Stuff to See!

Lemons and Lobotomies

Hunger. We all feel it at some time or another. Most of us eat, as a matter of survival, surely. What did you have for dinner yesterday? Or even this evening? Who cares, right? I've met one man in my time who has said that eating isn't supposed to be enjoyable (although he didn't say as much to me). I'd wager that most people, while they can appreciate a well-cooked meal, are indifferent at best toward the subject of food. That may be a matter of debate, but in a society that features commercial advertisements for pre-sliced (let alone prepared) cookies and brownies, and more microwavables than I can imagine, the preparation of a decent meal is becoming more and more of a lost art.
I'm not talking about a seven course tour de force, from soup to nuts sort of deal, here, but maybe just a pot of spaghetti and red sauce. You CAN cook a pot of spaghetti with sauce in under thirty minutes (I've done it). The result is edible, maybe even tasty, but it suffers somewhat from feeling...rushed, somehow. Of course, everyone's in a rush, nowadays. People have mobile phones, mobile computers (who needed a computer 10 years ago?), and there's always McDonald's. I like McDonald's, once in a great while. And I love to eat out, but more on that later.
I also love to cook. Anything, as long as there's no meat (save fish) in it. In dealing with many people, some of my favorite dishes are...unfamiliar, to say the least. Spanakopita (Greek Spinach Pie), or anything Greek (the good half of me is Greek). Of course, phyllo (or fillo) dough is a pain to use, but the results are out of this world. I love to eat, but more than that, I love to savor the act of eating. Good food and family are linked at the hip in my life, and in most peoples' lives. Kim chee rocks, too. Many's the time I've spent a holiday around close family with excellent food on hand (almost everyone in my family can cook). Smell and taste are a stronger link to memories than the other senses, at least smell, anyway.
And yet, most people are inexperienced to the point where they automatically 'don't like' certain things, even if they've never had them. I'm lucky in that I had a very broad exposure to food (and an open mind). From Thailand to Tempe, Greece to Greenwich (bangers...trifle, good stuff), I'm blessed with my own broad love of food (God ponders striking out my taste buds, thinks better of it and retires behind a veil of crazy lights).
An open mind is a good thing. Just imagine how it feels to say and mean "I've never thought of that". It can be a religious experience. With an open mind, you're more likely to find out exactly what types of things you like, or don't like. As long as you give something a fair chance, you have every right in the world to cry to the faraway heavens about how much you may not like broccoli. Some people aren't too fond of the green crucifer, some sweat by it, most are in between. Everyone's entitled to an opinion, even if it's wrong.
Kalamari. Shrimp Phrik Pao, Palak Paneer. Aloo Paratha.
The act of preparing a meal can be compared to any other feat of creativity. There is nearly infinite room for self expression, even with a modest group of ingredients, or resources. Some people make the most of very limited means, some can have all the tools, but can at best achieve mediocrity. Many factors go into creative acts, but the basic ones lie with the individual creating, the creative environment. Some tools are necessary, even with great ingenuity, and rudimentary skill using these is required, too. If you can read this, you need no more explanation (you didn't need this much, no doubt).
Like most people, I'm open to letting others do the hard work every once in a while. There are quite a few places in and around Baltimore I like a lot. By region (more or less, no descriptions):

• Fells Point
  1. Brick Oven Pizza
  2. Jimmy's Restaurant
  3. The Nile Cafe
• Canton
  1. The Sip 'n Bite Diner
  2. Bo Brooks Seafood House
  3. Nacho Mama's
  4. One World Cafe
  5. Helen's Garden
• Highlandtown
  1. The Acropolis
  2. Samos Restaurant
  3. Ikaros Restaurant
  4. Zorba's Bar & Grill
• Little Italy
  1. Sabatino's
  2. Vaccaro's
• Anywhere between 800 and 1100 North Charles Street
• North Baltimore
  1. Jerry's Belvedere Tavern
  2. Cafe Zen
  3. The Egyptian Pizza Place
• Route 40 West
  1. The Double T Diner
  2. The Panda Buffet
• Ellicott City
  1. The Brewery
  2. Riverside Roastery & Espresso
  3. Dimitri's
• Columbia
  1. The Akbar Restaurant
  2. The Mango Grove

Of course, I've certainly skipped over many worthy places, not intentionally. This list is not complete any more than my knowledge of food is complete. If you have any suggestions, I'll be glad to go there. Maybe, one day, I can aspire to a restaurant review (yay). Down, Mabutiss, your time is not at hand. What is life without variety? Ponder that. I'll expect an essay from all three of you at the end of class.
Now, in closing, some wisdom from our friend Conan, on what he enjoys in life:

"Crush your enemies. See them running before you. And hear the lamentation of their women."