(Yes, I’m almost 40 and I still call her Mommy. Sue me.)
This blog would not exist if it weren’t for my mother, and not just because she gave birth to me. It’s because she was the one who raised me to be an obsessive food nerd.
My mom was the first of my many food idols. From her, I gained a deep and abiding love for magically transforming raw ingredients into mouth-watering family feasts. I was born and raised in California, but in keeping with Chinese tradition, our cramped little house was a multigenerational one. We lived under one roof with my grandparents, and my aunts and uncles regularly gathered around our dining table for cozy, family-style suppers.
See all the food on the table? My mom cooked everything.
Here’s the mathematical formula my mother used to determine how many different courses she’d prepare:
I am so not worthy. This explains why my dinner parties can’t hold a flame to my mom’s – and also why I rarely invite more than four people over at a time.
My fondest childhood memories are of me shadowing my mom around the kitchen as she deftly prepared dinner after a long day at work. I mastered the art of lingering next to her cutting board when she was cutting my favorite foods. I’d sigh, roll my eyes dramatically, and casually tell her that I was so hungry that my stomach was digesting itself. Despite being dog-tired, she’d always smile and hand me a scrap of succulent roast duck or barbecued pork that I’d greedily gobble up.
These days, I secretly smile as I watch my own kids trail her in the kitchen when she prepares special family dinners. We’re all so lucky to have her in our lives. Thanks, Mom!
Okay, enough about feelings: Who got or gave something really awesome for Mother’s Day? Brag away in the comments!
