Cool Soups for Hot Days and Cool People!

Early in the summer of 2011 I had the opportunity to cook for a former parishioner in L.A.  He and his crowd of 20-something friends are famous YouTube personalities.  They were “doing their thing,” feeling the freedom of youth, and sharing in the carefree spirit – typical of entertainment specialists.

(Me with “Joe Nation.”)

I’m sure they felt awkward at first.  Consider it:  a Catholic priest comes into their apartment and cooks for them!  They probably would never expect it.  They’re just a group of uniquely talented young entrepreneurs trying to make it big in Hollywood, film, and the social media scene.  And though there’s a reactionary hesitancy in the Church reaching out to the media and pop culture scene – especially when you think about how poorly faith is often portrayed in TV and film – I think it’s absolutely a necessary part of the Church’s evangelization and ministerial efforts.  After all, YouTube has great influence on society.  So, hopefully, pastors and parish ministries are doing what they can to have a positive influence on the people who make these videos, but doing so without stifling their creativity and sense of playfulness.

(Jessica, a proud Guamanian, who heard I gave a speaking tour in Guam last Spring, and Olga, who doesn’t practice a particular faith, sparking the joke that she needed extra prayers.)

I’ll admit I felt my age with this group of hungry young adults.  I was not quite old enough to be the stereotypical “old priest,” but definitely old enough to be a teacher figure.  But that’s okay!

This group of young people surprised me.  I thought they would have nothing to do with a priest.  I was wrong.  They welcomed me with open arms simply because they felt welcomed by my invitation to cook for them, perhaps similar to the feeling of Jesus’ unlikely dinner companions.  Ultimately, they were excited to have someone cook a healthy, delicious, and unique meal for them.  I’m sure it beat spending a few bucks for local fast food.

(Chicken Fingers with a flare! Peanut sauce marinated chicken over a bed of crunchy garlic oil purple cabbage. Can’t get that at Chipotle!)

And so this summer day I began doing the typical Grace Before Meals thing.  We turned a normal workday into a celebration of food, friendship, and faith.  We had a lot of fun!  They posted some of the video on YouTube, and the response was so positive that many encouraged “that priest” to start his own YouTube channel.  (A side note:  that’s in the works, so stay tuned for more information on an official YouTube channel, which you will have the opportunity to subscribe to and watch fun and informative videos.  Keep an eye open for it and tell your kids.)

(Some Steubenville on the Bayou Participants from Sugar, Texas. We became instant friends on Facebook and Twitter.)

As for the cooking experience, I faced the typical challenge of trying to prepare a delicious meal in a kitchen that may not be prepared for my mad cooking craziness!  The kitchen didn’t have all the “proper” equipment for fancy cooking, but that didn’t stop me!   The shopping, prepping, and cooking turned into a whirlwind combination of scavenger hunt, Q & A session, and video production – a “typical” Grace Before Meals event. .

(Culinarian Mike Rosen with my cousin Bernadette.  Cooking a meal for a family in Toronto, Ontario.)

I certainly felt the inspiration of being together in a positive setting with unlikely dinner companions.  No, we didn’t have a formal “catechism class,” but we definitely talked about faith, among so many other topics, peppered with silly banter and a lot of bellyaching laughs.  We need more of that in our lives – at a least a balance of it!

My luncheon guests were also definitely on their best behavior.  They apologized if choice language slipped.  Happily, they felt comfortable enough to “confess” how they realized the importance and need to practice their faith a little better and more regularly.  This meal helped them see the blessings God has given them – in their talents, friendship, and fun.  They felt the need to take time and thank God for these blessings, without sounding “preachy.”

(Me and Chef Marc Andres, the chef who assisted me in the culinary cruise.  We both “preached” a message about healthy, delicious, and family-friendly food!)

Now for the food!  We turned out some delicious, uniquely flavored dishes.  I wanted to combine flavors and food textures that represented the different variety of people and personalities gathered around the table.  We came from different walks of life, but together we celebrated the delicious food, made satisfying because of the people around the table.

Some of these dishes were truly inspired.  I wouldn’t usually think of these combinations but they worked.  For example, I wanted to serve a chilled soup on a hot L.A. summer day: a fruity type of gazpacho.  Yet, I also wanted to highlight some of the spicy personalities around the table.  So I paired this soup with a spicy siracha pan-seared salmon.

(Chilled Minty Honey Dew Soup with Pan-Seared Siracha Spiced Salmon.)

Mealtimes and particularly soup preparations can reflect the personalities of the people eating the meal.  Go ahead and think of a soup that represents the personality of a family member. Perhaps you will cook something that is very mild, something savory, or even something plain but comforting.  For this group I wanted to make a soup for “cool” people, but with a very spicy component.  Cooking for people with a Christ-like love always makes the food special!

God our Father, I pray that families and friends will have the chance to celebrate the good times in these remaining summer months.  Despite the different personalities, inspire the cooks to create something that brings people together.  In a special way Lord, I pray for these young creative folks in the Hollywood scene.  Someone has to pray for them, let it be me!  Despite the imbalance of praise and criticism that Hollywood types receive, help these people find the spiritual grounding so that their works of art will (at the very least) not degrade society, but eventually build it up. Saint Genesius (Patron saint of Actors), pray for them.

(Me with the star of the movie Bella and a South American soap opera sensation, Eduardo Verastigui, at a private Grace Before Meals event in Hollywood.)

Post your comments below:  Should Fr. Leo have a YouTube Channel?  Do you know anyone in Hollywood or the film or media industry?  How do you reach out to them?  Even though their lives seem glamorous and fun, do we realize how difficult it is for them to do what they do?  Let us know what you think, as it helps inspire us to keep spreading the message – even to folks in Hollywood!  We love to/need to hear from you!

Want to try the Chilled Honey Dew Soup with Siracha Spiced Salmon?  CLICK HERE for the recipe, and be sure to post a comment about what you think!

Posted in Food for the Body, Grace Before Meals, Menu Inspiration, Prayers, Recipe-Fish, Recipes | 5 Comments