Behind the Line: Michael Shrader

Topic: Background

It's All in the Past: Food Memories

Think way back to your first tasty experiences. What are your earliest memories about food?

Dsc_0581
  • Michael Shrader
  • Chef/Partner
  • Urban Union
  • Chicago, IL
My earliest memory that sticks out in my head was when I was about 5 or 6 years old. I was at my Great Grandpa Sal's house in San Jose, California. We were in the kitchen and he shucked a big raw cherrystone clam and had me suck it off the shell and eat it. I remember it being salty and really big and chewey! He handed me a 7up to wash it down while he was laughing his ass off! That was in 1974 or 1975.
 
 

Answers from other users

26893_1390585854929_1540607117_30993053_8195887_n
My mom's chicken pot pie, and her goulash. Both of which I still try to recreate for staff meal every so often. She still knocks the pie out practically every time I make it home. The goulash isn't... more »

Last updated: Dec 13 2012

 
256239_10101201235437032_88216351_o
Some of my earliest memories were when my grandparents were babysitting and they would always make some delicious, simple food. From Filipino standards like adobo, pancit, and eggrolls to fried ch... more »

Last updated: Oct 13 2012

 
One of the tastes from childhood I remember most clearly is the pancakes my father made on Sunday mornings. Nothing fancy. The batter was Bisquick, and was beaten with a fork (not a whisk, for ... more »

Last updated: Sep 10 2012

 
00 oneida bouilliabaise 1-1
  • Colby Garrelts
  • Executive Chef/Owner
  • bluestem Restaurant
  • Kansas City, Missouri
My father was rather adventurous when it came to food at home. When my mom and sister were away he'd come home with liver and tongue..

Last updated: Sep 6 2012

 
Photo-1
  • Ben Lambert
  • Executive Chef
  • Bread & Tulips
  • New York City
A very early memory of this is my grandfather making a big ball of polenta in a copper pot. serving it up with braised beef and gravy.

Last updated: Sep 5 2012

 

Last updated: Dec 13 2012