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Event Thu Aug 08 2013
Get Comfortable at the Logan Square Comfort Food Potluck
A great way to get to know someone is through the comfort food they crave. Whether a person reaches for gooey fresh from the oven chocolate chip cookies or snacks on pickles straight from the jar, what we crave in food to find a sense of nostalgia and home can reveal a lot about our culture and self. Sharing these food loves are also a great way to break the ice and break bread with strangers, and a group of food loving folks in Logan Square are doing just that with their monthly comfort food potluck series, the third one this Sunday August 11th.
A collaborative effort between Comfort Station and local chef and food writer Hugh Amano of Food on the Dole, the series was founded on the idea of a neighborhood potluck to bring the community together to share and discuss food and food culture. The idea is simple, you bring a dish that you find comforting, whether it be a family recipe passed down through the years or something that you just love to make. As they put it best, "weʼre not looking for the next great dish. Instead, weʼre looking to meet more people in our community, and learn more about each otherʼs history and traditions."
I was able to attend the kick off of the series in June, and besides tasting a wide range of delicious food, from homemade tamales to a surprisingly addictive retro jello mold, I was able to meet a lot of wonderful new people. We shared our favorite places to eat, talked about our own childhood food memories, and just discussed our neighborhood in general. It was a wonderful way to get in touch with the people I pass on the street day to day yet never actually interact with. I've known Hugh since he was hosting dinner parties out of his apartment years ago, and he has always taken a lot of pride in sharing his heritage and love of cuisine by creating an open forum for strangers to relate over a common denominator. I'm glad he is continuing this tradition of connecting a community through the the rich culture of food.
The event is free and open to all, just bring one self contained dish (no reheating or cooking on the premise) and the utensils to serve it. Plates and silverware and water are provided, along with a donation jar if you want to help chip in. If you'd like to participate and attend, sign up directly on the events Facebook wall by listing what you will be bringing, or send an email to food@comfortstationlogansquare.org.
Comfort Food at Comfort Station is this Sunday, August 11th at 4pm. The Comfort Station is located at 2579 N. Milwaukee Ave, in the grassy area just east of the square and across Milwaukee Ave. Comfort Food at Comfort Station is exploring other potential food-centered events that are focused on community and tradition. Ideas and submissions are welcome and can be directed to food@comfortstationlogansquare.org.
