Have you ever heard of the Gastronomical Essay, dear reader?
Of course you have, you’re brilliant.
Prior to this week, I had never even heard the word gastronimical - let alone know that this was a writing style about FOOD. BEVERAGE. TRAVEL. BUT MOSTLY FOOD.
For the sake of reinforcing my own understanding of this writing style- the gastronomical essay is writing about the FEELING of FOOD. I mean, my god, why have I never thought to do this before? Food as connection. Food because it deserves the moment. Food because it was the well-earned treat. The memories around food. This is where travel comes in. What memories have you made about the places you ATE when you traveled? The foods you tried, the drinks you shared, something so special, you KNEW in the moment that you were making a new core memory…
This is my attempt at recreating those feelings in my gastronomical essay. Proceed with caution. Please enjoy. :)
My husband and I have created a habit of sharing one can of sparkling water between the two of us, over dinner. I always add a glass straw. Makes it taste better, and feel fancier. I never transfer the contents to a glass, for that kind of class does not exist in my home. I mean, why dirty another dish? #AmIRight?!
I usually buy the ones that have some kind of natural flavor, like WaterLoo or Topo Chico, or just the original bubbly water in cans from Trader Joe’s. Raspberry Nectarine by Waterloo has been nominated as our favorite “flavor”. You can almost taste the nectarine.
I allow myself one Waterloo per day, as a “congrats” to getting thru it. Positive conditioning in action. Do a good job and keep it together another day, get a prize. In this case, get a sparkling water.
I don’t know exactly when sparkling water became such a coveted moment for me, but I do know that I like the way it feels to accomplish another day through these times. There’s been a blanket of depression wrapped around our world. People are openly admitting online, in person, and at work, that they are unwell right now. Making you feel simultaneously less alone and more horrified by the resonance. The crackling pop sound that the can makes when you open it draws us in like moths to a flame. Regardless of where the other person is at home, we both know the cracking of a can commences the moment, and cues that it’s time to gather.
We usually watch something together as a family at this point. Augie loves to scream, “BANG” at the end of The Big Bang Theory’s theme song (perfect pitch, too!), we recently finished the final season of Young Sheldon (the spin off about Sheldon’s childhood growing up in Texas, with his family)- and I am still recovering. Will miss it. You know from the very begining, but it still surprises you when it happens (IYKYK).
Sometimes we will watch UFC boxing, even though I loathe violence and the sight of blood - the boys LOVE IT, and I’m busy with the sparkling water. Other times, we will watch something with Augie, for Augie. Last night we all snuggled up with our million-dollar beverage and put on Tom & Jerry. We were all chuckling over the zen monastery scene where Jerry is not so zen towards Tom, and how he ended up regretting it.
The empty can, from which we slurp the straw at several different angles to ensure its pristine emptiness, goes into the recycling. Straw rinsed and replaced in the small flower vase you turned into a “staw-party” ← You refrain from sharing this with people, as you would like for them not to think of you as such a loser as to be excited about the storage of straws. But, here we are.
After recycling, we head to our cabin-like bedroom. The fan goes on both for white noise and also to keep everyone from sweating. PJ’s are donned, and we all pile in bed after peeling back our terracotta colored comforter. August has reached the point of TOO BIG to sleep with us in bed, so before we all say goodnight we play WORD SCAPES together to ease the blow of his impending transfer.
Omar is REALLY fast at finding words in the jumble. But you, maybe it’s the reminiscence of the sparkling water- you have a knack for deciphering the 6-letter words, like SALIVA on your first take. August likes to man the phone and plug in the letters on the correct tile, as we call out each letter for him.
After we knock out a few rounds, its time for kisses. He’s off to his own bed.
We exchange stories and remind one another that we will still love each other when we are mad. or sad. We will always love each other.
The clock resets, and a new day arrives with a countdown till the next crack of a new can, new episode, new memories.
From my glass straw party, to whatever you’re drinking— Cheers!
xX kaylen alexandra xX
How’d I do? I know sparkling water isn’t necessarily food, but it is part of my diet lifestyle, and it does bring me genuine glimmers of joy. I had fun breaking out of my box and giving the gastronomical essay a try. If you write about food, please make yourself known in the comments. I would love to learn from you. <3
I've not heard of this either! You've done a stellar job writing about it. So much so, now I wish I had a can of bubbly to crack and savor right now. Also - I adore that you do this every night and love what it symbolizes even more ♥️🥹.
And the straws?!?! A girl after my own heart. I feel as though I need to see a pic of said bouquet.
Food is such an integral part of our lives. For celebrations - people bring food, for times of sadness and tragedy- people offer food as a means of comfort; when you visit a friend - they offer food (or a beverage). I guess it's a way to express our love and affection for others.
I never heard of a gastronomical essay either!!! Thank you for introducing me to this delightful literary delight! AND for delighting me with your tale of sparkling delight! I loved it. The joy was positively fizzing throughout the whole essay. ✨💕🫶