I have long considered cooking an expression of the love I feel for the person I am preparing a meal for. That being said, this may be the most important catering I will ever do. In a few short weeks, my youngest son will graduate from high school. If this were not an auspicious occasion on its own, he has also decided to join the Marine Corp. and has already completed the requirements for the delayed entry program. Which means, by late summer or early fall, my baby will be off to bootcamp and then parts unknown thereafter.
It is my dream, my quest, to organize a get together with all of his family and friends in a casual setting---an opportunity for those who love him to congratulate him on his scholastic success and to wish him well as he moves forward to serving our country. And because this is such an important occasion, I want to assure that the food that I make for this event will remind Adam of the love and pride I feel for him long after he’s left the nest.
I am well equipped for this task: I have a grill, a smoker, a stove and oven, two freezers (not including the one on the refrigerator). I have two small refrigerators that can be brought down to the deck and used to keep beverages and cold items the proper temperature. I have steam tables. I have time to prep dishes long ahead of time and put them in the freezer, to be brought out for finishing later. I even have access to a professional kitchen if I need it. The one thing I do not have is a clue as to what to cook!
Adam is a young man of simple tastes. He likes fast food nuggets and fries (no sauce or catsup). Food doesn’t mean that much to him most of the time, yet I feel compelled to create a menu that he will remember with fondness and that he might even tell his buddies about when they are deployed in some far-flung corner of the world. I want him to be able to sit back and tell his friends, “You should’ve been at my party! My mom made…..” and can already imagine a smile on his face as he remembers the day, the friends and family members that gather around, and the food. Maybe he will taste something during his travels that will remind him of this day, bring him a little closer to home for a few moments, and allow him to feel the love.
It is my dream, my quest, to organize a get together with all of his family and friends in a casual setting---an opportunity for those who love him to congratulate him on his scholastic success and to wish him well as he moves forward to serving our country. And because this is such an important occasion, I want to assure that the food that I make for this event will remind Adam of the love and pride I feel for him long after he’s left the nest.
I am well equipped for this task: I have a grill, a smoker, a stove and oven, two freezers (not including the one on the refrigerator). I have two small refrigerators that can be brought down to the deck and used to keep beverages and cold items the proper temperature. I have steam tables. I have time to prep dishes long ahead of time and put them in the freezer, to be brought out for finishing later. I even have access to a professional kitchen if I need it. The one thing I do not have is a clue as to what to cook!
Adam is a young man of simple tastes. He likes fast food nuggets and fries (no sauce or catsup). Food doesn’t mean that much to him most of the time, yet I feel compelled to create a menu that he will remember with fondness and that he might even tell his buddies about when they are deployed in some far-flung corner of the world. I want him to be able to sit back and tell his friends, “You should’ve been at my party! My mom made…..” and can already imagine a smile on his face as he remembers the day, the friends and family members that gather around, and the food. Maybe he will taste something during his travels that will remind him of this day, bring him a little closer to home for a few moments, and allow him to feel the love.
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