As with you, our passion for home cooking keeps us grounded to our homes and families and actively pursuing new adventures in the kitchen. Those occasions when we roll up our sleeves in the kitchen to create something new and exciting gives all of us a satisfaction when we share our food passions with the ones we love. That’s the time when the possibility of home and family is at it’s best.
Now I cannot argue that the creative impulse that drive us in the kitchen usually requires 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration or there-about. Yet it’s that tiny spark of inspiration that keeps our feet planted in the kitchen, mixing, blending, and stirring.
As for me, my own personal spark of kitchen-creativity can be ignited by the simple experience of trying a new bakery, butcher shop, cheese store, or pasta shop in Philadelphia. The curiosity of discovering what ingredients are in a delightful new food are enough to get me searching on the internet for a recipe to make this new discovery at home. Philadelphia, the food-city where I work, truly offers a new adventure in every neighborhood I pass through. What adventures can you seek out where you live and work? I’ll bet you too can find a new food discovery to explore where you live.
Another source of inspiration can come from TV. The Food Network is today’s resource of impassioned mentors that encourage us to experience the creativity we seek to explore in the kitchen. A few weeks ago, Frank and I had the pleasure of meeting Mary Ann Esposito, one of Frank’s inspiring mentors, at her recent book signing at Fante’s Kitchen Wares shop at the Italian Market in Philadelphia. How can you not smile as your celebrity-mentor personally signs your copy of her new book, while sharing conversations of a favorite recipe. And here is a picture of Frank and myself, with Mary Ann Esposito enjoying a moment of creative inspiration.
I’m sure you have your mentors too. We can all look back into our own family trees and discover an aunt or grandfather who would love to share (that is, pass down) their favorite foods and recipes with a new generation. Really, the possibilities are endless. OK, enough reminiscing. Time to get into the kitchen. Dinner awaits.
Best to you,
Charlie
