What about CHOW?

"What's the best way to eat an egg, anyway?"

What IS “What We Chow”?

Well, I’d like to say that its a consortium food scientists, historians and cultural fanatics, but that’s not true. It’s just me…and I fall into the “fanatical” category about food. Technically, I guess that makes me a “foodie” but I prefer the term “foodite”, I think it speaks more to the passion and journey of food.

I am an aspiring cook and an avid eater.

One of the things that I love about eating (besides the actual ACT of eating) is the idea that when you make or eat a dish, it is almost like going to the place the food originated from. The food, the ingredients and how its made all provide insight into the people and place where the dish was born. Sometimes the dish even evolves, or grows up, almost like a child.  I love that food on my plate tells a story; I just wish my food was a better listener.  Food is also funny. Seriously funny. When you cook something for the first time, or you decide that your going to eat a certain way…its usually pretty funny.

Sometimes, food is a reflection of our lives. Think: what were the best times in your life? I bet you also remember something you ate or drank during those moments. People STILL comment to me about the food at our wedding (though to be honest, all I remember is the wine). I like to think that they knew our wedding was full of love and that our expression of our love for our guests was through the food we chose to serve. Our memories are enhanced with the sensory experiences of food.

Sometimes our food IS the experience. I’ve come to realize that I “see” the world through food. When I am feeling excited and ebullient, I might make something spicy.  When I am down, I seek out comfort foods and when I am feeling sassy, I’ll try something new.

Here’s what I am not: a food snob. I like all types of food from gourmet cuisine to street food, I like them equally well, when each is well done. I like hot-dogs as much as I like foie gras and I am HUGE fan of foie gras hot dogs. Food is not a destination to me, its a journey, a path. Food and our choices of food says as much about us as our friends do. This isn’t a competition, its a passion. Its an exploration. Don’t mistake my definite and sometimes snarky comments as put-downs about a particular food choice. Just because I have an opinion one way or another doesn’t mean I can’t respect yours.  I hope you’ll open up about your food passions, whether they be chocolate chips, potato chips or veggie chips.

Through my food journeys I’ve found that food history, food reflection and kitchen experiences often make for good stories. I thought other food lovers might think so too.  The more we get to know each other, the better the blog will be – tell me what you want to read about..more importantly, tell me what you are CURIOUS about..let’s be curious about it together.

I hope you’ll enjoy this blog, I try to make it fun to read as well as interesting. I try and share with you about my food life in the hopes that you will share with me yours. Please feel free to contact me about me..about food, your thoughts on food and the food you are eating.  I’m also totally open to your suggestions!

-Tara DeWitt Coomans