This Is Us
What’s the Best Thing You’ve Ever Cooked? No, Seriously.
My son’s curiosity prompted a Facebook survey — followed by a personal reckoning
I have two kids, both boys. One seems offended by the idea of mealtime as a general concept. The only exceptions that make him perk up at the table are 1) Swiss chard pancakes; 2) mac and cheese; or 3) dal and rice. No carb-fanatic stereotypes happening there, clearly.
My other son eats pretty much everything and appreciates food like it’s his full-time job. On the rare occasion he doesn’t enjoy a meal, he worries about hurting the chef’s feelings — mostly me, now that restaurant outings are a rarity — so the only way he’ll indicate his lukewarm sentiment is by not asking for a second serving. Two guesses which of these children motivates me to get in the kitchen and cook every day. And since self-flagellation isn’t my thing, the answer should be obvious.
Two nights ago, said delightful child was scooping up the last of yet another amazing dinner — his words, not mine — when he asked a question that totally threw me, and which I haven’t stopped thinking about since.
“So, Amma,” he queried casually between bites of noodles, “what’s the best thing you’ve ever cooked?”
