Fond Memories

Our Contributors Reflect on Kindred Memories of Their Own

Lisa Banu

I moved to Dhaka, in Bangladesh, from Ann Arbor at age 7 without speaking a word of Bengali. That confusing day, my Bengali grandmother pointed at the trees in the garden from the veranda and back to the mango she was slicing. As far as I remember, aam (mango) was my first Bengali taste and word. It was spectacularly sun-ripened, sweet, sour and soft. I continue to learn about my “native” and other cultures through food. HungryPhilosopher.com

Charity Singleton Craig

Some of my earliest memories include me standing on a chair or stool helping my mom cook and bake. Over the years, the things I eat and the way I cook have changed from my growing up years. But the enduring food legacy of my parents and their parents is growing food. I don’t have a rural homestead where I can plant a large garden, but wherever I am I always plant something, even if just a tomato plant, to help feed myself. CharitySingletonCraig.com

Erin and Mike Gregory

We have two girls—McKinley (3) and Maggie (1)—and we cherish our family more than anything in this world. Every holiday we travel to see our parents so our children can spend time with their grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins, and we rest while enjoying a homecooked meal. MGPhotoCo.com

Shauna L. Nosler

What I remember most about holiday meals growing up—other than the day I graduated from the designated kids table to the grown-up table—is my grandmother’s kitchen: how it would be filled with adults, all chopping and peeling and sautéing, with the precision of a Swiss watch. To this day, it amazes me how they could create such a masterpiece of a spread, complete with everything from the traditional roasted turkey to my great-grandmother’s Scandinavian melt-in-your-mouth spritz cookies and ebelskiver … all made with one oven, by one family. TheFlavoredWord.com and BestFromTheMidwest.com

Rachel D. Russell

My family and food connection began with my Grandma Floyd. She was my maternal great-grandmother, and while my mom and stepdad worked she helped around our house, cooked and baked for us and even rolled my hair in rags she adorned with handmade crocheted hair ties. She made cherry chiffon cake that would melt your heart and dumplings with perfectly chewy centers. She loved bacon and made it each morning. She would save the grease in a coffee mug she placed in the center of the stovetop and use it later in the afternoon to make fried potatoes. To this day, if I smell bacon my mind goes right to her, and I can’t bake a cake without thinking of her hands that always seemed strong and sure as they folded the egg whites into the batter. The last years of my Grandma Floyd’s life were all hers, and she decided to give a great deal of them to her family—to me. And for that I am grateful each and every day of my life. RachelGetsIndy.com

Christmas 1997: Shauna (in all black); her mother, Eileen; great-grandmother, Emily; and grandmother, Charlotte. Portrait taken by a childhood friend who has accompanied me on many food adventures; this was taken after eating kati rolls during a visit.

Kristen Tauer

Food—catching it, growing it, eating it, writing about it—interests me because there’s always a story attached. Smelt on a restaurant menu takes me back to the streams where my father and I caught fish by the handfuls to fry. Kohlrabi in a salad reminds me of my grandmother, who raised 10 kids on a farm and always had a homegrown vegetable to slice and serve raw. And rhubarb will always be best in a pie baked by my mother, made with stems plucked straight from her backyard. The most delicious dishes always come from a familiar place, and often that place isn’t far from home. KristenTauer.com

Julie K. Yates

One of my earliest memories is being in a hot, steamy kitchen while my grandmother canned bushels of produce. As a teen, I recall helping my Martha Stewart–influenced mother prepare food for ladies’ luncheons. I realize that, for me, cooking has always meant spending time with family and loved ones. Today, nothing makes me happier than hosting a celebration for my daughters and dear friends! YatesYummies.com, OrangesAndAlmonds.com

Great-Grandma Floyd under the dwarf crab apple tree in Rachel’s parents’ front yard in the early ’90s.

From left to right, my dad, one of my sisters, and me in a GIANT tree we found on the camp ground.

Caryn Scheving

Even before I can remember, camping was a normal part of life for my family. My parents, and eventually my sisters, would pack up for weeks at a time and live on beaches of South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia—don’t worry, I was homeschooled so my parents weren’t guilty of truancy! It was truly an amazing part of my childhood that taught me how to make new friends, be adventurous, and to appreciate time with family.

Black Sparrow Pub

We are happy to off er: whiskey, gin, tequila, craft cocktails, LOTS OF GOOD BOOZE, coasters, brick walls, art, PLEASING ASTHETIC, plates, silverware, unique pub food, seasonal dishes, DELICIOUS FARE, eclectic wines, ipas, sour ales, stouts, pilsners, domestics, ROTATING DRAFT & WINE SELECTION, staff that loves all of these things. Cheers! 223 Main St., Lafayette BlackSparrowPub.com 765.429.0405

Bistro 501

Bistro 501 has been the premier dining experience in downtown Lafayette for over 15 years, a place where locals and travelers banter over a beautiful Bordeaux or converse over award-winning cocktails. Whether you prefer wine on the patio or a fi reside dinner, our fresh menu will bring you in and our hospitality will bring you back. Located at the corner of 5th and Main Street in historic downtown Lafayette. 501 Main St., Lafayette Bistro501.com 765.432.4501

Cellar 422

Two sisters bring a love of delicious and aff ordable wines from around the world to the Lafayette area. We off er wines by the glass or bottle, to enjoy here or carry out, as well as a nice selection of craft beers. Enjoy fresh-made dishes that complement wine in a charming vintage atmosphere. 422 Main St., Lafayette 765.746.6754

Heirloom

Heirloom Restaurant is a farm-to-table restaurant located in downtown Lafayette with a seasonal menu that supports local, sustainable agriculture. Regionally sourced artisan producers provide the best possible quality and freshness to your table. 102 N. 3rd St., Lafayette HeirloomIndiana.com 765.807.0422

EAT DRINK LOCAL IN LAFAYETTE

Catch the vibe, taste the fl avor in Lafayette–West Lafayette! Visit the downtown area to savor a variety of cuisines at delectable, locally owned restaurants, many of which are embracing the farm-to-table movement. While here, be sure to stroll through downtown, visit some of the many local galleries and shops, partake in a farmers’ market or festival, enjoy outdoor art or catch a show at one of our many theaters and nightlife venues. Whatever you decide, there is something to suit every palate. Visit HomeOfPurdue.com or ReadySetGoDowntown.com for more on what’s going on in downtown Lafayette–West Lafayette! 301 Frontage Rd., Lafayette HomeOfPurdue.com 800.872.6648

La Scala

Greater Lafayette’s favorite Italian food, serving the community for 16 years. We are known for handcrafted dishes, local ingredients and a large selection. We even have our own farm. Eat fresh. Eat well. Eat local. 312 Main St., Lafayette LaScalaItalianRestaurant.com 765.420.8171

Restauration

Restauration, from the same owners as La Scala, is focused on farm-to-table, seasonal eating. We make everything from whole ingredients, often local, even from our own farm. Very allergen and special diet friendly. Restoring authenticity to food from the ground up! 731 Main St., Lafayette RestaurationLafayette.com 765.250.3970