I have never been particularly enthusiastic about beets. It is not like I never eat them but they are the vegetable that is most likely to get old and wrinkled in my care. A few weeks ago I was faced with the sobering reality of the contents of my fridge. Mostly what I found was a whole bunch of beets. Staring at those beets I thought of a dish I had never made before, Borscht.
Like you, I have been watching the terrible and heartbreaking reality of the war in Ukraine. It has led me to many moments of feeling helpless, scared and full of questions. And, though we must bear witness to these atrocities against humanity, we also have to calm our fear responses so we can take some kind of constructive action to contribute. One way to do this is by leaning into curiosity.
I happen to be a big fan of learning in general, but I find it easier to be curious in the kitchen. I saw my abundance of beets as an opportunity to learn more about the people of Ukraine and Russia by making a dish that they love to eat.
Learning about Borsht and its widespread popularity, the controversy over its origins and its many different versions was fascinating. Like so many other iconic dishes, it was made by people who had to get curious about how to use the ingredients available to them to feed their communities. So each region and family has their own spin on a dish that has nourished people for generations.
Just like many people before me, I tweaked a recipe based on the ingredients I had available. I got curious about the main flavor components and hoped that any minor substitutions would still produce the desired result.
I was left with a warm, delicious and deeply satisfying crimson concoction. Making this dish has allowed me look at beets in a whole different way and opened my mind to a new combination of ingredients and flavors. And through my curiosity in the kitchen, I feel more connected to these people going through so much.
It is ok to be scared with everything going on. But if we are going to find our way out of this we need to take advantage of any small opportunities to be curious. We must seek out ways to connect with people we love and with those we may never meet. And we must get curious about those wrinkled vegetables at the bottom of our fridge and see if we can make something delicious out of them.
So what dish or ingredient are you curious about? And how has your curiosity in the kitchen or at a restaurant opened your mind? What else do you love learning about and how do you keep on being curious even in hard times?
Our next Virtual Gathering’s Theme is: Curiosity
In lieu of payment please donate to one of the following organizations:
International Rescue Committee
Community Organized Relief Effort (CORE)
When: Community Lunch Pod - Thursday, April 7th, at 1:00PM ET / 10:00AM PT
Virtual Gathering - Thursday, April 7th, 8:00PM ET / 5:00PM PT
How: Sign up here. Zoom details will be sent on day of the event.
What: Please join the call with your meal, a snack or beverage and a story about a dish that you love that relates to the theme.
Cost: Donation in lieu of payment
Stay curious out there and speak soon!