At A Table With Good Friends

"To eat good food is to be close to God."

This is a quote from my favorite “foodie” movie of all time: Big Night starring Stanley Tucci and Tony Shaloub. It is set in the 1950s and tells the story of two brothers, Primo and Secondo. They are Italian immigrants trying to achieve the American dream by opening a tiny restaurant in New York City called Paradiso (heaven). 

The young men come to find how hard it is to cook authentic Italian cuisine for Americans.  To them, it seems that Americans expect Italian food to be just spaghetti and meatballs. I won't give it away but hilarity ensues leading up to a big dinner they are planning to cook for jazz legend Louis Prima. I highly recommend this movie to anyone who loves food or just loves good movies. 

I have come to realize over the years that food is the focus of our daily lives. Think about it, every activity one participates in eventually leads to eating.  Our lives are based around food and beverage. You drink coffee, and then drive to work. Eat breakfast at your desk, then work. Go on a quick lunch break, then finish the work day. Upon leaving work, grab a drink so you are not thirsty in traffic, and then go home to eat. This all leads us to the best meal of the day: dinner.

 “One of the very nicest things about life is the way we must regularly stop whatever it is we are doing and devote our attention to eating."  ~Luciano Pavarotti

You have friends over–what do you do?  Make sure you have something for them to eat and drink. Even if it is simply peanuts and beer, it is nourishment; it is life. Any time I have guests, I make sure they do not leave without eating. It is ingrained in me that feeding guests shows that you care.

My favorite Italian proverb is: "A tavola con buon amici non si invecchia.” It means at the table with good friends, one never grows old. I live by this. Even by just sitting at the dinner table with my husband, I am able to unwind, eat something amazing, and reflect on my day.  It helps me relieve stress in a way nothing else in this world can.  I urge everyone to take time out of their day to sit at a table and enjoy one meal. Join me here and together, as friends, we will never grow old.

My goals for this blog are to introduce fun, easy-to-prepare meals that everyone can appreciate. Also, I would love to bring the tips and recipes passed down from my Nonna and mother for you all to try. In the words of my Nonna, “How will you know you don't like it, if you don't try it?”