Three things are true at the same time. The world is much better; the world is awful, and the world can be much better.
Max Roser
———————————————————————————–
For me, the shopping is as much a part of cooking as the peeling and the chopping, and I linger in the butcher shop, the farmers’ market, and the cheese store. Food people are eager to share their knowledge, and the small exchanges that take place across the counter are precious to me. It’s not about the recipes; these daily conversations ground me in the world, anchoring me in time and place.
The physical act of cooking gives me enormous pleasure, but I also like watching what it does for others. Even the angriest person is soothed by the scent of soup simmering on the stove. The aroma of flour, sugar, and butter mingling in the oven is a better tonic than any alcohol. And the best recipe for a good evening is a dish so fragrant that it makes the tongue-tied start to talk. The formula is simple: when you cook for people, they feel cared for.
– My Kitchen Year | Ruth Reichl
