It’s a frustrating and emotional time in Guyana isn’t it? The past couple of weeks have been especially exasperating. Some folks are elated, some are battle-weary and others emotionally drained. There is anger, disappointment, pain, and hope; the hope that we are better, can be better and do better. Many are likely to be functioning on adrenaline alone. Generally speaking, the weekend is a time that we all look for a little respite, rest and relaxation. We stop to heal and rejuvenate in preparation for the week ahead, and food plays an integral role in our weekend activities. This weekend will find many people eating for comfort, for nourishment, and hopefully for the celebration of life itself.
Whatever the reason for eating, do not eat alone. Gather your family, gather your friends, gather your loved ones, and yes, gather your neighbours and strangers too, regardless of their race, colour, creed or political persuasion. Gather them all, cook, share, and eat. When we gather together for a meal, to break bread, we fit so comfortably side by side. With mouths full, eyes smiling and tummies delighting, we are quiet, long enough to shut out noises of disruption and division.
A celebration of Guyanese cuisine is a table that represents the diverse, multi-cultural food that is uniquely ours. Sure, there are other versions of many of the dishes, but they are not exactly like ours. We have put our special touch, whether by technique, method, or skill, on preparing our food. Regardless of one’s background, when we as Guyanese cook, the food on our tables tells us something – that we are better together than separated. A Guyanese food spread represents all of us no matter the prefixes we want to put before the word Guyanese. We are all Guyanese.
Our daily diet, can’t-get-enough-of any type of Curry, Fried Rice, Cook-Up, Pepperpot, Mettagee, Salt Fish, Roti, Bakes, Cassava Bread, Black Pudding, Pone, Pastries, Soup or Souse, is deeply embedded in the DNA of Guyanese. And don’t even try to dissuade us from mixing things up because we like it so. When someone wants to eat their bunjal chicken with vegetable fried rice, who are we to complain? When someone says they like to eat their Pepperpot with a nice
thick Sada roti, how can we protest? When an argument breaks out that Black Pudding tastes better with Achar than sour, how is that argument settled? When some people want their Callaloo Cook-up served with a cup of Dhal, how can we begin to question their taste? I could go on, but I think you get my point. It is obvious that we can learn a thing or two from our food – the way we cook, share, and eat it.
When you cook this weekend, whether it is for comfort, nourishment, or togetherness, remember what I said, do not eat alone. Call up your friends and family, especially those who are on the opposite side of the political divide (regardless of the side), for I believe, that despite some of the rhetoric on the political and social media platforms, there are many, who in their heart of hearts are not the divisive, polarizing people they portray themselves to be.
Let’s all strive to live our motto: one people, one nation, one destiny.
Cynthia
cynthia@tasteslikehome.org
