Give it to Tracy,
she’ll eat it.
That is how it all began. What does that mean? Let me explain.
Growing up in an Italian-American family predisposed me to a life and love of food. You may call it a stereotype, but it was definitely our reality. It didn’t matter if you were stopping by for a few minutes or staying for a few hours. My parents always made sure there was food in front of you.
I have a mother who I very affectionately call a food pusher, but in the very best way. For her, “Food is Love.” Love is expressed in many ways, but her love language is definitely food. She and my father always wanted to make sure anyone who came into our home was comfortable, happy, and had everything they needed.
My mom would cook amazing meals with so much love. Though my dad didn’t do much of the cooking at home, he did love to eat and made sure we were all well fed. Meals out at restaurants made him just as happy as Mom’s cooking. He showed his love by sampling the menu at pretty much any restaurant we visited. The “clean plate” club wasn’t really a thing in our home, so we were never forced to eat everything on our plates, but we did a darn good job on our own.
Occasionally, someone would leave something on their plate, either at home or at a restaurant. Although leftovers were always in our fridge, Dad still wanted to see if anyone wanted to eat more before packing things up.
Any time someone left food on their plate, Dad would say those special words:
“Give it to Tracy, she’ll eat it.”
I’m not sure when or why it started, but he began saying it when I was a kid, and it became a regular thing.
And you know what? I usually did. If someone had something good left on their plate, chances were pretty good I was willing to help. I don’t like wasting food, and if it tastes good, even better.
That love of food eventually became part of the reason I started Wandering Palm Food Tours. It began with my love of food, but it was also a way to honor what my parents taught me about bringing people together around a table.
I don’t cook like my mom did. Instead, I bring my guests to great locally owned restaurants and let the talented people there handle that part. What I get to do is bring people together, introduce them to places they may not have discovered on their own, and share a little bit of the Orlando I love along the way.
The experience of eating a great meal with great people over great conversation is still what matters most to me. That was true around our family table, and it’s still true today with Wandering Palm.
If I haven’t already, I hope I get the chance to share that love of food with you, too.
Cheers to you!
Happy Eating,
Tracy