Father Knows Best

image courtesy of the internet

If my father were alive I think he would he would described as a food and beverage enthusiast.

My father joined the Navy just as  it was being desegregated and initially served as a Captain's steward. He later transferred to the Navy Construction Battalion (aka Seabee). Seabee families often remained stateside because service members were frequently the first to arrive on a tour to build bases, paving roadways, and airstrips.  

I can't say with certainty what influenced my father most: being a steward Navy, family influence, or growing up in the South when Jim Crow was alive and well. He loved to cook, much to the chagrin of my sister and me as he left a trail of used utensils, pots, pans, and plates piled up for us to wash. Pleas for the purchase of a dishwasher were answered with, 'No need to purchase a dishwasher. I have two dishwashers.' Some of my father's favorite foods were a mystery to me and my sister when were young: liverwurst, hog's head cheese, beets, lamb, mint pistachio ice cream, and liver.

As a budding cook, he was often my harshest critic.  After carefully studying a crepe suzette recipe I set out to  remake crepes for family breakfast. My father thought my 'hoecake' recipe was too thin and added additional flour and baking powder when I stepped away to go to the bathroom. My mother had to explain to him why I was I was in tears and that the recipe was not too thin.

It was my father that made sure that we not only knew how to set a table, but that we understood what flatware utensils to use at which time. He was concerned that as Black girls we would face challenges because of the color of our skin and our gender, but didn't want anyone to cast aspersions on us because we didn't know how to conduct ourselves while dining. 

Many years have passed since my father was alive, but the impact of his presence on my life is indelible.  I now have a dishwasher, but I still wash many dishes by hand. I do my best to keep a tidy kitchen and try to ready recipes thoroughly before executing. I've since grown to love lamb and beets. The flatware lessons were invaluable and useful when I've attended dinners, lunch interviews, and cocktail parties. 

If my father were alive I think he'd want to be a guest blogger so he could share his hog's head cheese recipe with you!

Happy Father's Day!


Be well,

Technicolor girl