A little Astoria in my week

Towels, Boxes Rona Chang

Last night I trekked, well actually got a ride from Geoff to go to Titan Foods (a large Greek supermarket) so I can pick up 9 liters of olive oil. I buy a motherload of oils every year around this time. Most of you should know what it's for. Titan is a great place to pick up olive oil, they have a whole aisle devoted to it.

And two nights ago, my friend Alison and I had a grand 'ol time in Astoria. Eating from the kitchen of Moustafa El Sayed who runs Mombar. I really, really want to go to Egypt. I keep listening to podcasts about traveling to Egypt. I will get there but for now I will satisfy my wanderlust by eating.


Ceiling at Mombar

And this article from the NYTimes about Thomas Keller (the chef) and his dad, Ed Keller spoke to me. Here are some of my favorite quotes from What the Last Meal Taught Him:

In the cookbook ("Ad Hoc At Home"), Mr. Keller leads with his heart. He dedicates it to his brother Joseph and lays out in loving, exacting detail the recipes for the last meal he made his father. He reminds readers that life is better when you eat together with family and friends.

“I had him with me for some really meaningful moments before the accident and I didn’t have that as a child,” Mr. Keller said. “At the end of the day when we think about what we have, it’s memories.”

Memories are what Mr. Keller strives to create with all his food. And food memories are something he said he cherishes about his last years with his father. Especially that last meal.

While I too never spent that much time with my dad as a child, I savour all the time we spent together during my summers and visits and conversations we had when I was a young adult. Those memories will serve me for the rest of my life.