Pull up your favorite coffee mug and tuck in with a blanket,
because it’s Cook the Books time (and what’s better than a coffee, a blanket,
and a good book?) The April/May book
pick was Buttermilk Graffiti by Edward Lee.
The book follows Edward Lee as he traverses the United Stated
looking for unique ethnic restaurants with a story. Lee goes to these restaurants, enjoys the
food and then sits down with the chef/owners to hear their stories.
Lee’s specialty is fusion cuisine, but not in the “break all
the rules” trendy way. No. Lee believes that our experiences change and
shape us. And those experiences, those
twists on a recipe because we can’t get those ingredients in our area, that is what
makes fusion cuisine. It’s about the heart and the memories, that’s what makes
good food.
You guys! I love that way of thinking about
fusion! So often, I set out to make an
authentic recipe, but continually question its actual authenticity (with the
internet, you never know) or I have such trouble finding ingredients that I have
to make substitutions. I always end up
loving the recipes, though – and isn’t that the real goal here?