary.
I’ll chronicle the ride. See if I can attain the heretofore near impossible of monetizing my content in a world where content has little or no value. Ask any musician why they make music when everyone gets it free on the internet? Or a photographer what they think about Clipart or Google images; or any creative on how they feel about our latest nemesis in waiting, AI? A world where most no only get it for free but expect it for free.
I see my words are up. Join me if interested.
Love it. Keep it coming.
Looking forward to future works.
will do. thanks.