Food tells a story in First Person Arts

Though modern cladistics has largely discredited the possibility of the existence of a "missing link", the mythical transitional fossil that "vividly represents a particular evolutionary stage" where primates became men, the idea remains "lodged in the public imagination" (Wiki). I propose a new theory: the missing link was the first being to tell a story to a fellow-being, whether for practical or fantastical purposes.

Philadelphia's First Person Arts draws on storytelling, the first human art, to create programming throughout the year as well as an annual festival. According to their Web site, First Person Arts "transforms the drama of real life into memoir and documentary art to foster appreciation for our unique and shared experience."

Often our most cherished stories center around a certain family meal, an infamous birthday cake (with a single, anonymous bite missing) or a recipe made the same way for generations.

Share your favorite recipe and story with First Person Arts' Edible World program, which will host Suzan Colón, author of the new food memoir Cherries in Winter, for an afternoon at Bridget Foy's (200 South St., Philadelphia, PA) on Sunday, April 11 at 6 p.m. Three entrants will be chosen to share the stage with Colón, who will talk about her memoir.

Cherries in Winter recounts how Colón turned to her Nana’s recipe collection for home-cooked meals after losing her dream job. What started out of financial necessity became a source of comfort as the recipes revealed and deepened connections between memory, family, and tradition.

Send your heritage recipe and story to Karina Kacala, KKacala[at]firstpersonarts[dot]org, by March 26 for consideration.