Food and Life

Last night we watched the first of a three-part PBS series called The Meaning of Food. The rich cultural and ritual uses of food in the United States were highlighted in this episode entitled "Food and Life". Life is celebrated in an Italian wedding feast, and a Greek restaurteur who cooks to honor his deceased wife. Preparing food for religious purposes was explored through the Muslim celebration of Ramadan; a cookbook originally written from recipes passed by word-of-mouth by prisoners at Auschwitz; and a former Texas inmate who found his Christian calling through preparation of the last meals of death row inmates. I am looking forward to seeing the next to parts of this series.