For the past two days, I have been taking a cooking class in New Orleans. The classes are a mixture of traditional New Orleans cooking, regional history lessons and tasting delights. On the first day, the instructor made gumbo and jambalaya. I was fascinated that as she cooked, she explained how the various ethnic groups who settled in this area brought something to the recipes. The Germans brought the sausage, a traditional element to the gumbo. The French brought what they called the Trinity of ingredients (onions, celery and green peppers) that are found in many of the recipes. The Italians brought the garlic. The Africans brought the rice. The Irish...I think we brought the beer :-) All of these cultures added something to what became known as the traditional New Orleans style cooking. A single recipe represents all these cultures and recalls the contributions of one's neighbors and ancestors.
When the meal was complete, the instructor served each of the dishes to us. As I savored each bite, I thought about the history lesson and the ways in which each ethnic group contributed something special to make the meal such a delight. If it is true for our cooking, I believe it is true for any gathering of people (a family dinner, a neighborhood, a church, a nation). Each person brings their unique contributions and flavors that final product.
Peace, my friends!
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