Self Discovery
Below is a piece of reflective writing from my junior year of college. I was given the freedom to write creatively about anything I wanted. So, naturally I chose to write about food!
Everyone loves food and everyone says that food has been a huge part of their life and been a derivative of their fondest memories. As cliché as it sounds…food has been a huge part of my life and has been a derivative of some of my fondest memories! But really, food has been huge in my life. Coming from a family of self proclaimed “Foodies”, my family has always stressed the importance of a good, healthy but, most importantly, delicious meal. This has shaped who I am, my studies, and my future career immensely.
As kids my brothers and I fondly referred to my mother as two different nicknames: “The Family Dinner Nazi” and “The Bedtime Nazi”. As five o’clock rolled around every day, the three of us were expected to be at the dinner table, glass of milk in hand, and ready to eat. For my parents, family dinner took precedence over extracurricular activities and Mom and Dad’s social lives, as they often declined invitations from friends if it meant missing family dinner. Every night we enjoyed a home cooked meal made by Mom or Dad and discussed school, sports, family, friends, news, work, significant others, etc. Dinner was always followed by baths, homework, and a strict 8’clock bedtime, enforced by the Bedtime Nazi herself.
Growing up we lived in a small orange grove town perfectly wedged between The City of Orlando and Disney World. Our house was found on a dirt road nestled on a beautiful chain of spring-fed lakes. Everyday after school our neighbors, my brothers, and I would run around barefoot through the orange grove down the road, eating oranges to the point of belly ache. Some days we’d climb up in the big oak tree in our front yard and take turns putting snacks in the basket we set up on a pulley. We’d sit in the tree eating peanut butter & jelly sandwiches at what felt like a height of 100 feet and only coming down for a much-needed glass of milk to wash the sticky peanut butter down.
After school we’d walk down the dirt road to the neighborhood “Ready Market” where we’d get our daily sugar fix. Myself being the oldest I’d carry a bag filled with quarters and dimes from Dad’s change bucket, an old plastic Halloween pumpkin filled to the brim with change he’d been collecting for God knows how long. My brothers and I would each get Slurpees filled to the top of the rounded lid with a bizarre mixture of Coke and blue raspberry flavored slush. Everyday we’d go to the register and pay the grumpy cashier, Larry, for our sugary snacks in quarters. Although we were probably the best mannered kids in the town, Larry didn’t care much for us…maybe impart for the $6 in quarters he’d receive from us on a daily basis. Not to mention the line we held up while our 1st and 2nd grade brains worked tirelessly to figure out how many quarters equaled $6.
Memories of my grandparents have always been surrounded by food. Nana and Papa loved Cracker Barrel, a breakfast franchise with a country time theme. Weekend mornings were always busy, as most breakfast places are. My brother’s and I would go with Nana and Papa to breakfast, always ordering milk, our favorite drink with any meal. Nana would pour half & half creamer into our milk, as she felt bad that our mom only bought skim milk and figured we could use a little meat on our bones.
Papa made the best soups and stews, chicken & rice soup and beef stew were among our favorites. Every time he’d come over he’d bring a big Tupperware full of one of the two. I remember being no more than 6 or 7 years old and eating 4 bowls of his chicken & rice soup. Proudly I announced to anyone who would listen how much I ate for dinner, a soup eating legend in my own mind. Papa often made prunes slow cooked in rum and brown sugar, a snack time favorite of his and mine.
Nana makes the world’s best grilled cheese and salad. Her grilled cheese is always made on Chicago-Italian bread with muenster cheese, tomatoes, & onion. Grilled to perfection, perfectly golden bread, melty cheese, and warm fresh tomato and onion for the last wow factor. But as for her salad, I can’t explain what makes her garden salad so special but nothing compares. Fresh romaine lettuce, grated carrots, green onions, mushrooms, tomatoes, and grated cheese. Most importantly, always topped with Good Seasons Italian Dressing…made with white wine vinegar, never balsamic.
About once a year Dad busts out the “first date dinner”- the meal he made for our mom on their first date. This chicken and rice dish features feta cheese, onions, olives, and capers, a dish impressive enough to keep her around for 25+ years. As for my mom, besides her daily delicious home cooked dinners and the absolute best pulled pork you’ll ever taste, the woman throws together a darn good turkey sandwich. It sounds silly, I know, but something about her perfect mayo to mustard ratio paired with the perfect amount of deli meat and a triangle cut makes for a sandwich that can’t be duplicated by anyone but Mama Hall herself!
Clearly food has been a huge part of my life and a major factor in bringing my family together. Not a single one of us doesn’t love cooking and damn, do we do it well. My brother Alex competed in food competitions throughout high school and my youngest brother, Zach is currently taking food-handling classes at his high school. As for myself, I am studying Hospitality Management here at The U and plan to attend The Culinary Institute of America to receive my certification in Culinary Arts. As I got older I realized my love for the hospitality industry. I took a great liking to the culinary arts and actually found myself to be a darn good cook. It didn’t occur to me for the longest time that my passion for food and hospitality industry could become a career path for me. But when I finally realized that I could actually make that passion a job, I was excited.
In my career I hope to be a business owner that my employees look up to. I want to be a role model for my co-workers and employees and an example of an ethical, hard working, and intelligent female business owner. The restaurant and culinary industry is an industry dominated by men but I hope to be a well-respected female lead in the industry.
In the words of a great family friend, Lucas Casas, “some eat to live, but the Hall’s live to eat”. Well said, Lucas. Food has been and always will be the biggest bonding factor within our family and I must continue to pay special thanks to my family and especially my mother and father for always fueling my passion for food, as I have followed by their example. Mom always says, “food is love” and I wont disagree with that!
Food historically has been a driving force throughout the world. Not only a necessity for life, but it is also a derivative of some of the best memories. In a war torn world, sometimes it is hard to find our similarities but food will always be one of them. Celebrations worldwide are almost always centered around food and culture. Sharing culture and food humanizes everyone and brings harmony between people. After all, we all gotta eat! So open your mind and your mouth, y’all! Try something new, eat something weird, and enjoy! And always live to eat, food is love!
As kids my brothers and I fondly referred to my mother as two different nicknames: “The Family Dinner Nazi” and “The Bedtime Nazi”. As five o’clock rolled around every day, the three of us were expected to be at the dinner table, glass of milk in hand, and ready to eat. For my parents, family dinner took precedence over extracurricular activities and Mom and Dad’s social lives, as they often declined invitations from friends if it meant missing family dinner. Every night we enjoyed a home cooked meal made by Mom or Dad and discussed school, sports, family, friends, news, work, significant others, etc. Dinner was always followed by baths, homework, and a strict 8’clock bedtime, enforced by the Bedtime Nazi herself.
Growing up we lived in a small orange grove town perfectly wedged between The City of Orlando and Disney World. Our house was found on a dirt road nestled on a beautiful chain of spring-fed lakes. Everyday after school our neighbors, my brothers, and I would run around barefoot through the orange grove down the road, eating oranges to the point of belly ache. Some days we’d climb up in the big oak tree in our front yard and take turns putting snacks in the basket we set up on a pulley. We’d sit in the tree eating peanut butter & jelly sandwiches at what felt like a height of 100 feet and only coming down for a much-needed glass of milk to wash the sticky peanut butter down.
After school we’d walk down the dirt road to the neighborhood “Ready Market” where we’d get our daily sugar fix. Myself being the oldest I’d carry a bag filled with quarters and dimes from Dad’s change bucket, an old plastic Halloween pumpkin filled to the brim with change he’d been collecting for God knows how long. My brothers and I would each get Slurpees filled to the top of the rounded lid with a bizarre mixture of Coke and blue raspberry flavored slush. Everyday we’d go to the register and pay the grumpy cashier, Larry, for our sugary snacks in quarters. Although we were probably the best mannered kids in the town, Larry didn’t care much for us…maybe impart for the $6 in quarters he’d receive from us on a daily basis. Not to mention the line we held up while our 1st and 2nd grade brains worked tirelessly to figure out how many quarters equaled $6.
Memories of my grandparents have always been surrounded by food. Nana and Papa loved Cracker Barrel, a breakfast franchise with a country time theme. Weekend mornings were always busy, as most breakfast places are. My brother’s and I would go with Nana and Papa to breakfast, always ordering milk, our favorite drink with any meal. Nana would pour half & half creamer into our milk, as she felt bad that our mom only bought skim milk and figured we could use a little meat on our bones.
Papa made the best soups and stews, chicken & rice soup and beef stew were among our favorites. Every time he’d come over he’d bring a big Tupperware full of one of the two. I remember being no more than 6 or 7 years old and eating 4 bowls of his chicken & rice soup. Proudly I announced to anyone who would listen how much I ate for dinner, a soup eating legend in my own mind. Papa often made prunes slow cooked in rum and brown sugar, a snack time favorite of his and mine.
Nana makes the world’s best grilled cheese and salad. Her grilled cheese is always made on Chicago-Italian bread with muenster cheese, tomatoes, & onion. Grilled to perfection, perfectly golden bread, melty cheese, and warm fresh tomato and onion for the last wow factor. But as for her salad, I can’t explain what makes her garden salad so special but nothing compares. Fresh romaine lettuce, grated carrots, green onions, mushrooms, tomatoes, and grated cheese. Most importantly, always topped with Good Seasons Italian Dressing…made with white wine vinegar, never balsamic.
About once a year Dad busts out the “first date dinner”- the meal he made for our mom on their first date. This chicken and rice dish features feta cheese, onions, olives, and capers, a dish impressive enough to keep her around for 25+ years. As for my mom, besides her daily delicious home cooked dinners and the absolute best pulled pork you’ll ever taste, the woman throws together a darn good turkey sandwich. It sounds silly, I know, but something about her perfect mayo to mustard ratio paired with the perfect amount of deli meat and a triangle cut makes for a sandwich that can’t be duplicated by anyone but Mama Hall herself!
Clearly food has been a huge part of my life and a major factor in bringing my family together. Not a single one of us doesn’t love cooking and damn, do we do it well. My brother Alex competed in food competitions throughout high school and my youngest brother, Zach is currently taking food-handling classes at his high school. As for myself, I am studying Hospitality Management here at The U and plan to attend The Culinary Institute of America to receive my certification in Culinary Arts. As I got older I realized my love for the hospitality industry. I took a great liking to the culinary arts and actually found myself to be a darn good cook. It didn’t occur to me for the longest time that my passion for food and hospitality industry could become a career path for me. But when I finally realized that I could actually make that passion a job, I was excited.
In my career I hope to be a business owner that my employees look up to. I want to be a role model for my co-workers and employees and an example of an ethical, hard working, and intelligent female business owner. The restaurant and culinary industry is an industry dominated by men but I hope to be a well-respected female lead in the industry.
In the words of a great family friend, Lucas Casas, “some eat to live, but the Hall’s live to eat”. Well said, Lucas. Food has been and always will be the biggest bonding factor within our family and I must continue to pay special thanks to my family and especially my mother and father for always fueling my passion for food, as I have followed by their example. Mom always says, “food is love” and I wont disagree with that!
Food historically has been a driving force throughout the world. Not only a necessity for life, but it is also a derivative of some of the best memories. In a war torn world, sometimes it is hard to find our similarities but food will always be one of them. Celebrations worldwide are almost always centered around food and culture. Sharing culture and food humanizes everyone and brings harmony between people. After all, we all gotta eat! So open your mind and your mouth, y’all! Try something new, eat something weird, and enjoy! And always live to eat, food is love!