100% relate to showing affection through food. My Filipino relatives would ask “aye nako did you eat today?!” but then only to say “aye nako you’re getting fat!” which perhaps still comes from a place of love.
I’m lovin the vibey, cozy jams. I got excited to listen as soon as I saw Remi Wolf 🙂
oh my gosh yesss feeding is loving! my Indian parents do this too, and if you visit an Indian person's house, it's practically an insult to say no to any food offered
Oh I BET. I've been the receiver of that from Indian parents before. Luckily, I'm always down to eat. 💃🏻 What's your favorite dish your parents make?!?
haha I'm sure you are well loved in those households! My parents grew up in South Indian, by the ocean, so fish curry is one of the many dishes they make that I really love.
This reminds me of going to my Grandma's house. Even if I had just eaten before I got there, she would insist on making me something. It wasn't until years after she passed that I realized it was one of the ways she showed us how much she cared for us, which made me appreciate it that much more.
I have such a soft spot for stories around grandparents. Thank you for sharing, I love that, Randy. Is there anything specific your grandma loved to make you or in general? 🥲
My favorite was her homemade noodles. I LOVED them. As a kid, I would stand on this old stool she had in her kitchen and eat them raw as I watched her make them. That stool is now in my kitchen and my daughter stands on it to help my wife bake. 😀
Randy, this is all SO sentimental. I'm trying to imagine a little Randy on a stool, but I can only imagine you as you are now, just really short 😂 That's incredible that you still have that stool! Precious. Why are you not writing about this??
Good question. There's so much I could write, it would probably turn into some 10,000 word beast that would take forever to edit. And I would have a hard time making myself cut any of it out. I guess I could do a 10 part series 😅
Hahaha 10,000 word beast??! I don't know, Randy...sounds like you have a lot to say...would be a shame not to follow that cough cough nudge nudge I'll be quietly waiting
🥹 Someone's cutting onions over here in that first paragraph. Channeling my Puerto Rican grandma who would never. stop. feeding. us. You've got me curious about the connection between using comfort food now when I'm lonely, and food-as-connection-to-family childhood love.
Also, "Not to mention the joy that radiated from them when they got to the final word and placed their period beside it in victory." ♥️♥️♥️
I feel you so deeply on all of this! Food, and the ways we engage with it, can definitely be such a means of striving for a closeness that has been or hasn't been there. There are so many layers to all of this, especially when thinking about the proximity to one's identity, and navigating said identity. It's so beautiful and perhaps, often, in some ways, painful/messy. There is so much discovery to be found in the experience and exploration of food. (would love to see it make its way to your storytelling.) /End rant :)
Chao!! Thank you so much for sharing that article, I loved it. It perfectly hit the nail on the head.
"In contrast to their parents’ materialistic view, they see food as means of expressing affection in a society that frowns upon emotional incontinence."
I love your sentiment on cooking, that its a deep "I love you." When I make something complicated but specific for someone, like a birthday cake or you considered making something dairy/gluten/nut/soy/everything free for someone's dietary needs or preferences, it can be a real toughy. But seeing and feeling the reactions from the person receiving the food is most satisfying and heart warming! Thank you for opening my eyes to that underlying message =) I'll remember this when a family member tries feeding me more food even when I say I'm full <3
Also, love your One Sentence story, my heart is melting 🥰
AND I'm looking forward to listening to your playlist this week as I paint )))
This is a lovely and hearty comment!! So much love in your baking! And I bet your food tastes SO good. Especially if you put as much care and thought into it as you seem to with so many other things.
"I'll remember this when a family member tries feeding me more food even when I say I'm full <3" 😂 I KNOW this predicament all too well.
100% relate to showing affection through food. My Filipino relatives would ask “aye nako did you eat today?!” but then only to say “aye nako you’re getting fat!” which perhaps still comes from a place of love.
I’m lovin the vibey, cozy jams. I got excited to listen as soon as I saw Remi Wolf 🙂
Hahahhahahahaha awwwwwwh!
This made me laugh so hard.
Filipinos with the insults 🤝 Mexicans with the insults
there's no winning!!
oooh SO GOOD!! I'm glad you liked them :)
Food is definitely love in Jewish culture. Exactly as you described!
Awww yessss!! 💙💙 What are your favorite Jewish foods, Lyssa?!
oh my gosh yesss feeding is loving! my Indian parents do this too, and if you visit an Indian person's house, it's practically an insult to say no to any food offered
Oh I BET. I've been the receiver of that from Indian parents before. Luckily, I'm always down to eat. 💃🏻 What's your favorite dish your parents make?!?
haha I'm sure you are well loved in those households! My parents grew up in South Indian, by the ocean, so fish curry is one of the many dishes they make that I really love.
I will figure out how to make it and cook you some :)
FIsh curry!! alright, never had it and I'm intrigued so when I try it, I will let you know!!
This reminds me of going to my Grandma's house. Even if I had just eaten before I got there, she would insist on making me something. It wasn't until years after she passed that I realized it was one of the ways she showed us how much she cared for us, which made me appreciate it that much more.
Great piece, Sandra!
I have such a soft spot for stories around grandparents. Thank you for sharing, I love that, Randy. Is there anything specific your grandma loved to make you or in general? 🥲
My favorite was her homemade noodles. I LOVED them. As a kid, I would stand on this old stool she had in her kitchen and eat them raw as I watched her make them. That stool is now in my kitchen and my daughter stands on it to help my wife bake. 😀
Randy, this is all SO sentimental. I'm trying to imagine a little Randy on a stool, but I can only imagine you as you are now, just really short 😂 That's incredible that you still have that stool! Precious. Why are you not writing about this??
Good question. There's so much I could write, it would probably turn into some 10,000 word beast that would take forever to edit. And I would have a hard time making myself cut any of it out. I guess I could do a 10 part series 😅
Hahaha 10,000 word beast??! I don't know, Randy...sounds like you have a lot to say...would be a shame not to follow that cough cough nudge nudge I'll be quietly waiting
Memoir 💡
absolutely
🥹 Someone's cutting onions over here in that first paragraph. Channeling my Puerto Rican grandma who would never. stop. feeding. us. You've got me curious about the connection between using comfort food now when I'm lonely, and food-as-connection-to-family childhood love.
Also, "Not to mention the joy that radiated from them when they got to the final word and placed their period beside it in victory." ♥️♥️♥️
I feel you so deeply on all of this! Food, and the ways we engage with it, can definitely be such a means of striving for a closeness that has been or hasn't been there. There are so many layers to all of this, especially when thinking about the proximity to one's identity, and navigating said identity. It's so beautiful and perhaps, often, in some ways, painful/messy. There is so much discovery to be found in the experience and exploration of food. (would love to see it make its way to your storytelling.) /End rant :)
I love your rants please don't ever stop ranting <3
I have a food/identity story in pieces, now I want to prioritize it! Thanks, as always, for sharing your stories.
welp, I'll take one person liking my rants!
I've been wanting to write more around identity/culture in essays, but can never figure it out.
REALLY looking forward to what you cook up! Thanks always for being supportive!
I thought only Asian moms express their love through cooking! This is fascinating!
Hahahaha noooooo. But I've def experienced that Asian mom affection via cooking and fresh fruit! haha I love it
Haha, yes definitely a Singapore thing too! Food is life, life is food! https://www.ricemedia.co/culture-food-have-you-eaten/
Chao!! Thank you so much for sharing that article, I loved it. It perfectly hit the nail on the head.
"In contrast to their parents’ materialistic view, they see food as means of expressing affection in a society that frowns upon emotional incontinence."
Fascinating @Chao! My Grandma would literally cry if I don't eat her food.. Never thought about food as affection before, but it makes so much sense!
awwwww please tell me you ALWAYS ate her food, Leo?!!
I love your sentiment on cooking, that its a deep "I love you." When I make something complicated but specific for someone, like a birthday cake or you considered making something dairy/gluten/nut/soy/everything free for someone's dietary needs or preferences, it can be a real toughy. But seeing and feeling the reactions from the person receiving the food is most satisfying and heart warming! Thank you for opening my eyes to that underlying message =) I'll remember this when a family member tries feeding me more food even when I say I'm full <3
Also, love your One Sentence story, my heart is melting 🥰
AND I'm looking forward to listening to your playlist this week as I paint )))
Can't wait for the next issue!
OoOOoooOooh wowwwieee ELIZABETH ))))
This is a lovely and hearty comment!! So much love in your baking! And I bet your food tastes SO good. Especially if you put as much care and thought into it as you seem to with so many other things.
"I'll remember this when a family member tries feeding me more food even when I say I'm full <3" 😂 I KNOW this predicament all too well.
💙