Italian Food

Teacher's Write: Eat to Write by Hena Khan

Your Assignment:  Think back on what you ate yesterday, and create a food journal for the day. But not any regular old, boring food journal! Instead, bring each of the meals to life with descriptions that would make the most over-the-top food critic wannabe Yelp reviewer jealous. That vanilla flavored non-dairy creamer in your coffee? Even it can have a starring role if you desire. Give each of the foods you consumed context and meaning. How did they make you feel about yourself and your purpose in life? Can you find any symbolism between what you ate and your mood? Can you write any amazing metaphors or similes? Your journal entries for the day can be an ode to the food you ate, or hate mail, or a combination of both. You could keep the food descriptions simple and add categories if you choose, like “WHAT I WISH I ATE INSTEAD” or “HOW THIS RATES COMPARED TO THE BEST MEAL I EVERY HAD” Let your imagination run wild.

Don’t forget snacks. And feel free to fictionalize if it’s more fun. The pantry is the limit! I’d love to read your favorite lines or entries in the comments. Happy writing!

Hena, 

Thank you for this prompt. I bought Amina's Voice last year, and I look forward to looking at your new chapter book series. 

For me, food is a means of fueling. Don't get me wrong, I do enjoy food, but for the most part, I just eat without thinking about it too much. I spent years making food for 5 children and a husband. My husband and I were/are into healthy eating. But we do love ice cream and homemade chocolate chip cookies. Now that I am older with kids out of the house, I am enjoying food a bit more. I found out that I have a love affair with Italian food as I spent two weeks there in June. Here is a sampling of what I wrote in my journal, and I changed a few things.

After spending 3 days in Rome, we were in northern Italy in a small town called Trento. We walked to this little cafe and I ordered tea and yogurt with fresh berries. Why do I like greek yogurt so much? It is kind of like an ice cream treat to me, the sweet sourish taste with fresh berries. European yogurt is so creamy, like eating a dessert. 

Hours later after walking through a castle (Castello del Buonconsiglio), we stopped for a late lunch of herb and ricotta ravioli, spaghetti and meatballs. The fresh herbs and spices are like some sort of orgastic (yes, I stole this word from The Great Gatsby's ending sentences) party in your mouth. The cheeses, the bread, the sauce, and the romantic atmosphere. Italy is so exotic. 

Later that night, we ate at our friend's outdoor table with small tomatoes, mint, and basil picked just steps away. Fresh bread, homemade lasagna, apricots, salad, and cheeses. There were two kinds of balsamic vinegar. One was more fruity tasting. We think we figured out why Italians are somewhat healthy: no sauces such as mayonnaise, ranch, or ketchup. And they enjoy life at a more leisurely pace. It is nice to sit around the dinner table and talk. 

I think we ate gelato every day while we were there! Chocolate, pistachio, the flavors go on, just to look at the flavors in the glass case is a mouth watering pleasure.