THE PEOPLING OF NEW YORK: MHC @ Lehman

*w* SPARK *w*
Sorry for posting late D= I came pretty late from visiting my friend at haverford this weekend. I apologize for the lateness once again.

The poem the tropics of new york city is short but sweet. I think what it is trying to show us that when people come here, they retain alot of the old images from their old land. Depending on the person, everyone will handle the transition differently. In the case of the speaker, he cried because he was not in an environment familiar to him, it was replaced and he has to adjust. I think its kind of built that we have to accept that we move from one place to another and we need to come to terms to the differences. It is hard so what I want to ask is “What would make the transition from moving one place to another easier?” Answering my question I would love to have my family or a very close friend so we can help each other together and get through the first few days of discomfort.

Next was the reading about italian foodways, american abundance. I think it was rather interesting how italians were able to amercanize but still retained their cultures. A few key things I would like to point out is that I love the fact that italians payed a bit more for imported olive oil from italy. I think that it shows just how tight their roots are. Another thing I would like to point out is how italian women would make all sorts of food and put spagetthi in the mix and call it an italian food sale. I found that rather comical because it is something I would do xD. I would make a food sale and add pupusas and call it a Salvadorean food sale. The biggest thing I would like to mention is the fact that assimilating to the american culture was a great thing in terms of food. The poorest Italians had the ability to eat meat and enjoy pasta. This was great because when coming to america, alot of testimony we have read seemed rather down but now It shows that America has a variety more then things in the homeland. However it does affect the palette and eventually when visiting the homeland you can not eat the food. “Is it a natural thing that we grow apart from the culture we used to have, or do we do it consciously?” What I am saying is, do we lose some of our culture normally or do circumstances change how we ciew our culture.

The Broccoli excerpt was interesting to say the least. I still can not believe one line o.O but thats fine. I think it was sad that her husband left her D= I dont quite remember the details but I think it was that the husband used her to get to america and just left her (harsh D=). But my favorite part was when she was going shopping. When I shop I do my best to look for the best sales and the best quality and compromise. I owe alot to my mom for teaching me some tricks and tips I would like to ask “How complex do you make shopping for produce?” What I mean by this is in the story the lady was looking at juice and quality while some people grab something and put it in their cart.

Lastly the short article. It was a short read and I think it was about how the author was able to cook an entire meal after learning how to cook various ways. I dont really cook too much but A few weeks ago I baked a cake ^^ I was so proud =D So I want to ask ” When you make something. How does it feel when someone eats your creation?” I was so happy when people were eating my cake. It was one of the best days ever.

Again If it seems a bit off, I do apologize but I just got back from a trip and I hate to say it but I didnt get so much sleep on the trip D=

I found the Diner reading a very interesting take on the Italian immigrant experience, which is often depicted simply in terms of the hard labor and difficult living conditions. I feel that the perspective taken by Diner is relevant to the way we study food in relation to the experiences of immigrants from all over the world. Food is such an important aspect of the Italian lifestyle, that being able to revive its availability in coming over to America really resulted in a cultural fusion that changed the ways in which Italians lived; individual choice was now a norm in the new country, and I think that resulted in Italian-Americans very different from their home-staying counterparts. So in fact, I actually think that Italians who came over to America during the 20’s didn’t retain their culture as much as they mixed and channeled it through America’s abundance in food and opportunity. To answer Christian’s question, I think in this case, our new circumstances are bound to change the ways in which we view our cultures. It is difficult to say whether this is the way in which we view our cultures and our pasts consistently, but I think the Diner perspective on this particular group of immigrants can explain some of the resulting peculiarities of Italian-American culture of today.

SPARKS–
First of all, I really enjoyed the reading about the Broccoli. The beautiful way in which Nina’s experience with the different produce was described was amazing- it was so incredibly detailed, so much so that the reader definitely was able to understand the experience with each food: whether it be broccoli, tomatoes, the kiwis, dill, etc. I find it extremely relevant the relationship that Nina had with food in reference to what we learn in class. Do any of you guys have such a sincere relationship with a particular food? What caused it? Is it tied to your culture? Do you find food to be an escape? I know that I certainly find food to be incredibly important to me (besides the obvious reason of survival). But I am able to find myself brought back to good times, relieve myself of stress with food, and escape certain things by concentrating on the aromas, textures, and the way that food cooks.
In the reading in the long way home, the main character finds an interesting passage way through food as well. It brings her closer to her mother, more than just a recipe that has been passed down, it is also a way of growing up. By being able to complete an entire Indian meal with her sister successfully proved that she was old enough to handle more than just food- it brought their family together and united them in other ways. Have any of you had recipes that have been passed down? Sadly, I haven’t. My grandmother was an excellent cook and my mother received some of her recipes but with the fast paced life I had growing up, I never had the time to learn how to really learn any of the recipes- or how to cook at all, for that matter. I find that is really common with the newer generations as not nearly is focused as much on eating around the dinner table as the family values once were. When I am older and hopefully have a family of my own, I will want to really encourage eating around the dinner table and having special recipes within my family. Food brings people together in more than tasting and enjoying it, but as shown in the other readings, the picking of the certain foods and the preparations as well.
Do you think that food forms its own identity within families? Why do you think that is?
As shown in the reading about the pastas and pizzas and the way that the immigrants ate despite poverty, one can easily see the enormous impact food has on people, despite their living conditions and what is available. As I now live alone, I can’t really find any food culture in my own life- as I really eat only microwaveable meals and takeout. Those times that I do find the time to cook something (always simple, of course) with my friends or boyfriend, I find it really enjoyable. THere is something very special about picking out the food, cutting and preparing it, and finally settling down and eating it.

“The Tropics of New York” was a short, sweet poem that describes the nostalgia that every immigrant has with food from his or her home country. Even today, when my parents go through old pictures or they start talking about the old days, one of the most common topics is food. Oftentimes, they reminisce of how they climbed up trees to pick ripe mangoes and guavas when they were children behind their parents’ backs or they discuss how despite the fact that many cultural ingredients are available in NY, the food never tastes as good as it does back in Bangladesh. To answer Christian’s question, one way that the transition from one country to America can be made easier is by bringing with us traditional recipes—even though the dish won’t be an exact replica, it will still be a family dish that continues to be served hundreds of miles away from its place of origin.

My favorite passage from this week’s reading would have to be “Broccoli.” It was a fun little story about a woman who loved to shop for vegetables, and read cookbooks, but never actually cooked them—she just loved shopping for produce! The sections about how Nina scans the aisles for each vegetable and how she chooses the best of the batch was so amazingly detailed that the reader can actually see, touch, smell and even taste the fresh produce. To answer Mimi’s question, I would say I probably have a similar relation to Oreos as Nina has with broccoli. Whether I eat them or not, Oreos always have to be in the house and surprisingly, I never get bored of them, whereas any other food, whether they are madelines or pasta, I can’t have them repeatedly for too long. To Mimi’s second question, I feel that food is an escape for just about anyone. Many people, including myself, whether they are out with their friends or sitting about at home, choose to eat when they can’t seem to find anything else to do. Food is a great icebreaker and stress reliever and I feel like it’s one of the easiest ways for someone to cope with problems, no matter what the issue.

First of all, I want to say that the readings this week made me hungry! So much beautiful fruit and vegetable imagery!

Like everyone who has posted before me, I loved the “Broccoli” excerpt. Nina had such an odd, intense, and beautiful relationship with produce. I love shopping for and cooking fruits and vegetables, too.

In response to Christian, what would make the transition from moving one place to another easier? Two things really helped me transition after moving here. First, my roommate and I moved here together. Since we’re both from the same place, we can relate to each other and talk about home. Second, I can call my family whenever I need to talk to them. I talk with my parents and/or my brothers like every two weeks. It’s nice that they’re only a phone call away.

How complex do you make shopping for produce? When shopping for produce, I don’t buy the first thing I pick up without looking at it. I look at it, smell it, and hold it or squeeze it to make sure it’s good. I wouldn’t say that’s a terribly complex process because it only takes a minute or so, but I want to make sure I’m buying something good.

When you make something, how does it feel when someone eats your creation?

@Rachel Furr
I guess it depends on what I make and the circumstances in which I make it. Since I live on my own, I have to cook for myself every day. If I make something simple like macaroni and cheese or canned soup, I don’t really feel anything while eating. But if I cook for real, I’m always excited to try it and proud of myself when it’s good. Over Christmas break, I went home for a month while my roommate stayed here. When I got back and cooked supper, my roommate told me she missed my cooking. That made me feel really good. I’m glad she enjoys my attempts at cooking.

In response to Mimi, do any of you guys have a sincere relationship with a particular food? What caused it? Is it tied to your culture? The two foods I think of most fondly are okra and field peas. I know it’s because they are tied to my childhood and my culture. Ever since I can remember, we would go to the Farmer’s Market and my mom would buy fresh produce straight from nearby farms. As a child, I would resent the times she would buy field peas because that meant my brother and I would have to sit on the back porch and shell them. Even though they are delicious, I hated shelling field peas! Now, I look back on those memories fondly. Okra is another important food to me. I love okra! Fried okra, pickled okra, okra corn and tomatoes, gumbo made with okra. Yum. I look at it as a delicacy now because I haven’t been able to find okra here in NYC.

Have any of you had recipes that have been passed down? I think my mom’s signature recipe is her spaghetti. We’re not Italian or anything like that, but my mom makes the best spaghetti! I don’t know where she got this recipe from, if she made it up or got it out of a cookbook or what, but it’s a family favourite. She uses pretty much the entire spice cabinet to make it. It’s so spicy and it smells so good. Whenever any of us children visit home, we request my mom to make it. And all of us have tried our own hand at making it. Even though I follow her recipe exactly, it always seems to taste better when my mom makes it.

I liked the ‘Broccoli’ excerpt more than any of the other readings. When I first saw that the article was 16 pages long, I thought I would lose interest and not care what I was reading by the third page, but the entire article was very well written, and I breezed through the 16 pages. My heart went out to Nina while reading the article. Most of all when she admits that she never cooked a single vegetable, which shows that her marriage was constraining the only thing she had a passion for. I also felt for her when she realized she forgot to buy vegetables for her cooking date; I can only imagine how defeated she must have felt after putting so much time and effort into that evening. Christian asked how complex we make shopping for produce. Unfortunately, I can’t answer this question, as I don’t eat any vegetables, and I sure don’t shop for them. Mimi asked if we have a relationship with a particular food. I can say that I do have a number of connections with various foods. One example is Roti. I grew up in Crown Heights, and getting a curry chicken roti was always a special treat. Whenever I get to have it today, it reminds me of my childhood and the cultural connections the dish has with my mother’s side of the family, which is Trinidadian.

The short ‘The Long Way Home’ excerpt was loaded with nostalgia. It is the personal story of a female who goes from a young girl longing to cook with her mother’s recipes, to a woman who is able to cook her own meals for her family. I know how Christian feels when he said he was happy when everyone ate his cake. I enjoy cooking, and I like to cook for others. I’ve made dinner for my family many times, and its always a nice experience sitting and eating with your family, and making dinner for them makes the experience that much more personal and more enjoyable. To Mimi’s question, I think food definitely forms its own identities within families. I think this is because eating around a dinner table is a tremendous bonding experience for any family, and so they connect the food they eat with their memories of each other.

With the ‘The Tropics of NY’ poem, I agree with everything Christian said about moving from one place to another and just having to accept the differences. I think something that would make a transition to a new place easier is if the new place has a lot of aspects of your home, whether it be other people that also made the move, or authentic foods native to your home. I think having these things around you will allow you to feel more comfortable in your new home, thus making the transition easier.

The poem is filled with pictures and memories from the native country. The plants, fruits, and sceneries from the past fill the mind of the speaker as he reflects of the “…old, familiar ways.” To me, this is a nostalgic recollection of his homeland, something that is rather common for people of all background when they first immigrate to a place like New York. Christian, to answer your question, I’d think any cultural or religious institutions where something can link the person to his/her homeland can make the transition to a new place that much easier. Music or food can also bring people of similar backgrounds together, and that can possibly lead to companionships that will also ease the transition.

Mimi, I think I have more negative relationships with specific foods and drinks than positive relationships. The most striking is perhaps strawberry-kiwi Snapple. Strawberry-kiwi used to be my favorite flavor of Snapple since as far back as I can remember. My ex, who I’ll just call “Amy” in this post, and I would share this drink very often, and for a long time now, I just don’t like that flavor as much. I don’t know if it’s because I’m simply tired of that specific flavor or I have some deep subconscious resentment for Amy (not likely) and thus the drink that holds some sentimental value to us, but it’s certainly a strong negative relationship. Escape? All is need is a plate full of shrimps and I’m free. It can be fried with bread crumbs, cooked and presented with a lot of sweet sauce, can be big or small, doesn’t really matter as long as it’s a plate of great tasting shrimp. I doubt it’s a cultural thing. It’s mom’s and my favorite fish, and I can out-eat (should be added to the dictionary) her anytime. But essentially, any food that tastes great and can fill me up can suffice as a distraction from everything else.

The “Broccoli” reading had me by the title itself. Shopping for vegetables is just something Nina enjoys doing, and for me that’s shopping for clothes. Since the overall theme is Americanization, I looked out for that and noticed that even in the beginning, we see the sister telling Nina, “There are two rules you have to remember in order to survive in America. First: Never buy anything in expensive stores unless they’re having a fifty-per-cent-off sale. Second: Never buy anything in cheap stores.” This is humorous but also shows a certain aspect of getting adjusted to a new place. You have to know how to shop a certain way in order to be an American; at least that’s how Nina’s sister saw it. Then later we find that Nina’s sweater is too tight around the armpits, and she realizes that “Clothes bought at fifty-per-cent-off sales were always either the wrong size or the wrong style.” Though this doesn’t have much to do with food, it shows how we associate even shopping a certain way to be “American” or “un-American.” When it comes to food, I’m sure some would say there is an “American” and an “un-American” way of eating, and if you want to blend in, you ought to learn the “American” way.

Rachel, I don’t do much grocery shopping, but I know you can definitely find okra in Jackson Heights. ☺

As for me the crux of this week’s reading was found in The Tropics of New York by Claude McKay. I truly feel that poetry is the absolute best way to express any emotion or thought. It can relate one topic no matter how simple or complex in a cathartic manner for any reader. Thus in these three stanzas I found more information and emotion than I found in all of the other readings combined. The details of “Broccoli” were well described and emotional indeed but nothing compares to the emotional progression and countless secrets McKay’s three stanzas hold. Indeed this poem with its allusions of nostalgia and independence mingled with a new land was the perfect segue to this week’s readings. To answer Christian’s question on what would make the transition process easier there are several answers. But simply anything that makes the person feel understood by someone in this land or at home in some way is the greatest answer. This can even be a general thing such as a common interest or finding someone with a small knowledge of their home country in this new land. A perfect example of this would be my friend Irena who was born and raised in Moscow but is now attending college in America. I met her at a swim meet and we shared small talk about her country’s most famed poet Pushkin and played one of her country’s prized card games. These small things I knew about before I met her as she will admit made her feel comfortable at home and happy. In essence anything that lets you voice your culture in anyway will help with the transition. This could be a food, a game, music, movies, an open person, etc.
As for me the readings about Italians was very close to my heart. It all reminded me again of my heritage and my grandfather’s stories. The one line about very little meat triggered a very vivid memory I have of my grandfather and great uncle. My grandfather was holding a piece of roast beef and told me as my uncle agreed that in the old country this was steak. They would never have dreamed of having the vast hunks of meat we call steak in America. Reading about Sicilian accounts was a greater treat for me for Sicilians were typically uneducated and could not read or write, and the Italian they spoke was often not understood in Italy. I am a unique descendant of both mainland Italy and Sicily. Thus this chapter was most interesting to me and emotional. I recall however that even with the luxury to afford any meat or fish my great grandmother desired she always preferred her Sicilian peasant meals. There was no greater treat to her than chicken bone soup, and pigs feet served with bread endings.
As to the query of recipes past down I know many in an unorthodox manner. I simply have witnessed and participated in the making of so many meals that my emotions and hands know the way to make them however my mind could never assign quantities to any particular recipe.

I, like Chris, enjoyed the poetry piece too. It was short and sweet, just like Lubna said, but with a clear nostalgic sting. I can’t relate to the author of the poem much on a personal level, but I definitely think that my parents can. Often there’s something as little as food that will just bring about a wave of memories and all at once, you feel as though you are drowning in them. To answer Christian’s question, I think that the presence of family and friends would definitely make any transition easier, but it would also be good to have some type of material thing that reminds you of your old home. And you also can never go wrong with food 🙂

And I do have some foods that I can see and instantly think back to a certain memory that often has to do with culture and family experiences. They usually have to do with some type of strong memory, whether it’s my grandmother’s hilarious reaction to some horrible restaurant food or the crazy sleeping-after-dawn routine with my cousins. I don’t use food as an escape, but I definitely use it to relive memories.

I think a common, albeit shallow themes that connects these readings, are the ideas of food and memories or just food preparation and memories. I’m surrounded in my family by amazing cooks, where ordering pizza or takeout is almost blasphemous. My mom has a lot of my grandmother’s recipes but I’m not sure how much of it remains original because my mom always puts her own spin on the food she makes. I’m not sure if I will be able to carry on these recipes since I have the cooking skills of a thirteen year old boy, but I definitely will try.

The story about the girl cooking Indian food for her secretive Bengali mother I thought was pretty funny. My mom’s definitely like that when cooking for guests, which sometimes can be over a hundred. Seriously. But she’s not secretive about her cooking at all, quite the contrary. But I thought about the fact that the girl mentioned how her mother made food that a lot of other immigrants don’t bother with because they’re labor intensive. My mom is the SAME way. She knows that she can buy frozen rotis at an Indian supermarket but she will never succumb to that. Fresh rotis are a must for her. 🙂

The Tropics of New York by Claude McKay was a very interesting poem and depicted the life of immigrants and their yearning for their homeland and culture, and more specifically the food of their country. In response to Christian’s first question, I would say that there are a few things that would make an immigrant transition into a new country and environment easier. A community in which the majority of the people are of that same race/ ethnicity/ nationally can make someone new to a country feel more comfortable and safe. There are many examples of communities where the majority of the people share similar cultural backgrounds: Chinatown, Jackson heights, Harlem, Washington heights, to name a few. Having institutions in or near your community that are easily accessible can also help a lot. Food stores and restaurants that sell food to satisfy the demographic majority can be a huge help in transition. Learn to speak English centers may also be a good thing to have in a community. If you are an immigrant that just arrived and barely knows how to speak English, a learning center would be crucial to excel in this country.

The Hungering For America reading really showed how determined immigrants were to keep their cultural identity through food. Addressing Christian’s second question, I think that it can go either way. Some people loose their culture normally and for others, the circumstances they are in helps change their view of culture. I know for me, growing up in the U.S. and hanging around friends that are fairly progressive and American, I can say that because of that circumstance my mentality is certainly different from that of a Serb that still lives in Serbia. Not only does my morality and political mentality change, but so does my way of viewing food. I can say for certain that I do miss my countries food a lot, but there are places here that I can relive, in a somewhat mediocre way, my food past.

The reading “The Long Way Home” really captures the warm and caring moments when one cooks for her family. The descriptions in the story reminded me the process of preparing important family dinner such as Thanksgiving . My mother was happy to handpicked every ingredients on the list because she wanted her family to eat the juiciest turkey and freshest vegetables. And ultimately, the mutual bond that’s shared between the cook and eater underlies the power of food, in which cooking is an expression of love for my mother toward her family and eating is a showing of appreciation toward my mother. I believe that food can unite a family but also can individualize, make independent of a person in the family. As I traveled to New Orleans with the Macaulay group for a volunteering springbreak activity, I met an interesting freshman named Jackie. She told me she about her entire experience of becoming a vegetarian as she moves into the hunter dorm and makes her own food choices. Because her family disapprove of her dietary decision, she needed to wait till she was no longer depending on her mom’s food.

Thanks Christian and Mimi for the sparks!

To make the transition of moving from one place to another, I would definitely need my family. I don’t think that I would ever go anywhere without my family because they are my whole support system. Other than my family, cooking the food I grew up with and probably reading Ukrainian books and listening to the music would make the transition easier.
I think that it is natural to lose some of your culture, it is just inevitable. Other than that, some leave out certain aspects of their culure on purpose, because living in a new place with different ideas sometimes makes them believe that another way is more likeable.
When I shop for produce, I’m not very picky. I just make sure that everything I buy is fresh and ripe, other than that I buy the brands I like.
Christian, I understand your hapiness when everyone ate your cake. I love when people compliment me on my cooking, every time I cook I try to make everyone that comes over eat my food!!!!
And Mimi, like you, there are many many times that I find myself feeling better with the help of food, even if I’m not even eating it- just thinking about it.
I haven’t had recipes passed down to me on paper, but my grandmother and parents would always try to teach me to cook with them. Thankfully I had the interest and learned, and now every time I make borshch and perogies I remember the good times with my family.
And yes, I do think that food forms its own identity within families. I think it does so because certain foods are made for certain occasions, and a lot of times when foods are made the family either makes or consumes it together.

I can’t relate to “The long way home” because I don’t have relatives who are reluctant to share their “secrets” with me. My grandparents or parents would be willing to show me their recipes if I asked to cook with them. Lahiri’s story about her attempts to get her mother to write her recipes down reminded me of a time I tried to do the same with my Aunt Ruby. My aunt didn’t give me the instructions for a specific meal because it was simple. To answer Mimi’s question, no I haven’t had any recipes passed down to me. I feel that it isn’t necessary for me to learn how to prepare meals because if I wanted to recreate any meal from my childhood I can find it in a cookbook. However, I do feel that learning how to cook with a family member is important because of the bond it creates.

“Is it a natural thing that we grow apart from the culture we used to have, or do we do it consciously?”
The reading “The bread is soft: Italian foodways, American abundance” was interesting in how Italians recreated their food identity through simplification and fusion. The chapter mentioned the regions certain foods were from and how certain dishes evolved into the modern recipe. The illustration of the diversity of the modified “Italian” cuisine reminded me that every foreign restaurant I eat at gives me a sampling of a country or region. The examples of Italian cuisine didn’t fit my previous definition of Americanization. I thought to become “American” a person had to leave everything and adopt the main culture’s habits. This thinking leads me to Christian’s question about how we distance ourselves from our culture. I think it is a choice to distance yourself from your culture because there are many ways to keep your culture alive while living in a place that has another culture. Regarding food, every cuisine known in NYC resulted from demand because that determined which are available and forces people to substitute ingredients or stop making certain dishes. Also demand reflects which items if sold in restaurants will make money.

” When you make something. How does it feel when someone eats your creation?”
When someone eats my creation I feel anxious because it’s usually my first attempt. As of now, my parents and sisters are the main food tasters for my dishes. They are mindful of my feelings to the point that I feel they are too polite but they’re that way so that they don’t discourage me.

As many of you have already noted, the “Broccoli” excerpt was definitely both exceptionally written and entertaining. I loved the descriptions of all the different foods and the way she depicted her time spent choosing and experiencing all the produce. I’m a total foodie and could relate to her completely. I could spend a day in Whole Foods wandering around, choosing the healthiest (=)) and most delicious items. I love comparing foods, imagining meals in my mind as I look at all my possible purchases, and finally buying what I had planned on my list and everything else I found (compulsively) necessary.

Yes, I think there’s totally something in cooking and enjoying a meal with your family and friends as compared to eating out or eating take-out. Every chef has little tweaks on recipes- quirks in the kitchen that his or her family gets used to. I think it makes families closer when they can share meals together and grow up on certain dishes and recipes. Similar to how Rachel enjoys her mom’s spaghetti, I am really connected to my mom’s pasta with broccoli and cream. The little things we get used to having on the table I think stick with us as well.. For me, my mom always used to heat canned sweet corn and make couscous in the summer. Even though I don’t really make that now that I’ve moved out, I think I’ll definitely carry on some of her simple staple sides (alliteration what’s up) on when I have a family of my own.

There are so, so many recipes that I’ve been taught over the years. Persian stews, the proper methods behind steaming rice and making tahdig, and even my dad’s signature yogurt-dill salmon topping are a few of the lessons that have stuck with me best. It’s fun for me to take the recipes enjoyed by my family and put my own twist on them- usually health-ifying them or adding a new spice/ingredient. For example, my mom taught me a family dish called Anna’s Chicken (an old relative), made with rolled chicken around swiss and ham and coated in a creamy mushroom sauce. It sounds awkward but it’s really good. Now that I’m older and have my own eating ideals, I make the same dish but subsitute ingredients that I find more appealing. I’m sure when I pass the recipe down, it will continue to be changed and altered, and that’s okay with me =)

Like Mimi and Lubna, my favorite reading was “Broccoli” as well. I could relate Nina very much to myself in that I love to shop for produce and buy and read cookbooks, but never actually cook anything!
To answer Christian’s question “What would make the transition from moving one place to another easier?” I would have to say native food, native people (preferably family) living in the vicinity and maybe a place of worship (temple, church etc.).
To answer Christian’s second question “How complex do you make shopping for produce?” I would have to say very. Like I’ve mentioned before, I am a picky eater. I can smell my food and tell if it lacks salt or sugar. Similarly, when I go to buy produce, I take my time and inspect each and every thing very carefully. I don’t particularly go for cheap products because I never like to compromise when it comes to my health.

To answers Mimi’s second question, “Do any of you guys have such a sincere relationship with a particular food? What caused it? Is it tied to your culture? Do you find food to be an escape?” I would say yes, there are a few foods that I’m very much tied to. One of them is a red kidney bean curry with rice. I’m not a big fan of Indian food, but this dish is special to me because I remember eating it with all my distant cousins when I was little and still eat it until this day with them. It’s something we all like and share and makes our relation even more strong. Another thing I really like is Chinese food. I feel that Chinese food, in a way, brings me good luck (: D).
There is no apparent reason behind this, but every time I eat Chinese food before a big exam or a presentation I do really well.
Do you think that food forms its own identity within families? Why do you think that is?
I think that food recipes are traditional and different foods have different meanings for different family members.

The readings this week were especially interesting, not only because of how well they were written, but also (and more importantly) because it covered different ethnic experiences of transition that all dealt with food. I found the one about the Italian-Americans most appealing and relevant to me (for obvious reasons), and I found amazing similarities between the descriptions in this reading and those in my own life. The “Broccoli” story, with its vivid imagery and minute detail, was a pleasure to read, and again I found striking similarities in this and memories of my Ukrainian roots. And while the reading about Bengali food may not have been as immediately relevant, it still gave me a crystal-clear image of this type of ethnic food; I recognized some of the dishes mentioned, and others I imagined in my head. All were a delight to read.

In answer to Christian’s question about how complex I make food-shopping, I would have to say not very complex. When I shop for food, I don’t necessarily have things in mind before I go to the store. Rather, I see what looks good and fresh there, and in my mind start to create a dish. Even when I start cooking it, I often don’t have the final product in my head, but rather keep creating as I go along. The key here, I think, is fresh ingredients.

In answer to Christian’s other question about making people happy through food, this is one of the primary reasons food is so important to me. As I mentioned in my food narrative, food is a way I can make people happy, and it is always a unique thrill to see people enjoy my creation, especially when it’s close family. One of the best compliments I received was when I made a sweet potato soup for my family last Thanksgiving, and my aunt and uncle came over. My uncle said he is not a big soup fan, and he never goes for seconds, let alone even for firsts. However, he enjoyed the soup so much that he had a second bowl, which made me very happy.

In reply to Mimi’s inquiry, there are family recipes that have been passed down to me, the most notable of which is a traditional Italian Easter pie called pizza grana. My Italian grandmother had made it for years and years, only at Easter, and when she passed away my Ukrainian mom continued the tradition. In fact, I would even say that my mom’s version of this uniquely Italian dessert is even better than my grandma’s.

First of all I would like to say that I’m sorry about this being late. Secondly I would like to say that I really enjoyed these readings this week. We are finally seeing a more positive side of migration to America which may have been the reason why so many people suffered, because the positive sides were worth it to them. I definitely enjoyed the “Broccoli” reading because it made me think of my grandmother and my aunt. My grandmother is very “old school” and so when she goes shopping she has to clear her whole day to make time for it. My grandmother is the kind of person who touches everything and feels on everything before she buys it and she will make a fuss about anything to get the quality of service and food that she wants. It made me remember this one time I went shopping with her and we went to the deli and bought cold cuts and before the person cut the cheese or the salami she wanted to inspect it and then after it was all sliced she wanted to see if he sliced it the right way before she would accept it. Needless to say something that would usually take only about 5 minutes turned into a 20 minute ordeal. Next it made me think about my aunt who is the kind of person who is always looking for sales. She is actually kind of ridiculous in her pursuit of sale items. She walks into a store and since something is on sale she will buy it whether or not she needs it or uses it she buys it and so any time she goes food shopping she gives away half of what she buys since she bought it only because it was on sale and she did not want to miss a sale.

Next in response to Christian’s question about making people happy through food, I would have to say that making people who matter to me happy does add to the joy of cooking. I cook a lot and I can cook lots of different things but one of the times I remember most was when I baked my aunt a cake, however while I was baking the cake I had my cousins lock her in her room so she wouldn’t know. By the time the cake was done and the icing and candles were on it she was extremely angry but then we all sang happy birthday to her and it got better. Then we decided instead of eating the whole cake we should have a cake fight =) it was a great night. I am also one of those people who gets really happy with food, I am the kind of person who is always hungry and sometimes eating food gets me in such a good mood that my boyfriend makes fun of me because I will start dancing while I’m eating.