My family is fascinated by food. We love to cook it, eat it, read about it, and talk about it. When we dine out together we pore over our menus, some of us looking for old favorites, others looking for something new to try. And while waiting for the food to arrive, our conversation invariably turns to where we'll eat next. Will it be Indian, Middle Eastern, Asian fusion, southern comfort…? If a new restaurant opens we phone to see if it serves Hot Browns.
Our church is the grocery store. We regularly worship at the small, funky, ethnic markets that are symbols of our culturally diverse, non-melting pot congregation. While we're not particularly green, when we're in a food co-op or Wild Oats or Earth Fare we start speaking in tongues. "Vegan, lacto, ovo-lacto, pescetarian, antibiotic-free." On high holy days we dress up and hit Zabar's or Dean & Deluca in New York City. But our Mecca is Jungle Jim's.
I made my first pilgrimage to Jungle Jim's in 2002. I drove from Charleston to Lexington, met up with my sister, and together we drove on to Cincinnati. I was awestruck as I entered the cathedral. Four acres of food under one roof. The offering plate must stay full because two more acres are under construction. Food from every country I've ever heard of, and a few that the UN probably doesn't know about yet. A produce section that's larger than the average South Carolina grocery store. A seafood section that's the retail equivalent of the Fulton Fish Market. Rabbit, ostrich, buffalo, elk, wild boar, alligator, rattlesnake, venison, antelope, caribou, and turtle in the meat department. In the mood for head cheese but you don't need a whole head? No problem, they'll split one for you. The cheese shop, the deli, the bakery. Rapture. And communion is served daily. Samples on platters, along with a good supply of toothpicks and napkins, are laid out in every chapel. Exotic juices in little cups.
As I pushed my cart out to the car, I was still glowing. I had seen God, and he is good.
When are you coming back to Lexington? It's about time for the annual pilgrimage.
Posted by: Allan | February 12, 2004 at 07:10 PM
I am there in your cart... the invisible angel. I pray there too(do I have enough money to buy the 27 dollar item that is 1.5 oz? :), as I think of the exotic things I could cook and fix. Me-wee-boys constantly bow to this chief. So much fun!!! Family cooking is awesome?! I can attest, "Pasta" really does stick to the walls. The list of ingredients on the labels we read are an education in it's self, what is this "hrydgtsa" Mom? Can we get it? Uhhh, maybe next week!
Posted by: Sallie | February 12, 2004 at 07:43 PM
That makes the Pike Place market here in Seattle sound like, well - a teensy little piker.
My favorite market in Seattle is Uwajimaya. That's our Asian food and books superstore. They have live fish and a drop dead gorgeous produce section.
They even had Iron Chef Masahiko Kobe in house for a demonstration. Mr. Man I went but wound he wound up standing on a step stool in the books section to get a teensy glimpse.
Posted by: pops | February 12, 2004 at 10:01 PM
I personally like Larry's. Does that make me a yuppy?
Posted by: paul | February 12, 2004 at 10:33 PM
It doesn't matter. We're non-denominational.
Posted by: Mike | February 12, 2004 at 10:47 PM