As I mentioned in the previous post, I'm going to be posting my work and the feedback I got in my food writing class. If you have any input, please feel free to let me know in the comments.
Assignment:
Article:
Come up with a good angle for each of the following:
Food-related feature article
Food-related destination article
Cooking article
AND
Memoir:
Write a short memoir about a personal experience with cooking or eating a meal.
Note: ^X refers to an endnote, see below.
Article Angles
The best fried chicken on Earth is cooked by an elderly restaurateur who sings of his grandmother’s cornbread in his antebellum restaurant overlooking America’s Blues Highway. As the town disappears, he contemplates retirement, his legacy, and the loss of his fried chicken.^1
New Orleans, known as the Cajun and Creole cuisine capital of the world, is also home to a thriving community of Southeast Asian immigrants. Just outside the city, they have built a culinary empire on pho, banh mi, and the most sought-after Mardi Gras King Cakes in the world.^2
Ras el hanout, the fragrant Moroccan spice blend,^3 can intimidate home cooks. Here are some ways to use it to bring depth and richness to many kinds of dishes.
Memoir
I lifted the fragrant spoonful to my lips, and shot a furtive grin at my brother, who was also tasting his handiwork.
June dusk tinted the Mississippi sky orange, a stunning canvas for the
backyard dinner, with its green papaya curry, chickpeas, and rosé on the
gray tablecloth.
I was an interloper: my brother Ryan invited me to the party hosted by
his chef boss and friends, none of whom I knew. Ryan worked full-time for the
University’s Music Department, but in a fit of angst, he walked into this
man’s restaurant (a grandiose description, in reality a tiny kitchen in a
bungalow with a phone manned by the chef’s wife, a robust relationship with
food delivery services, and a growing take-out business) and asked for a job.
He had no experience, but was eager and hardworking. The chef couldn’t
pay him, but would give him two meals per shift.^4 A few months later, I found
myself surrounded by these new friends.
He had followed me into developing a serious interest in food, just as
he had done with guitar, rugby, and theater. He was the better guitarist and
actor, though rugby was my strong suit. It should have come as no surprise
then, that that first bite of his green papaya curry with chickpeas, over star
anise-perfumed jasmine rice, confirmed that he was also the better cook.
As the conversation faded to indistinguishable white noise around me, I
was lost in the depth of flavor. The curry was elegant and complex, but I was
overcome not by gustatory sensation, but with pride and love for my brother.
I couldn’t fathom the talent which had gone unnoticed, unwielded for so
long.^5 He’d spent most of his life fighting for respect and searching for
purpose, but had become a self-assured, driven, happy cook.
I struggled to tell him how much I liked the dish, and he understood
that I wasn’t talking about the curry. After many weeks of long hours, he was
able to quit his university job and cook full-time. Professional growth drove
personal growth, creating an adult - no longer my goofy little brother - before
my eyes, who married and moved cross-country to pursue his dream.
Sibling rivalry notwithstanding, I couldn’t be happier to be second-best.
End Notes 1 This sounds like a compelling story that goes well beyond amazing fried chicken. I did wonder about "antebellum" - does the restaurant really date to before the Civil War? 2 A lot of people, even regular visitors, aren't aware of New Orleans' Vietnamese community - great story idea! 3 Another good - introducing a particular ingredient, and showing readers how to use it, is always a winning formula. 4 What a great story! 5 Structurally, something I appreciate about this tale is the way that you gradually peel back the contextual layers behind this meal, showing us more and more about your brother and your relationship with him.
Comments Brennan, Great job on both parts of this assignment. Your story angles are sharp and engaging, and I greatly enjoyed the short memoir - a story that's about so much more than that remarkable-sounding green papaya curry. See the bluemark notes for a few more specific comments.
Comments