Funeral Food

I know this is so morbid, but it’s something no one really talks about and I’ve always had the fascination about food at funeral gatherings whether it be at someone’s home or the funeral break room. I can count how many funerals I’ve attended or donated food to. I think they are very costly but I can understand why a person’s memorial can mean so much more than that final goodbye. In my recent case, it was a chance to reunite with all of the relatives who live across the states and share stories of the first time all the cousins met. It’s truly sad how most families and friends don’t get together more than we should, so we wait when there’s a wedding or funeral. Recently, for my 80-year-old grandmother’s funeral in Minnesota, we honored her legacy with 24 hours of prayers by a Shaman, along with an abundance of food and gold “boat” money for the afterlife. In return, if the grandchildren who are there to pay their respect and lucky enough, we'll receive good luck. If you should ever have an open invite to a Hmong funeral, I recommend you attend. There’s really nothing like Hmong hospitality because they truly appreciate anyone who takes the time to honor their loved ones during a 2 and half day funeral feast filled with nonstop eating and drinking with the community - yep, lots of beer! Hmong food is so damn satisfying! For now, here’s a list of the best dishes I’ve ever had at Hmong special events and I’ll add the recipes sooner or later so come back to check on them!

• Tofu Larb (Minced tofu with traditional Thai seasonings and herbs & perfect for American funeral due to their food health restrictions in the break room)

• Bitter Beef Soup (my favorite Hmong specialty dish served at Hmong receptions)

• Fresh Rolls ( Vegetarians will love you for making these!)

• Banana wrapped Sticky Rice Cake

• Mai’s famous Fried Chicken (After having the honor to help out at a friend’s fathers funeral, I couldn’t stop thinking about the amazing Hmong food they served there)

• Tapioca Coconut Dessert Drink “Nab Vam”

• Sticky Rice Coconut Balls
  

Share with me what’s the best food you’ve ever ate at any funeral! I’d love to know!

Appreciating Life Before Covid-19

I was checking emails and found a folder I created on February 7th titled “2020 blogs” which was before I came up with the actual pandemic food blog, Pantry Living. It was meant for my work website and Facebook to reconnect with customers, but I put it on hold because it didn’t feel appropriate. Now, it’s the perfect moment to share with the rest of the world because it reflects the beauty of memory with our loved ones.

Feb 7 2020

Recently, the world stopped for our family and we took 3 days off to mourn and celebrate the life of my beloved grandmother. My cousin in MN had ask family members to send her photos that we may have of grandmother, so I went through whatever albums I had. It was then that I realized how photos are so precious when a loved one is no longer with us. I went through my photo album that I’ve scanned hundreds of time before, but this time these pictures made me feel more sentimental. I truly didn’t appreciate the photos until now - until my soul was searching for happier captured moments with grandmother. I sent one of the photos to my sister because she was on the same mission trying to find grandmother in it. I ended up finding only one of her with grandmother. What I also found was another photo that has become my favorite because I have this crazy idea about writing a cook book one day and the photo resonated with the thought of home cooked meals. It is a picture of my grandmother at the head of the table, next to my mom and aunt. The table has a spread of traditional Hmong food and so many bowls of all sizes! I don't recall this moment even though I took the photograph with either my Sony Long-shot camera or Nikon DSLR, but what I do know is that I captured the moment not knowing how important it would be 15-20 years later. The more I examined this particular moment the more I realized how our home dining experiences have changed too. Particularly for me, I don't make elaborate home cooked meals like I wished I would for my own family--it's usually 1 or 2 dishes and I have picky eaters. Looking back, eating at my parents' dining table was such a blessing due to their awesome home cooking. It wasn’t the best and peaceful family moments all the time, but when grandmother was in town our hearts were warm.

Do you have any happy memory related to family time at the dinner table? Feel free to share with me what some of your special moments were involving family, food and traditions. Until then, stay healthy.