Family Dinners & A Pork Dry Rub Recipe
Throughout my life there has been a common theme. The clank of cutlery clattering against dishes, glasses clinking, animated voices overlapping one another and laughter–the sounds of dinner with my family.
Growing up in our house we always had family dinners. They started with booster seats & highchairs tucked up to the formica kitchen table, eventually moving into the dining room as chubby little legs grew longer and the ‘family’ expanded to include high-school sweethearts and more often some random friend needing a break from their own family. There was always room for an extra guest at the Goldsworthy table.
A quick pasta dinner would turn into hours of good humoured teasing, theatrical story telling and heated debates, the volume getting increasingly louder as spirited voices vied for attention.
I loved family dinners and after moving thousands of miles from my family I got the chance to experience them again. This time the family was the team I worked with at Fuel Restaurant in Vancouver. Working ludicrous hours in a high pressure environment formed a strong bond between the small crew of us. Like any family we knew each others strengths, weaknesses and annoying habits. We had our spats, temper tantrums and shared inside jokes. And we had family dinners.
Every Sunday at 4:00 everyone stopped what they were doing and sat down at the bar to eat together. Each week one of the front of house staff (servers) would make dinner for everyone so the Chefs could have a break from the kitchen. The sounds of pots rattling and voices shouting to be heard above industrial blenders were replaced with laughter, cutlery scraping against plates and, if we were lucky, Tim would get up on ‘stage’ behind the line and tell us a ridiculous, overly dramatic joke.
No matter how busy everyone was we always made time to sit down. It gave us the chance to relax, breathe and actually connect with each other not to mention have what might be the only healthy meal of our day.
I’ve been thinking a lot about family dinners lately, with my own family and my old team at Fuel. No matter how many miles are between us all, how new promotions and loves send us in different directions nothing will ever dissolve that bond that was created over the dining table. I’m thinking of bringing the family dinner back.
Dry Rub Spice Recipe for Pork & Poultry
This dry rub is a staple in my pantry.
While I most often use it for pork loin it is also great with beer can chicken or add it into your home-made burger patties.
In a large jar with a tight lid combine all ingredients and shake to mix
3 tsp cayenne
8 tsp paprika
5 tsp cracked black pepper
6 tsp garlic powder
3 tsp onion powder
6 tsp course sea salt
3 tsp dried oregano
3 tsp dried thyme leaves
