When lockdown started I rather naively hoped that one of the benefits was going to be much more time to write and as a result lots more things to post on here. Well how wrong was I.
Obviously the time has been there, how couldn’t it be when you’re not leaving home, but somehow the inspiration just hasn’t. I’ve sat down at the screen a few times in recent weeks with some jumbled thoughts and ideas in my head but every time the page has remained defiantly blank and as a result I posted fewer times in May than any month since I started this blog last summer.
I can’t make up my mind if it’s the distractions of these strange and worrying times which has caused the block or a lack of so many of the stimuli that normally get my juices flowing. A world without coffeeshops, restaurants, deli’s and bakeries feels as if it has taken away so much of what I want to write about. Ether way I’m determined this month is going to be more productive.
One of the things that has helped in recent weeks is living vicariously through Dave Chang and Phil Rosenthal. If you haven’t seen either of their Netflix shows you’re missing a treat as they are perfect for stuck at home food lovers. Both cover food from a myriad of places and to my mind they are the epitome of mouth watering television. Dave Chang’s show is Ugly Delicious and tends to feature a particular type of cooking each time. It then runs with the theme to show how styles of cooking we may recognise as being country specific are actually woven into the cuisine of many nations. The level of detail and discussion in the show is fascinating and always leaves me wanting to learn more. It’s so much better than the standard recipe led format of so much food TV. Phil Rosenthal’s show is Somebody feed Phil and can best be summed up as an indulgent food trip. Each show is set in a different destination where Phil and that days travelling companion spend their time wandering from one food place to another. I defy anyone to watch an episode and not end up feeling envious and ravenous.
If this isn’t enough small screen food for you I’ve also recently watched Stanly Tucci’s film Big Night . Set in an Italian restaurant in 1950’s New Jersey it tells the story of two brothers trying to keep their venture going. The food in the restaurant is wonderful but the clients are few as they pin their hopes on one big night to turn things around. The film is populated with wonderful characters and you can almost taste the kitchen scenes as the big night feast is prepared. You can find this one on Netflix as well.
None of this is ever going to fill the gap of not being able to go out and taste things for yourself but it’s definitely making stay at home food travelling a bit more bearable.
David in the kitchen. 