Comments on: Food III – Abusing the Gift

By: Roldog

Roldog — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 17:59:18 +0000

Someone pass me the salt.

By: MOM

MOM — Sun, 15 Apr 2007 23:33:07 +0000

Adam,
Our church is having our quarterly “potluck” after church next Sunday.
I was thinking about making “garbage can”, Soooo………What do you think?
Love ya, MOM

By: ChurchNiche » The Problem with Potlucks

ChurchNiche » The Problem with Potlucks — Sat, 07 Apr 2007 08:25:01 +0000

[...] The potluck dinner is a staple in many churches, but that doesn’t mean it’s good. A longtime friend of mine (we bonded over Petra) has been blogging about food and condemned the potluck, pointing to the message it sends: If food is relational what are we saying to our friends and neighbors when we invite them to church and offer them overdone Mostacholi Ã la bland with a side of 15 layer Jell-o dessert? Are there no cooks in the House, are we without culinary prowess? [...]

By: A Plea for Church Potluck Reformation « Word to the Wise

A Plea for Church Potluck Reformation « Word to the Wise — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 06:24:28 +0000

[...] In his blog, Adam Bottiglia, a Portland Seminarian, illustrates well the problem facing as churchmen in pursuit of culinary excellence: Food, one of the greatest gifts to mankind, a symbol of our unity, our glory, our distinctiveness, yea even our very souls, has been taken by the church and profaned in the potluck. Repent, I plead, and turn from your casseroles and gelatinous creations. Make foods in keeping with good taste and flavor. If food is relational what are we saying to our friends and neighbors when we invite them to church and offer them overdone Mostacholi Ã la bland with a side of 15 layer Jell-o dessert? Are there no cooks in the House, are we without culinary prowess? Do we think that, since everyone eats, anything will suffice? [...]

By: Amira

Amira — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 19:18:57 +0000

A gay French chef cooking Sunday brunch? Where is he ansd can I afford it?
Let me know!!!

By: Sarah K.

Sarah K. — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 14:26:22 +0000

Adam,
Steve called me specifically to tell me that I would love your “Food Series.” He was right. I’ve been silently watching for a while, but the time to comment has come. I’m definitely on the “food is art” side of the fence. Like many other things, this is a topic that Steven and I, as newlyweds, are in ‘dialogue’ over as we adjust to married life. Mostly because Steven likes raw vegetables and I like to make them with flavor. But, that’s not the reason for me to join in the comment frenzy. Lonnie sent us the link to Joel Kirkpatrick’s book, “A Field Guide to Evangelicals and Their Habitat.” I haven’t read it, but from Amazon’s site, I read this excerpt and had to pass it along.

“Why do evangelicals aim so low on the culinary totem pole? Because Sunday brunch is a humble adjunct to the sermon, not a high point in itself. The exotic foods at fine-’n'-fancy restaurants militate against the simplicity and straightforwardness of the gospel. (The Bible calls the gospel “milk” and “meat,” never “escargot on a bed of fennel and spinach.”) There is no good reason, evangelicals believe, to put so much thought and creativity into food preparation, and it probably means the chef is either gay, or worse, French.” (page 23)

http://www.amazon.com/Field-Guide-Evangelicals-Their-Habitat/dp/0060836962/ref=si3_rdr_bb_product/103-7346518-4086254

By: Randy Ehle

Randy Ehle — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 00:46:51 +0000

Wanna hear scary? Several years ago, my grandparents died about three months apart. Their church graciously hosted receptions after each of their memorial services and – here’s the scary part – the same foods showed up at each of those receptions! I suppose it could have even been the SAME food, just frozen and reheated, but I will give them the benefit of the doubt and assume both batches were made especially for the occasion.

(By the way: In all fairness, I should state that there was no direct relation between potlucks and my grandparents’ deaths!)

By: Amira

Amira — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 19:26:25 +0000

Adam.
Could it be time for a new blog??? Might help keep all of us from more comments….

By: ethan

ethan — Fri, 30 Mar 2007 14:48:02 +0000

Well said, sure you can fellowship with bad food but wouldn’t it be better to fellowship with good food? If I take my wife out to eat I’m going to someplace like the olive garden over Taco Bell. The fellowship may be the same at both places but if I really love her I’m going to take her where the food is good.

Same with potlucks, so excellent post on how loving your neighbor with good food is important.

By: Amira

Amira — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 23:41:59 +0000

I am sorry. I really didn’t mean toi cause anyone offence, even if it does look like it. There is a reason I am new to blogs.
I also now see why so many of you don’t use your real names..hmm maybe I’d better come up with something.
My only excuse is that if you all thought Adam was a fussy eater, well you ain’t seen nothing.
Amira