On Inheritance: Hospitality or Decolonial Eating

January 2, 2023 4:02 PM

What we might inherit is not always known in advance of the inheritance. When the inheritance is outside of the material or the tangible, sometimes noticing it is difficult.
posted by Ahmad Khani (5 comments total)

Over and above his actual point, everything he describes sounds incredibly tasty. This sentence made me laugh, though:

In those bags would be pig tails to add flavour to rice and peas (these would be extracted before guests arrived, in case pork was prohibited for some)
posted by Dip Flash at 4:43 PM on January 2, 2023 [2 favorites]

I deeply related to his frustration as a child over having to accompany his mother to get groceries, and how she would have to go to many different places to get just a few items. I did this again more recently and it was bittersweet to re-enact our roles even as I noticed how much my mother's slowed down.
posted by coolname at 10:23 PM on January 2, 2023

I don't know, I think maybe he as a child didn't notice it, but I'm sure his mom agonized over that decision to take him shopping vs put him in sports/let him hang with friends/etc.

(Good) parents are generally pretty aware and moms imagine nothing but doom scenarios. She's probably really glad he latched on to cooking, and sees the value in those interactions now, even if he didn't as a child. But whether he would have been a professional athlete if mom had the cash (or spare time to attend the games/practices, whatever) or gotten into trouble if left home alone is one of those unknowable things, so mom chose the safest and took him along.

I think people still consider such possibilities of what their future selves will inherit, even as adults: what am I missing if I binge tv vs go out with friends, or do something more productive? But in the end, we are who we are, and there is no guarantee the best version of ourselves is the best for us at any particular time.

BTW, this is the version of philosophy I find interesting so I think about it a lot, as opposed to big questions about God or the abstract meaning of everyone's life. I'd love to hear more from this guy and try his cooking.
posted by The_Vegetables at 9:03 AM on January 3, 2023 [3 favorites]

The book he mentions, Pig Tails 'n Breadfruit by the always interesting Barbadian - Canadian writer Austin Clarke, is a great book - I recommend it.
posted by Ashwagandha at 11:11 AM on January 3, 2023 [1 favorite]

Bajan Fish Cakes

1.5 lbs of salted cod fish
1 small onion
3 garlic cloves
1.25 cups of flour
2 teaspoons of baking powder
1 egg
.5 cup of milk
.5 cup of water
10 oz of butter
.25 of spring onions (green onions)
Sprigs of thyme, parsley, marjoram, picked off stems and finely chopped
Black and white pepper to taste

1. Place the salt fish in a saucepan with water to cover. Bring to a boil and pour off the first set of water. Bring to a boil again in fresh water for about 30 minutes. Check saltiness of the fish. If overly salty boil again until the salt does not overpower taste.
2. Shred the salt fish with a fork or fingers.
3. Put all ingredients in a mixing bowl and mix until well combined.
4. Deep fry tablespoons of the batter shaped into balls over medium heat until golden brown and cooked through. Make sure the middle is cooked and not doughy.
5. Drain on paper towels and serve with hot sauce or a mayonnaise-based spicy sauce.
posted by Oyéah at 6:37 PM on January 3, 2023 [2 favorites]