and you’ll know its done when the oil stops bubbling
By mike durkin
and you’ll know its done when the oil stops bubbling
Created by mike durkin
Presented with The Free Library Culinary Literacy Center at the Parkway Branch, and Lillian Marrero Branch
mike is a large-bodied multidisciplinary social practice performance artist residing in Point Breeze. The intersection between art and the everyday guides mike (lowercase to de-center himself for the process). He has created site-responsive social practice productions exploring urban foodways, community mending, sports, houselessness, food access, place, and the americana. mike works in communities and college campuses across the country. His work combines a variety of styles and mediums to embrace time, place, and the
Upcoming projects will be held at the University of Rochester, and UPENN Anthropology. mike has worked LSU in Baton Rouge, LA, with Reed College in Portland, OR, the Open Source Gallery in Brooklyn, The Creative Center at University Settlement, the University of Arkansas Design Department, the Broad Art Museum and Department of Theatre at Michigan State University, Cynthia Woods Mitchell Center at the University of Houston, the Performance Studies program at Texas A&M University, with the College of Arts, Humanities, and Sciences at the University of Central Arkansas, Mural Arts Philadelphia and the Color Me Back Studio, Brandywine River Museum, Barnes Foundation, Mt. Moriah Cemetery, the Life Do Grow Farm, and in parks, churches, and fields, diners, virtually. mike is part of the 2017 MFA in Devised Performance class with Pig Iron Theatre Company,
For more information,
www.mikedurkin.info
The Free Library is advancing literacy in Philadelphia in a unique and innovative way—with a fork and a spoon. Cooking and eating are educational acts and provide opportunities to learn math, science, languages, history and so much more.
Pull up a seat at our table and see what's cooking at the Free
For more Information, click here
A Community-Developed Cookbook and Storytelling Presentation
A series of story-sharing circles and recipes
Part of the Freelibrary of Philadelphia Culinary Literacy Center
Presented workshops at the Parkway Central Library and Lillian Marrero Branch
We are thinking about the foods we have during celebrations- anniversaries, weddings, family gatherings, cookouts, Birthdays, spiritual gatherings, and many more. The dishes we share with loved ones, we share in
The dishes that bring us together
The dishes that outshines the hardships we face
The dishes that preserves a moment in time, the dish we crave, brings us to another day
The dishes that preserve a place, where we grew up, what it means to be home
The dishes that preserve a space, where we live, the community we foster, the organization or congregation we
The dishes that preserve a culture, what else do we have left, heritage, diaspora, identity
Folks gathered at drop-in sessions over four weeks, sharing stories of the past, what’s happening today, and visions for the
Having hard conversations in soft spaces
Chatting about Mangoes, blueberry lemonade, pinchos, grilled corn, displacement, gun violence,
Finding those moments to connect
Expanding additional food options
Expanding knowledge around food access, food injustice
Sharing experiences with family and friends
Empowering the ability to make foods
The recipes are more than just a list of ingredients and directions, but an immersive experience, capturing a moment of time, preserving a culture, deciphering a space, neighborhood, and community, as well as sharing a greater message. We think of these dishes as a piece of prose, a narrative, sometimes with precise measurements, sometimes with feeling. and you’ll know its done when the oil stops bubbling, is a reference to the sensation you know when something is done. There are so many variables in people’s cooking situations, that the intuition is what is most important. Making the dishes the way you like to make them. Use this as a springboard, nothing is precise. In an industry about perfection, and exact, this is a project that understands the variables. We encourage creativity, we encourage using the recipe, larger message as a means for improvising. In a Clam chowder recipe sharing a memory of being with family and warming yourself up, maybe you don’t like clams, maybe chicken posole captures that feeling of warmth and family, make that dish!
And you will know its done when the bread is toasted
Grandma would make this dish for him. Incredibly nostalgic. Very particular on who makes this dish. More than the ingredients. It's a about the preparation. The togetherness with family. Something restaurants can never replicate.
“The last time I had this was 3 days ago. The first time I had this was maybe 15
Pour scrambled eggs in, cook to your liking, add salt, pepper, and cheese
And you will know its done when the cheese hits the plate
First in family getting higher education
Love comfort foods, humble foods that remind him of growing up in the DR
Boil potatoes for about 20 minutes
Mash them, add milk, butter, salt and pepper
White Dominican cheese Milk Salt and Pepper Pink Onions
Amy (early 60s), from Hong Kong, has been in Philadelphia for 10 years. Has big hopes and wishes for Philadelphia. Trying to show that Philadelphia is better than the violence and crime. In Hong Kong, what she was told or saw of American food was Coca Cola and McDonald’s and was surprised to see how diverse and vast the culinary landscape is in Philadelphia. She is drawn to blends of cultures through foods, she scoffs at the word “fusion” though. This dish represents her adjusting to American cuisine while being nostalgic for her upbringing in Hong Kong.
Brown Eggs x2 (beaten) A little bit of Brown Sugar A little bit of Worcestershire sauce
Pan fry the eggs until they are a little brown, chop into pieces.
Add sliced tomatoes, mix well with eggs, cover and let cook over low heat for 10-15
When tomatoes become tender, add sugar (the dish should be a little sweet)
Add a few drops of worcestershire sauce, mix well, and then plate.
Stir Fry Veggies, ramen noodles, Chicken breast, soy sauce, and
Ground beef, angel hair noodles, any type of cheese, any type of
Contributed by Carlita L. Woodbury
Heads up a drop-in center in North Philadelphia
Cultivates community and sisterhood
Providing resources for folks who can’t navigate the complex systems
Loves the smell of BBQ, cookouts, dancing
Speaking language when we can’t communicate
Sharing food means sharing our experience, our legacy, our stories
“My name is Ziyanni, I am a spiritual being…who loves to connect with other spiritual sparks through culinary arts. This recipe is inspired by my late mother and when we were struggling the most my mother warmed brother and I’s hearts with a tasty meal!”
Pick bones from canned salmon in a bowl
Add a salmon, and seasonings together and cook on high
Cook rice separately and add parsley
He wanted to show his love for her
He wanted to make a baked ziti for her. He glances at the pantry and the kitchen. Sees what he believes to be all the ingredients there. No sweat, doesn’t need to rush the process. 9pm rolls around. He wants to make the pasta, his vision in his head-drastically different than the ingredient has at his disposal. Latisha laughs. Philip dashes to the Pathmark to get the remainder of the ingredients. Wears flip flops, pants fall down as he runs What we do for love. Finally he gets all the ingredients, begins cooking around 10:30pm or so. Finally, meal is ready by Midnight. Latisha loves it.
Pasta sauce Spaghetti
Onions Carrots
Cheddar Mozzarella cheese
Salt and Pepper Garlic powder
Assemble all mixtures together, top with cheeses
Put in oven for 30 minutes until the cheese is bubbling and browned
Now, today. Him and his family- wife, and three kids. Family first
Find the balance between the harshness of the neighborhood, the pain, the anguish with the pride, the vibrancy, the potential. They keep Halal at home, attend mosque, want better for their community. Want others to take advantage of the programs at the library, get off the streets, get off the drugs, stop the hustling. They celebrate creativity in the kitchen, sneaking veggies in meals for the little ones
Inspired by conversations with participants and community members at the Lillian Marrero Free Library Branch
Or our parents, grandparents, relatives made
Things that don’t usually going together, somehow working
Jello, coconut flakes, mayo, walnuts
Sounds of Daddy Yankee, Bad Bunny, and Reggaeton wash over you
Cars double parked, making U-turns
Dominican and Puerto Rican flags waving from cars
Smells of pernil and lechon cooking in restaurants and on the Avenue
Sounds of Classical music coming from the gas station played at deafening volumes
But folks don’t seem to be bothered by it
Selling bulk toilet paper, laundry detergent, swiffer pads
When the drugs and drinking pushes folks away
When new development pushes folks away
Ingredients:
Fruits: Mangos, Strawberries, bananas, kiwis, tangerine
Pineapple juice
Unsweetened coconut flakes
Lemon juice
Sweetened condensed milk
Nutmeg
Clove
Cinnamon
Vanilla
Fresh Ginger
Half-expired produce from Papi stores
Preparation:
Mix all the fruits together
Add seasonings
Add vanilla, sweetened condensed milk, and juices
Grate lemon zest and fresh ginger in mixture
Let sit overnight
Add sliced up bananas the next day
Serve room temperature
Church of Visitation Food Pantry on Kensington Ave and Lehigh
Dumping “homes” in garbage trucks
A place to receive care, community, connection
Receiving Fresh Basil
Boxed Farfalle, or Bow-tie Pasta
Cherry tomatoes
Mozzarella
Balsamic vinegar
Oregano
All donated Season to your liking
We get creative with what little we have
Inspired by the conversations with participants and community members at the Parkway Freelibrary Branch
Overlooking those asking for change
Countries flags representing the diversity of Philadelphia
Representing the various cultures and communities in Philadelphia
Coming together for a mocktail
Kicking off the summer
A drink for cookouts and bbq
A drink for families, friends, co-workers, co-conspirators, church goers
A drink that warms hearts and the body
Shared with new friends
Jamaican Ginger beer
Plain Seltzer
Fresh Limes
Mango Juice
Fresh aloe juice
Ice