16 Comments
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Andrew Boryga's avatar

Loved this! And especially this part that had me rolling: "Lechon. Pernil. Empanadas. Ropa vieja. Cuban sandwiches. Tostone. Maduro. Sancocho. I’m so white I don’t even know how to get accent marks over some of the vowels that require them in that list. But I can cook each one of these dishes and many more. Cooking and eating Hispanic food is what I know and what I love and every time I do I thank my grandmother and the Caribbean."

Latinidad is boundless.

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Alex Muka's avatar

Hahahaha and I know pernil is Puerto Rican…one day I’ll have to make one for you and you tell me if it holds up!

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Shalini's avatar

It might not really be about Gen Z and cooking. I hate cooking. Ask me to do anything else besides cooking, ask me to rearrange things at home, write, read, even color, I’ll happily do it.

And my son, he’s 21, he loves to cook especially Chinese food because I don’t and he loves it! He will sit down and chop the onions and carrots patiently for as long as it takes before he starts the cooking process. I’ve never sat down to chop vegetables ever in my life!

It’s about where your passion lies! That’s all there is to it!

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Alex Muka's avatar

What’s your son’s go to meal?

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Shalini's avatar

Good question! Ever since he’s been bombarded with homework, he’s been eating out too! Otherwise he does prefer and enjoys cooking and hosting as well! At least for tea if nothing else!

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Alex Muka's avatar

It might not be, but I’m still gonna yell about it like it is! Haha

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Shalini's avatar

My second son is more like how you portrayed! He can lay life long video games! I totally get what you are saying!

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Vinny Reads's avatar

I don't know, man, this sounds an awful lot like what the Boomers used to say about us. 😉

I do think it's interesting how our generation has reached an each where we've started rejecting the idea that ease and simplicity is an inherent virtue; doing stuff with your hands kicks ass.

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Alex Muka's avatar

Hahaha I try not to judge but the not cooking thing killed me.

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Matt Cyr's avatar

I’ve long said I don’t trust any writer who doesn’t cook. Not saying I trust all writers who do either. But this was a perfect case for why cooking and writing are so connected for me. Both are creative. Both require some balance of pregame plan and in-game decisions. Both are ultimately for someone else. And you gotta bring some soul to the food and words.The overlap in skill set is real. This was the perfect primer for your book. Hit us with a follow up on cocktails and I’ll say it’s rare to find a pairing that well done. 👊

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Alex Muka's avatar

You nailed it! “Both are ultimately for someone else”. Perfectly said.

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Henny Hiemenz's avatar

Love this Alex. Chef’s kiss 😉

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Alex Muka's avatar

Hahaha thank you sir!

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Notes from the Under Dog L.'s avatar

Nice work. Moving.

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Alex Muka's avatar

Thank you!

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Lee Bacon's avatar

Absolutely agree with you about cooking. After a day of staring at screens and chipping away at an endless novel, it’s restorative to do something with my hands, something with a clear beginning, middle, and end. And afterward, you can enjoy the result with the people you love.

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