On my way home from school, if it were a really good day, I would remember suddenly that my parents had done the groceries the night before. A warm glow washed over me, as I knew that meant there would be a fresh batch of snack opportunities awaiting my arrival.
I have been an adept of the notion of snacks all my life. Appetizers are my favourite part of the meal; hors d’oeuvres are my favourite food group. So imagine my delight when I learned of 613 Snack Time – A 3-course serving comprising a snack potluck, an art show and a publication. Any event that pays homage to the snack is pretty much guaranteed my participation and enthusiasm.
So my thoughts have turned to snacks, of course. Not in a quick-fix, let’s-eat-it-now sort of way, but on a more intellectual level. How do we as a society or culture define snacks? How do I? What is a snack? Simply any food we consume in between set meals? What differentiates a snack from a dessert? Is treat synonymous with snack? So many questions, so many snacks, so many direct routes to diabetes and the ire of the self-righteous.
To be fair, the idea of snacks in art is not a new one. I have long been a fan of Evelyn Eveleth’s sensual, larger than life donut portraits, Wayne Thiebaud’s cakes, Pamela Johnston’s candies, and other two-dimensional evidence of our snack pursuits. Oddly enough, it is only now that I am even contemplating the addition of such a subject into my own oeuvre. It is an exciting moment.
However, when it came time to decide upon a contribution to the aforementioned snack potluck, a collaboration between House of Common and Possible Worlds, I hit a wall. My long-term relationship with the idea of snacks was so serious that I felt my snack needed to reflect this, and, in essence, me. I ruminated long and hard, overwhelmed by the breadth and depth of the potential. The event coincided with the advent of Hallowe’en, so I was snug in the knowledge that a full bag of Rockets would make up part of my offering. There is nothing better than discovering a rogue roll of Rockets in a pocket or at the bottom of a purse. “What else should we take?” I asked my partner in snack pursuits. “Jalapeno poppers,” he suggested. “I found a recipe.” On the surface this sounded good – intriguing, even – but this would be a new thing for us. It could not represent who we are as snackers. However, it ignited the truth. “Cheese biscuits!” I cried. THAT is who we are and who we are meant to be. The mere thought of a batch of our signature cheese biscuits hot from the wood stove will make my mouth water and set off a craving.
In the end we set forth into the darkness bearing snacks that were worthy of our attentions. We joined our tribe of fellow snack lovers for grilled cheese and other treats as snack footage was projected onto the walls around us. We went for the snacks, but the real treat was the company.
To some, this could have been but an amuse-bouche; to me, it is the continuation of a life-long journey and the start of new explorations.
What are some of your favourite snacks?
I have been an adept of the notion of snacks all my life. Appetizers are my favourite part of the meal; hors d’oeuvres are my favourite food group. So imagine my delight when I learned of 613 Snack Time – A 3-course serving comprising a snack potluck, an art show and a publication. Any event that pays homage to the snack is pretty much guaranteed my participation and enthusiasm.
So my thoughts have turned to snacks, of course. Not in a quick-fix, let’s-eat-it-now sort of way, but on a more intellectual level. How do we as a society or culture define snacks? How do I? What is a snack? Simply any food we consume in between set meals? What differentiates a snack from a dessert? Is treat synonymous with snack? So many questions, so many snacks, so many direct routes to diabetes and the ire of the self-righteous.
To be fair, the idea of snacks in art is not a new one. I have long been a fan of Evelyn Eveleth’s sensual, larger than life donut portraits, Wayne Thiebaud’s cakes, Pamela Johnston’s candies, and other two-dimensional evidence of our snack pursuits. Oddly enough, it is only now that I am even contemplating the addition of such a subject into my own oeuvre. It is an exciting moment.
However, when it came time to decide upon a contribution to the aforementioned snack potluck, a collaboration between House of Common and Possible Worlds, I hit a wall. My long-term relationship with the idea of snacks was so serious that I felt my snack needed to reflect this, and, in essence, me. I ruminated long and hard, overwhelmed by the breadth and depth of the potential. The event coincided with the advent of Hallowe’en, so I was snug in the knowledge that a full bag of Rockets would make up part of my offering. There is nothing better than discovering a rogue roll of Rockets in a pocket or at the bottom of a purse. “What else should we take?” I asked my partner in snack pursuits. “Jalapeno poppers,” he suggested. “I found a recipe.” On the surface this sounded good – intriguing, even – but this would be a new thing for us. It could not represent who we are as snackers. However, it ignited the truth. “Cheese biscuits!” I cried. THAT is who we are and who we are meant to be. The mere thought of a batch of our signature cheese biscuits hot from the wood stove will make my mouth water and set off a craving.
In the end we set forth into the darkness bearing snacks that were worthy of our attentions. We joined our tribe of fellow snack lovers for grilled cheese and other treats as snack footage was projected onto the walls around us. We went for the snacks, but the real treat was the company.
To some, this could have been but an amuse-bouche; to me, it is the continuation of a life-long journey and the start of new explorations.
What are some of your favourite snacks?