Springtime at Oberlin’s Slow Train Cafe, owned by Jessa New
Feature Essays
Eating in Public feature essays explore an issue of food or drink and the places where they are grown, produced, transported, prepared, or consumed. They are inspired by the features in Gastronomica, drawing upon both personal experience and experts, whether they be scientific or literary.
Myeongnanjeot
A Korean delicacy born out of necessity. The microwave beeps an urgent symphony of pulses. Out comes the plastic packet that, once peeled, wafts the sweet…
The Spice of Life
Indian Food and Multicultural Identity. My grandmother is the Indian matriarch of a mixed race family. Like many mixed kids, I am often faced with…
When the Pupusas Give You Confidence
What do you do when you don’t have access to the foods that bring you joy and connect you to the people and places that…
My American Grandma’s Wonton Soup
One of my earliest and recurring memories is driving up north to my grandma’s house in Skokie, IL, where she would welcome my parents and…
Cast Iron: A Love Story
Humans love cast iron. I’m no exception. I learned to cook in my dad’s inherited skillets, their weight challenging my child strength. He taught me…
Hi, Welcome to Chili’s!
I come from a Chicken Crispers family. Are they basically chicken tenders? Yes. Even so I prefer Chili’s Honey Chipotle Crispers to the other menu…
On Front-of-House Labor in Restaurants and Accidentally Participating in Sociological Phenomena
I worked at a restaurant for three months during a too-hot summer in Brooklyn. It was the summer after my first year of college, and…
From Mama Chela’s Childhood Home to my Moms Kitchen
The first time my mom cooked Huauzontle there were many reasons why I did not want to try it. First of all, it did not…
To: The Perfect Hot Dog (?) From: Dulce Rincón
Dear Perfect Hot Dog, What is it about you that makes you such a staple to people’s identities, including mine? I have always been such…
Why Aren’t the Kids Going Out Anymore?
Pub and Bar Culture in the U.S. and U.K. When I turned 21 last December while at home in Portland, Oregon for winter break I…
The Pantry Manifesto
The environmentally-conscious omnivore has been subject to a barrage of unsettling, even horrifying, news surrounding the meat industry. Animal welfare is the lowest of priorities…
The Benefits of Commensality and My Experiences in a Food Co-operative
From ancient feasts to modern-day dinner parties, the shared experience of eating with others transcends mere sustenance, weaving threads of connection, culture, and community. In…
