Like other forms of human affection, cooking delivers its truest and most enduring gifts when it is savored in intimacy — prepared not by a chef but by a cook and with love.
No Chefs in My Kitchen
By MARCELLA HAZAN
Published: November 29, 2008
The food Americans eat that is made fresh at home by someone who is close to them is shrinking compared with food consumed at restaurants or prepared outside. And while eating out or taking in may save us time or bring us enjoyment, I would argue that it deprives us of something important.
I am my family’s cook. It is the food prepared and shared at home that, for more than 50 years, has provided a solid center for our lives. In the context of the values that cement human relations, the clamor of restaurants and the facelessness of takeout are no match for what the well-laid family table has to offer. A restaurant will never strengthen familial bonds.
While I love to cook I am hopelessly lazy and addicted to eating out. I can see how this pulls my own family apart. Still, it was quite shocking to see someone else write about it!
I hereby propose Eat at Home Every Day 2009 for the month of January! I'd like to see families make a pledge to eat at least one meal together every day for a month. Maybe a month is too ambitious?
2 comments:
Eating out is what caused us to file bankruptcy almost 11 years ago. Sometimes I feel like it's an addiction for us :)
I don't really enjoy cooking but I don't hate it either, I just have other things I'd rather be doing. We try to limit ourselves to 1 meal a month out. It's difficult though since the activities we belong to go out to eat after events. You miss out in a lot of socializing if you skip those lunches out. Then the doctor visits and trips to church, both of which are 3+ hours away, mean I either have to plan 2 full meals away from home or we cave in to temptation and go out (usually the later). Sigh, it's just so much easier to grab a pizza for $5 than it is to make one.
I think it's great! DH & I rarely eat out, although we used to when we first married. Not only do we save money, but our life is just, well, simpler.
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