In January of 2024, my Tio Raul, was rushed to the emergency room due to an extreme case of pneumonia. His pneumonia progressed and eventually transformed into other health issues, which kept him in the ICU for almost 4 months. On April 21st, he passed.
Although I didn’t grow up with my uncle, I was very aware of his passion: food. Regardless of the physical distance between my mom and my uncle- my mom living in California and my uncle in New York- they were often able to connect over the phone by sharing gossip they had heard from back home (El Salvador), the current happenings of their life, and their adoration for food. While I was living at home, I remember my mom often getting calls from my uncle asking her about specific recipes he wanted to try- recipes ranging from birria to chiles rellenos (stuffed peppers)- and these exchanges brought them closer together because each recipe also came with stories. These were stories about the way they used to eat when they were growing up in El Salvador, my mom’s new knowledge of Mexican food since starting to date my step-dad, my uncle’s job in food service, and so much more. Learning about him through their relationship made me believe that he was just a guy who really loved to cook and eat, but this love went much further than I imagined.
Over the past few months, I was traveling back and forth between Oberlin and New York City, where my uncle was hospitalized. This was the first time I had seen him since I was about 2 years old, so it felt like I was truly meeting him for the first time. He was unable to move or speak, but every time I showed up at the hospital, I met a family member that I had never met before and it was through them that I was able to better get to know my uncle.
On our drive from Maryland to New York and to this day, my Tio Toñito has told me extensive stories about his adventures with my Tio Raul. They would drive huge trucks through Baltimore and the narrow streets of New York City delivering sushi for their jobs, they would go fishing late at night, and they would cook delicious meals and converse over a few beers. At the center of my uncle’s stories, and the stories that other family members shared throughout this time, was food. Even after my uncle’s death, those that remember him talk about how delicious his food was, along with how much energy and life he brought to everything. After meeting my cousin Dayra a few weeks ago, she texted me that “If it was one thing Raul always did, it was bring the fun vibes!”. Every conversation taught me that my uncle was the life and flavor of the party, every party.
My uncle’s love for food surpassed food itself. This love was also a love for his family and friends with whom he shared his meals and his attempts at cooking. It was a love for all the places that he had called home and all the places that had fed him and watched him grow. Food and love gave my uncle life and, in his memory, will continue to give me life as well.
Stephanie Mata Granados OC ’26 is passionate about creamy soups, spicy chips, and a really good BLT sandwich. They enjoy sous-chefing and are ecstatic to cook more in their life!
