Return to Form

This week, two years ago, I started blogging about politics from a far outpost of the American empire. Today, I'm underground in our Nation's capital. What, you might wonder, transpired in the meantime?

Alot. But that's merely the material of dreams--this new iteration of blogging will cast aside politics and immerse myself (and maybe a few family members) into the warm embrace of cooking. Entertaining? Maybe. Time consuming? Most likely. Dramatic? You betcha!

Over the course of this summer, I was given some nice presents that coalesced and brought both me and you, my dear lonely reader, here. My mother bought me a set of knives. They are beautiful, sharp knives (don't worry, I've already made the mistake of chopping my finger). My grandmother bought me Mark Bittman's "How to Cook Everything;" perfect, since I know how to cook nothing. Finally, my friend Arjav planted the seed that became this blog, and Bambi pushed the idea along.

I don't intend to write for the masses. In fact, blogging in the way I'm going about it is like an email that doesn't harass you in your inbox. It's a way you can pleasantly peep in on my culinary progress (or dysfunction) at your leisure. All of this for free! So what do I get out of this, you wonder? An outlet for writing and a forum for your comments, suggestions and help in the art of cooking.

I've heard it said that the digital age and the age of easy transit mark the end of all traditional social ties. Children will learn to brush their teeth from youtube videos, dating will be done online at a minimal fee, and family's will be so far flung as to be made hopelessly disconnected... yet, digital communications and rapid transportation actually balance beautifully: One moves us further away from each other, while the other bridges all the space between us.

So far, most of the digital bridges connect two people in a closed loop. But I propose that blogging can be like sitting down at a dinner table. The cooking and the conversation transpire in a semi-public space, where all family members can hear and contribute. It's my intention that the learned experiences of my family and friends guide me through cooking, as opposed to some anonymous online commentary I could find by googling "how to bandage a cut thumb." It's actually rather hard to google anything when your thumb is bleeding profusely, trust me.

If this blog works, I'll ask others (like my sister Emily) to post their own cavalier cuisines. If not, we'll all shuffle along our mortal coil and be none the worse for it. Basically, what I'm saying in way too many words is, welcome family to my dinner table. Bon Appetit!