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A Celebration of Differences
September 2006
Last month I was keenly aware
of the similarities in all of us. This month I found myself
celebrating our differences. Either way you look at it, it’s the
appreciation of others, their uniqueness and all the ways they’re
expressed that makes life so interesting. Little did I know that I
would encounter this particular lesson in Columbus, Ohio over the
Labor Day Week End. After a more that 20-year absence, my brother
insisted that a return visit to his adopted hometown was long
overdue. So, I finally complied.
As it turned out, Labor Day
Weekend was the kickoff to the Ohio State football season and more
than 100,000 people attended the Ohio State vs. Northern Illinois
game. I went tailgating for the first time ever, enjoying a simple
picnic---out of the back of my sister-in-law’s SUV--- of homemade
deli sandwiches on crusty Italian bread, potato salad, sliced
locally grown cucumbers in a dill dressing, and a good bottle of red
zinfandel. Though the weather drizzled from time to time, it did
nothing to spoil the party atmosphere and everywhere you looked
there was a sea of red clothed Ohio Buckeye fans.
Football was king in
Columbus. Yet despite my ignorance and lack of appreciation for this
All American sport. I couldn’t help but notice that football, like
most team sports, brought about such a common connection between so
many diverse people, that even to a sports non-aficionado type like
me, the spirit of it all was intoxicating--No it wasn’t the wine! It
was in the air along with all of the other mid-west prejudices I was
beginning to leave behind.
A big correction in my
perception happened easily when my brother introduced me to their
local food markets. In Columbus, the food markets were large, well
managed and fully stocked with a truly impressive selection of
gourmet foods that left this Connecticut chef more than a little
jealous--especially when I saw the prices. The meat department alone
had a selection of 12 different sausages, as well as sausage out of
it’s casing, an even larger selection of thick angus burger patties,
plain and with a variety of coatings included one that sounded
amazing--black pepper/gorgonzola/jalapeno. The bakery department was
comparable to any topnotch specialty store and the wines---rows and
rows--worldwide--to choose from, at almost all price points. Okay
Columbus. You have my attention.
 My attention was diverted
from football and soccer games later that weekend when we took a
break from team sports and eating out to the pleasure of team
cooking and eating in. My brother, sister, and I had a yearning for
homemade pasta e fagiole (pasta with beans) the way our mom used to
make it when we were kids. The pasta dough was made from scratch and
rolled out like a pizza. It was then rolled around a very long
rolling pin and after removing the pin; the dough--now in
layers--was cut into thin strips, like long fettuccine noodles and
laid out to dry. (See photos) After cooking the pasta we tossed it
with a fresh tomato sauce and cannelloni beans. This simple dish is
beyond good. It’s heavenly, especially when the aroma and taste
brings back years of the fondest memories. To this meal we added
roasted bell peppers, sautéed string beans and rice croquets.
That afternoon, it didn’t
matter where we were, mid-west, southwest or northeast. All that
mattered was the connection between us. I couldn’t help but notice,
that whether in a packed stadium or around a kitchen table, a
connection could be felt in our differences as easily as in our
similarities.
A few photos from the meal we created:
   
Chef Silvia
Click on
recipes to learn how to make your own
roasted peppers, and my
Old Fashioned Pasta e Fagiole
just like Mom used to make.
Also, if any of you are interested in organizing you own style of cooking
class/dinner party, check out my
cooking classes page for more information.
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