Paulette Thompson

Living la vida locavore (apologies to Ricky Martin)

I, P. Thompson, also known as Paulette, love food. It should not surprise you that I love to cook and eat good food. I also love talking about it, thinking about it, and reading about it.

Believe it or not, I have food memories going back to before I could speak. My first profound food memory was the smell of the sweet ripe plantains that my Caribbean grandmother was frying in hot oil. My second memory is the taste of my Southern grandmother's dish with corn, tomato, peppers and okra. I love these fresh and delicious smells and tastes to this very day. Growing up in Seattle in the 1970s, in my younger years I was raised in a somewhat counter-culture fashion. My Seattle siblings and I were seldom allowed junk food.

As a history (and sometimes French) teacher in high schools near and far, I almost always have at least one assignment featuring food so that students can think not only about culture, but also about connections between peoples. This is a constant theme in my life.

As a Peace Corps Volunteer in Morocco I discovered how good fruit and vegetables tasted in season. You could only get produce when it was in season. Vegetables tasted so wonderful and fruit was divine, especially quince. People took food seriously there. In Morocco people apologized for giving you bread that was baked that morning!

I am embarking on this accidental experiment in sustainability This means that in 2008 I won't be doing any plantain frying unless I am in Florida (May 2008) or in the Caribbean. I live in Seattle, in the Great Pacific Northwest; plantains don't grow here. My inner Southerner and Antillean identities will have to contend with the region I am in. Perhaps I'll fry some apples or potatoes instead.

This year you'll hear about me, how I'm a teacher and graduate student in Seattle. I might officially live alone, but there is a cast of relatives and friends who walk through the door, often without notice. You'll find out about my family (I am the aunt of nine), friends, colleagues and students. You'll find out whether I survive a kitchen remodel as well! Welcome to Locavore Nation and living la vida locavore!