This week on Social Hour, we thought we’d explore a little on Facebook and share a page we stumbled upon rather by accident, shared on our wall, and watched it grow by exponents over the next few days–when we posted it, I had just signed up as its 33rd fan. The Episcopal Foodie Network now has 621 fans and links to discussions about things like King’s Cake, Valentine’s Day treats, and favorite recipes. Specifically relevant to social hour, we have this question:
I’d always welcome ideas for good things for coffee hour that aren’t too complicated (though everyone’s definition of that varies, I know). I provide the food at my parish once a month or so and always try to do something more interesting than the usual NYC bagels and cream cheese.
You can comment to Dale McNeill’s question here.
Miguel Angel Escobar shares a little background on the creation of Episcopal Foodies Network on the Episcopal Church Foundation Vital Practices blog:
In light of Episcopalians’ passion for food, it came as no surprise when Courtney Cowart at The Fund for Theological Education noted on Facebook that “a disproportionate number of my FB friends post food beauty shots, report on restaurant experiences and ‘like’ postings having to do with what they just ate. Have I perchance attracted a foodie flock of friends?” Guilty as charged. Having just posted photos of the bread loaves I’d just made, I jumped at the chance to share an idea that’s I’ve been thinking about for quite some time – namely, that of an Episcopal Foodie Network.
Okay, okay. It may be that the last thing the Episcopal Church needs is yet another network, and yet there’s certainly an emerging desire to 1) explore the connections between food, faith and ethics and 2) share what we’re cooking up with others. After all, food is central to our faith. We pray for our daily bread and are called to feed the hungry; we find God in the breaking of the bread and are told to live for more than just “bread alone.” The New Testament is redolent with delicious images and odors: we hear of loaves and fishes, of mustard seeds and of gleaning wheat; Jesus is accused of being a glutton (a foodie?) and is charring a freshly caught fish in his final resurrection appearance in the final chapter of John.