Few food topics unites us and divides folks in the USA like barbecue. I am of the belief that it is because it touches us in a very passionate place. Our sense of hunger mixed with tradition. What we grow up with. The Chinese philosopher Lin Yutang wrote, “What is patriotism but the love of the good things we ate in our childhood?”
I was watching a ‘Chefs Table: BBQ’ show a few nights ago on the life story (thus far) of barbecue pit master Rodney Scott. It was a beautiful and sometimes lonely portrayal of his life. Mr. Scott learned barbecue from his father who evidently was a stern taskmaster. Rodney was an only child and lived his life in near solitary ways. He dreamed big though as he cut the wood for his fires, shoveled hot coals, turned whole hogs over on his pits, lived in a world of smoke in his eyes, cooked by hand, worked without sleep often and was even belittled by some classmates on his high school’s graduation night. One young woman’s remarks were especially biting as she estimated he’d be ‘cooking hogs down the street for his entire life’.
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Now it’s time to hit the ‘Listen on WLRN’ button at the top to hear the remainder of my show. ‘A Word On Food’ airs on WLRN every Saturday around 8:30 a.m. at 91.3 and also 91.5 on the radio. I want to thank so many of you who tell me in person how much you are enjoying the show! Please check out my Instagram photos and my new IGTV cooking videos @normanvanaken