So I felt that it would be relevant to talk about what I’m eating for dinner tonight! You might be asking why, but I have my reasons. My Dad decided to go fishing yesterday, in hopes of catching black fish. Out on the water all day, he waited and waited and finally something caught his line. Little did we know, they would come home to be our dinner! He caught two plump black fish. He came home that day,  got his gloves on and began what soon would be our dinner! He gutted them, taking off their skin, removing their guts and picked away their bones! My dad being a butcher is used to the nauseating smells, slimy guts, and all of the other disgusting parts of the fish but I couldn’t handle it. I ran up the stairs like a kid who saw a ghost! I’m not sure how early Americans, or any humans in the past were able to butcher their meat and then hours later eat it! I found it repulsive and unappealing (although it tastes amazing).

He marinated the fish in some olive oil, picked some basil from his garden, chopped up onions and garlic that he purchased from his favorite New Jersey farmers’ market, and drizzled some olive oil on top. He also threw chives, scallions, salt, and pepper on top. He covered the fish in tin foil and put it in the fridgerator to soak in all of the delicious herbs.

I immediately felt a connection to what we have been learning this past semester. Our dinner tonight was made in our home. We went out and provided for ourselves our own fish, grew some of the herbs that would be atop our fish, or bought it at a farmers market. In a way, I am proud of my father for not using a supermarket to help make our dinner, or rely on the fish market to provide us with our fish. The connection I made with the Port Richmond garden, and the early American’s really struck me. It’s interesting how much work it takes to make one meal. The time it took colonial Americans to make their meals must have consumed hours in each of their days! I wonder now, what was at a loss, due to all of the time it took them to gather, clean, and make their food. I now understand the power of convenience a supermarket, fish market or oyster market has on people.

My dad always cooks his food from scratch, not relying on pre-made spice packs or dressings, but this was on a whole different level. I can’t wait to taste my Dad’s cooking tonight, I’m sure it will be delicious!