You May Ask Yourself . . .

“So you are starting to get a bit fond of Japanese-style eating.” This was from my son, who, often with close friends, has Friday dinners with me. He wasn’t being sardonic. More of an observation really. I had to think about it.

The quick, superficial answer is that when we have a small party for dinner, I prefer the relaxed, intimate layout of my squat, slatted table to arrange things. When the number gets above 4, which it often does, a different set-up is called for. OK, so that’s the quick, superficial explanation.

But as I think about it somewhat more in depth, a few things occur to me. Today is March 17, St. Patrick’s Day, which is a HUGE celebration in my hometown of Savannah. Even when I’m not there, which is most of the time these days, I like to celebrate the event. It always surprises others to hear that Savannah has a fairly substantial Irish population. Which goes to my thread here.

So today is St. Patrick’s Day, but I’m here in Israel preparing a family meal consisting of vegan spins on southern cuisine, presented on handmade ceramic plates that mom gave me as a wedding present years ago on a table set in what my son refers to as a Japanese style. And you may ask yourself, “what the hell?”.

Cultural confusion or cultural fusion? Mash up or just a mess? I’ll let you decide. For me, it seems perfectly natural.