food is art

So here it is, no Brussels sprouts were ordered so a quick change to a mix of sauted mushrooms, onions, steamed carrots and peas. The stuffing had walnuts, raisins, apples and grapes along with the regular fixings . The fresh bread and pumpkin pie were made by Catriona.

 

 

So why do I think my food is art? Because I say it is and this should be enough. But to some, and myself this is not enough of a answer. Thus I am going to try to explain and work my belief out. This belief will probably change and evolve over time but I have been living with it for the past 4-6 years.

To me art can be any thing that provokes a response, physical or emotional, and what more does this then food literally. Not only do I think the plate is a canvas, or a sculpture it has a meaning or depth because of where I cook.

I cook in the downtown east side of Vancouver (DTES), a poverty stricken area. It also has a high proportion of addicts, hence all the problems (AIDS, Hep, crime……..). But it also has a strong sense of community for those that don’t participate in the drug circus, and also to some extent those that do. Our building provides a sanctuary for the neighborhood because of what it has to offer. A strongly enforced no drug, alcohol and violence policy. Access to various activities and facilities with inexpensive healthy meals. It is has been called the DTES’s living room with good reason.

So why is my food is art, because I try to provide a healthy, tasty low cost meal 4 nights a week to a diverse population in the middle of a what some call a slum. By doing this I believe I am creating a social sculpture where the food is the catlyst for a event or perhaps an emotional, physical and emotional response. By no means am I the only one in the center responsible for creating the environment, but I see my role as key and hence really inspiring.

This in turn brings a larger and diverse crowd to the center. At any given table you may get the residents of the local hotels, the artist who have local studios, the cops or lawyers from the court house and police station, the dentists from the local dental center or the person who is just looking for a good healthy deal. In addition the meals vary from vegan to the traditional meat and potatoes on different nights there are different customers. There is always an interesting mix of people there.

Now this can be just part of a delusion that keeps me going to work, but as I sad earlier I have been cooking in this environment for over 6 years so it works for me and whats wrong with that.