5 minute read
Jay Gadhia- Food For Thought
Jay was one of the very first to respond to the call for submissions for Morleyzine. We were thrilled to read his piece on the themes of food as a celebration of tradition and ritual. He also sent a very cheeky poem that sadly did not pass the censors cut. Jay has recently been reading his poetry at open mic, so do keep an eye out for his next gig.
Read his work here and do give him a follow on your socials for daily gratitude posts, he's a ray of sunshine amongst all that doom scrolling. @jayartstudio
Food for Thought
I’ve recently become a bit fascinated in how we use food as the delicious glue that holds friends, family and the people we love, together. We use food as a way of showing others that we love them. Think of any celebration, occasion or gathering, food is always bubbling under the surface and ends up being the star of the show. A full table at Christmas time or a Birthday, a Wedding or a Graduation.
The ritualistic manner in which we prepare food is one of the only things that separates us from our primate ancestors. We are the only species that cooks and it is this evolutionary step in combining raw ingredients with heated alchemy that we create something magical. It is this simple act of generosity that is spectacularly profound and should never be underestimated. Especially when this core basic need is denied to so many in our world.
We could all link back to an early memory of being cooked for and it evoking fond memories. Equally, these memories aren’t always fond but just as powerful. One of my earliest memories is creeping down a set of central stairs when I should have been fast asleep and peering into the kitchen to see my mother wearing a dark green sari, reaching into cabinets to find a particular ground spice to add to a bubbling pot. The kitchen door and window wide open in an attempt to deal with hazy and spicy smoke. My mother was simply showing the only love she ever could; and still does, with food. Her blackened ‘tauvri’ or iron concave roti pan has a thousand stories to tell based on the mouths it has facilitated in feeding. This rudimentary iron disc representing moments of joy and of stifled tears, of laughter and of worry, but always of togetherness and family.
I would put a years salary on the fact that I could invite 30 or more people to her house for dinner unannounced and she would have a table strained under the weight of food within an hour. Although, the samosa doesn’t fall far from the rickshaw as I could always rustle something up for anyone who crossed the threshold of my own house in a moments notice.
I’m reminded of an old Tibetan saying that a visitor should never be without being offered water or something to eat as you don’t know if they travelled a 100 miles to cross your threshold. ‘Fancy a cuppa?’ Is often the first thing you offer anyone walking into your house and it speaks volumes as to how respected they are in your four walls. It also gives a very definite indicator of their upbringing should they fail on such a basic social exchange, they’ve essentially failed to recognise the simplest form of love. Feeding and watering others is an honour and not one to ever be taken lightly.
Food expiry is for the most part a clever ploy to glean profit over sustenance by suppliers. Food does not suddenly spoil over night and our inherent senses of smell and instinct can always be relied on to determine if food is palatable or not. It is true of starvation in far off lands and it’s the go to retort for any parent influencing a child to eat their vegetables but we have to consider food poverty as an increasing issue on our own doorsteps. There has been a 47% increase in food prices in the cost of living crisis whereas wages have stagnated, benefits have been cut causing the purse strings to tighten further.
One of my mantras has always been that we should always give of what we are abundant in. The solid foundations of a community is built on its generosity and it’s very easy to think you don’t have anything to give. Not true, I’m afraid. We all have a part to play in the communities and relationships we encounter and all it takes is the will to do it. And perhaps we can do this not just with food, but with a moment of our time, a shoulder to lean on and an open door.
Life is a delicious gift and we have to give thanks for the simple fact we can be so full of the food of love that we have to give it some time for before the next course. Trust your senses and feed your own soul first. Have your pot brimming over in order for others to come and share the bounty.
So, on that note, who’s coming round for dinner?
