Cantaloupe Salad

Cantaloupe Salad
Originally uploaded by Mike Dec

Last week, I was telling my patient how I had steamed green beans with my asian pork medallions (we both watch Top Chef so we talk about food a lot). When she found out I did this for myself alone, she said with astonishment "Boy, you treat yourself well."

I would be dishonest if I said I didn't know what her tone of voice meant. A lot of people I talk to report being reduced to cereal for dinner once they are by themselves, if they even eat at all. "What's the use?", they say. Like eating alone is too sad to warrant real food.

Add to the list of things to be shameful about would be the shame of being single. I feel it, fight it, accept it, and go back to fighting it again. Am I not to eat good, healthy, even decadent food sans a companion? Early in my solitary life I resolved to be independent, to not let my singleness stop me from experiencing life, to not only survive but to thrive.

So I went from having a repertoir consisting solely of eggs to reading magazines on how to cook to now experimenting with unusual combinations. Sometimes I practice dishes before I have company over. But mostly I cook for my own consumption. Good food, party of one.....

I'm in the middle of reading "Alone in the Kitchen with an Eggplant: Confessions of Cooking for One and Dining Alone". It's a very humorous, at times surpisingly touching, collection of essays of people facing the challenges and pleasures of eating by themselves. Breaking bread with these authors and foodies helps me be part of a hidden part of humanity. one that may be slowly emerging out of the shadows. Some cooking magazines now have sections dedicated to recipes for one. Maybe solitary living (and eating) is coming out of the closet? (How many of these closets am I in and how come my condo doesn't have this many!?!)

So Whole Foods and the farmer's market will continue to see me in their aisles, breaking apart their bananas into smaller servings. By the way, anyone is welcome to invite themselves over for a meal. Call first though. I'm often busy.