Growing up, my mom roasted a kosher chicken at least once a week. My grandpa, who lived in the bronx, was a butcher and every time we went to visit my grandparents they would open their freezer and load my parents up with meat before we left. I thought this is what all grandparents did; that every grandpa had a supply of hot dogs, salami, whole chickens and ground beef to give to his grandchildren. At home, our freezer was always packed tight with gifts of poultry.
Some people smell a perfume or a hair product that reminds them of their grandparents. For me, it is the smell of cold roast chicken. By the time I was a teenager, I recognized that scent as belonging to my little grandmother. Whenever I would take leftover chicken from the fridge, I would feel a wave of nostalgia.
But when I was a kid, I took all those roast chickens for granted. I used to groan in disappointment when my mom told me we were having roasting a chicken for dinner and not something truly delicious like tater tots or frozen chicken nuggets. Well, times have changed.
I am an addict, looking for my next roast chicken fix. It wasn't until very recently that I actually craved not just any chicken but specifically roast chicken. It's as if I'm truly coming of age.
I remember watching my mom with a bit of disgust as she wrestled with the bird, pulling all the good meat from the bone Then, last night, I found myself standing over my rotisserie bird from Gristedes (i.e. the closest i'm gonna come to a homemade roast chicken right now) in all my glory, sucking on my greasy fingers and pulling off polkies (drumsticks).
I admit I had a moment.
I know it's just chicken but it felt somehow like my grandmother's goodness had found it's way to my fingers.
Some people smell a perfume or a hair product that reminds them of their grandparents. For me, it is the smell of cold roast chicken. By the time I was a teenager, I recognized that scent as belonging to my little grandmother. Whenever I would take leftover chicken from the fridge, I would feel a wave of nostalgia.
But when I was a kid, I took all those roast chickens for granted. I used to groan in disappointment when my mom told me we were having roasting a chicken for dinner and not something truly delicious like tater tots or frozen chicken nuggets. Well, times have changed.
I am an addict, looking for my next roast chicken fix. It wasn't until very recently that I actually craved not just any chicken but specifically roast chicken. It's as if I'm truly coming of age.
I remember watching my mom with a bit of disgust as she wrestled with the bird, pulling all the good meat from the bone Then, last night, I found myself standing over my rotisserie bird from Gristedes (i.e. the closest i'm gonna come to a homemade roast chicken right now) in all my glory, sucking on my greasy fingers and pulling off polkies (drumsticks).
I admit I had a moment.
I know it's just chicken but it felt somehow like my grandmother's goodness had found it's way to my fingers.
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