Cooperative Living February 2020 - 42

Rural Living | by Margo Oxendine, Contributing Writer
For the Love
of Food
And it's not all 'Greek' to me
T
his is the month that's all about love.
Therefore, I will write about ... food.
George Bernard Shaw once wrote
or said, " There is no love greater than the
love of food. " A dear, departed friend once
sent me a card with that sentiment. The
illustration showed a Victorian woman
licking her plate.
I do not think I have ever licked a plate,
not that I haven't wished I could. But there
is propriety to consider, especially if one is
in a restaurant or at someone's dinner table.
I find I spend a lot of time in restaurants.
When you live alone, it's always the easier
option.
Folks in rural areas, though, don't have a
lot of choices when it comes to restaurants
close to home. Oh, for the times I've wished
I lived in New York City, where one can pick
up the phone and - presto! - filet mignon,
shrimp lo mein, probably even a lobster roll
can be delivered to your door.
I must drive 100 miles each way to find a
lobster roll. It is very tasty, but that's a lot of
driving. I recently ordered a " Maine lobster
tail " at a restaurant 65 miles away. It was a
puny little, overcooked thing. It took four
bites to consume. I used to go to that
restaurant whenever I was in that town, but
not again.
That's because, just down the street, I
discovered a Thai restaurant. I never thought
I'd like Thai food - too spicy, way
unpronounceable. A friend recommended
this place though, and all I can say is,
" Wow! " What a delicious, fresh meal I had,
with friendly, attentive service. Who knew a
dish called " drunken noodles " could be so
remarkable?
I can't quite remember where or when I
first discovered Greek food, but it was love
at first bite. I must drive 175 miles each way
to find a Greek restaurant, unless it is midSeptember,
and the Roanoke Greek Festival
is happening, just 75 miles distant. Gee, do
I ever load up my plate with spanakopita;
tiropita; dolmades; moussaka; pastitsio; and
my fave creamy, custardy, phyllo-encased
dessert, galaktoboureko.
40 | Cooperative Living | February 2020
I enjoy Greek food so much that I even
went to Greece to eat it at the source.
Imagine my surprise to discover that
restaurants here offer a lot more variety
than in Athens, or any of the small,
charming Greek islands. Funny, but the
thing that seems most popular there is ...
toast. Everywhere I looked, restaurant
signs proclaimed, " Tost! " Uh, thanks, but
I can make toast at home.
I remember the night our waiter came
to the table proudly holding a platter of
lobster. Imagine my surprise to discover
it was octopus. Then, I started noticing
octopi, fresh out of the Aegean Sea, draped
across clotheslines in the island of Naxos,
apparently to dry and then be proudly
served. It was tough and chewy, right
down to the suction cups. It is not served
at the Greek festival.
I will never forget the first night I
discovered foie gras. I was in the Provence
region of France and cut into what I
thought might be pork (any French food is
good food). I was thrilled to discover one
of the best things I've ever eaten. I checked
the menu and read it was foie gras. It is
extremely difficult to find, other than the
rare restaurant in Manhattan. I know, I
know, there's a stigma attached to it, but it
tastes so darn good I let that go. After all,
I don't fret about the poor other animals
on a menu. (Vegetarians, please hold your
comments: I've heard all the horror
stories).
What's my favorite thing that I can't find
at any restaurant anywhere? That would
be Mom's fried chicken, with mashed
potatoes, spinach, and coconut cream pie
for dessert. That was always my birthday
dinner. Come Feb. 12, I'll really miss it.
Unless my chef sister whips it up ... which
she might. 
To order Margo's fun book, " A Party
of One, " please call 540-468-2147,
Mon.-Thurs. from 9-5 p.m., or email
therecorderoffice@gmail.com.
co-opliving.com
WherezIt?
Look for the CL logo, like the one here, on
the pages of each issue of Cooperative Living.
Let us know what page you find it on and
submit your answer, along with your name,
email and phone number, to WherezIt, c/o
Cooperative Living, P.O. Box 2340, Glen Allen,
VA 23058-2340 or go online at co-opliving.com
under " Contests. " The deadline for this
month's entries is Feb. 20. The winner will
receive an Amazon gift card for $25.
The CL in the November-December
issue was hidden on page 26.
Mary Davis of Courtland, Va.,
is our WherezIt winner.
Congratulations, Mary!
WhatzIt?
Each issue, we will publish a photo of a familiar
but unidentified object. You are invited to make
your best guess and submit it in writing, along
with your name, email and phone number.
Either mail to WhatzIt?, c/o Cooperative
Living, P.O. Box 2340, Glen Allen, VA 230582340
or guess online at co-opliving.com
under " Contests. " The deadline for this
month's entries is Feb. 20. Correct entries
will be placed in a drawing and the winner
announced in the March-April 2020 issue. The
winner will receive a $25 Amazon gift card.
DO YOU
KNOW WHAT
THIS IS?
The November-December WhatzIt was
Santa's beard. Edna Bratz of Unionville, Va.,
was our Amazon gift card winner.
Congratulations, Edna!
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Cooperative Living February 2020

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