Introduction
Welcome to [RE] COMPOSITION
A Home for Food and Literature
When I read Brian Jacques’ Redwall in my third-grade classroom, something within me changed. Sure, a fantasy novel filled with warrior mice, moles speaking cockney, and villainous rats captured my eight-year-old imagination — but something else happened — it made me hungry.
Tucked between courageous battle sequences and the mysterious allegories concerning Martin the Warrior, Jacques included detailed descriptions of the food these woodland creatures were preparing:
“Tender freshwater shrimp garnished with cream and rose leaves, deviled barley pearls in acorn purée, apple and carrot chews, marinated cabbage stalks steeped in creamed white turnip and nutmeg.”
If you just drooled over that brief passage, then welcome, friend; I’m glad you’re here.
Exploring Tastes
A fantastic meal and a beautiful book can inspire our senses and satisfy our cravings. Yet, at first glance, these two art forms might seem worlds apart. But what if we delve a little deeper? You’ll find that they have much in common.
Some treat both like fuel.
They see food in terms of its purpose; to keep their bodies alive. They eat the same meals on rotation because they become part of their routine. It is familiar and predictable.
They see books in the same way. I am still recovering from the “skill” college students must develop to skim-read countless JSTOR articles and 19th Edition textbooks. Reading in this way extracts just the necessary information, much like nutrients, and leaves the rest behind.
Likewise, some readers love mystery or romance for their familiarity. It is like a snack they reach for time and time again because it is comforting and reliable. There is always more where that came from.
Others, perhaps like you and me, savor food and literature within their souls.
I have seen it in those around me who can read one haiku and feel “full” for the day. I have one dear friend who constantly reads and yet never reads “a lot.” They pause, re-read, reflect, and put the book down beside them to take the next sip of their loose-leaf pu’erh, relishing both experiences equally. These people look forward to each meal; it excites them. They are constantly exploring new mediums, new experiences, new palettes.
They take joy in preparing meals for those they love and gathering around the dinner table to share stories and laughter.
Pause for Digestion
Before I go on, I want to pause and address two rebuttals I can hear forming.
The first is that these examples exist on a spectrum, and neither one is “better” than the other. It is evident in my romanticizing that I am admittedly biased to one end, but we all have our “things.” Don’t be mad at my sentimentality, and I won’t judge your unseasoned chicken and rice.
The second is a bit trickier. Having the opportunity to enjoy different food and literature is a privilege. But it seems that these experiences also help to make us all equal.
I have known people who looked as if they had less yet always had plenty. They would spend hours cooking traditional meals, blasting music in the kitchen, and always making extra helpings for everyone. At the same time, I have known many people in no dire straits that would enter into my local coffee shop and would still order the same coffee and pastry every day. I have met successful entrepreneurs who were brought up without much emphasis on reading and now consider specific books their most treasured possessions.
What’s On the Table?
So what can you expect from [RE] COMPOSITION?
To begin, this will be the first and last time you ever see the words “foodie” and “bookworm” (or “bibliophile” for that matter). We can do better than that. Let’s expand our palette a bit further and explore the art of cuisine and literature.
I do not have a culinary degree, but I have food service experience and love to cook at home. I am an ex-English major, so you’ll get all the fun of an avid reader and lifelong writer with less of the pretense and propriety.
I am admittedly dramatic. But you may have already figured that out.
I am a learner and love to explore. That means I may change my mind (gasp), contradict myself in future articles, and share what I learn as I learn it. I may fumble nuances or not use proper terms, but I welcome honest feedback and discussion.
I will partner with others who are passionate about these topics. While much of this page may come in the form of my musings or short stories, I am excited to include photography from close friends, interviews, and perhaps a guest article every once in a while!
Lastly, while I may review or recommend various books, restaurants, or recipes, I am not a critic. My aim is not to pass judgment on these events but rather to invite you to explore them with me through these pages and in your own adventures. The world doesn’t need another middle-class white male awarding stars to things.
There is a home for food and literature. It’s not a physical place, but it’s real nonetheless. It is where ideas are born, where imaginations take flight, and where possibilities abound. This place is nourished by the words we read and the meals we prepare. It’s a meeting of minds and a table prepared for friends.
I hope we can get to know each other well. Let’s stay hungry.
