Just Like Mama Makes It
Warning: this post is weak on wine, heavy on homesick.
A while back, I made my mom’s salmon croquettes and my stepdad’s recipe for mac and cheese. If I recall, I had some Giesen Sauvignon Blanc with it, though I really wanted some Pinot Noir. (Not willing to open one of the few in my collection because I only wanted one glass and would have wasted the rest of the bottle). So, why even bring this up? While I was folding clothes this morning, I caught a few minutes of Paula’s Home Cooking. She was frying up some okra, and I remembered how, when I was little, my mom once told me it was just like popcorn. I tried and hated it.
But today I wish I could have her cook me some. I might even like them. Hell, I used to hate squash, mushrooms, avocado, artichokes, and bell peppers. Now I like, and in some cases, love them:cooked with onions, on pizza, on BLT’s, by themselves, and as a garnish.
Now that I’m riding this train of thought, my warning may have been too hasty.
Because the same thing goes for wine. For the longest time, I could not take more than a tiny sip of Port. But once at a friend’s birthday dinner, I gave the Warre’s Otima another chance and discovered its caramel, pecan beauty. (Oh yeah, I used to hate nuts, too.) Tastebuds and preferences change. You may not like something the first or even fifth time you try it. Then one day some overly-zealous friend insists you will love this specific Riesling even though you claim to hate them all. Suddenly, sunlight breaks through the clouds and you can see. And a whole new world opens up for you.
So, while I started out sad about missing my family and southern cooking, I’m ending on a happy note. I used to be a scared, picky eater. Now, I’m scared to let new opportunities pass me by without trying them at least once.
The moral of this story? I think you’ve probably got it, so get to drinking!
picky eaters, food adventures, changing tastebuds
….Farley Walker
March 13th, 2007 at 3:03 pm
I’ve gotten away with turning down your port because “I don’t like them” - you’ve got to work on your zeal apparently…
March 13th, 2007 at 6:39 pm
A)That wasn’t Port. (It was some Australian stuff that wasn’t all that great.)
B)I was respectful of your having to drive.
Had those two situations been different…you wouldn’t have been able to refuse.
April 7th, 2007 at 11:22 am
[...] Open a Bottle, Open Your Mind April 7th, 2007 by Farley I’ve written about this in the past, but it definitely bears repeating. It kills me when I hear people make comments (comments I have made myself, in the past, though I hope I’ve now changed) about how they do not like one type of wine and will. not. try. it. [...]